Fall Entertaining

I recently hosted a Longaberger party for my mother-in-law.  In case you are not familiar with Longaberger, I will enlighten you!  They are an Ohio based company that specializes in handmade baskets and pottery.  They have great quality products that are both beautiful and functional.  Needless to say, this gave me an opportunity to brush up on my culinary skill and entertaining techniques.  From the picture below you can see we had quite the spread.

If you look closely, pretty much all of the dishes and baskets displayed are Longaberger.  I like their products because they can go right from oven to table.  Notice any other unique elements?  How do you like my pumpkin and squash candles?  A few months ago I was shopping at my local grocery store and stumbled upon the neatest little gadget!

I'm not sure what its called but you can use it to carve perfectly round holes in just about any type of produce to put tea lights in.  In the fall its easy to find lots of small, cheap squash, pumpkins and gourds.  Just put a tea light in them and you have some unique and inexpensive decorations!  

Just a little tip I discovered when I was putting these together, you may have to stuff some foil under the tea light to make it flush with the top of the gourd.

Okay so back to our original picture....notice anything else?  How about a serving bowl?  Or is it a pumpkin? 

As you can see here, I cleaned out a small pumpkin and used it as a serving bowl for my hot spinach and artichoke dip.  The best part?  No clean up...just throw it away when you are done with it!  I used the same concept to form a beautiful vase for some fall berries.

I hope I've given you some fun and easy tips for fall entertaining!  

Mom's Award Winning Chili

The other day there was just a "hint" of fall in the air.  Picture for yourself a delightful mixture of cool morning temperatures, back to school buzzing all over town, and pots of hardy mums bursting forth with color and dotting every shop corner.  I live for fall.  It's the most fabulous time of year.  I love everything about it...especially football season!  And where there is football, chili inevitably follows.  
So it was in such a setting one morning that I decided to put on a pot of chili.  Not just any chili...my mom's AWARD WINNING chili.  I'm not sure what makes it so special but for me its the best chili out there and no matter how hard I try, I can never seem to get it just the way mom makes it.  She was kind enough to allow me to share her recipe.  So I hope the next time you decide to make some chili, you'll give this recipe a try.
This is a great recipe because its sooo easy and it's made in the slow cooker!  If you haven't discovered the joy's of slow cooker cooking....then I suggest you do!  There is nothing like coming home from  a hard day at work and finding dinner....already made!  Hot and ready to go!  

Mom's Award Winning Chili

Ingredients:

These are the brands I like to use!

• 1.5 lbs ground beef
• 1 pkg of McCormick Original Chili Seasoning
• 1 large can (46oz) of tomato juice (you won't use all of it)
• 1 can (14.5 oz) of petite diced tomatoes with green chilies
• 1 can (14.5 oz) of chili beans
• 1 jar medium salsa
• 1-2 tsp chili powder
• 1-2 tbsp brown sugar
• cayenne pepper, salt to taste

Instructions:

• Brown the beef in a large skillet over medium heat.  Drain fat.
• Place all the ingredients in a large slow cooker and stir well.  Only add about half of the tomato juice.  You can add more later if necessary...depending on how liquid-like or chunky you like your chili.
• Let the chili sit on low in the slower cooker over several hours.
• Serve with fresh cornbread or oyster crackers!

Hooray for Hummingbirds!

If you don't already have a hummingbird feeder, I highly suggest you get one.  They are very low-maintenance and rewarding.  I have one right outside my kitchen window, and it brings me such joy to sit and look out the window and see hummingbirds all day!  I have a pair of ruby-throated hummingbirds that must have a nest nearby because I see them throughout the day.  They are constantly feeding!  I keep trying to catch pictures of them but as you can probably imagine it's next to impossible.  
I often see hummingbird nectar for sale in the store and for the life of me I cannot fathom why anyone would ever BUY hummingbird nectar.  It is extremely easy to make yourself at home.  Usually when you see it in the store it is tinted red to help attract the hummingbirds.  Well if you decide to make your own you can add red food coloring to it OR you can just buy a hummingbird feeder that is already red.  That way, you never have to worry about dying your homemade nectar.  The one you see above in the picture was less than $10.00 and I've had it for several years now.  So here is how you make hummingbird nectar:

Step One: measure out 1 parts sugar to 4 parts water.  In this case I did 1/2 cup sugar to 2 cups water

Step Two: place them both in a sauce pan and heat them together over medium-low heat.  Stir occassionally and heat just until all the sugar is dissolved.

Step Three: allow to cool, then fill the feeder!  

It's that easy!  Really!  See why I can't imagine anyone would want to buy nectar?  Make it yourself!  I guarantee you have the ingredients...