My cooking adventures ~ Bacon cheddar chowder

Its the weekend and I thought I would share this yummy chowder recipe, it is sooo good! I made it this past week and my kids raved about it and said it was the best soup ever.

Ingredients:

1 12 oz pkg bacon, chopped

2-3 celery ribs, diced

1 carrot, diced

1 onion, diced

1 garlic glove minced

6-8 potatoes, peeled and cubed

32 oz chicken broth

3 tbsp. butter

1/4 cup flour

1 1/2 cup whole milk

salt and pepper to taste

2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded

Directions:

Place bacon in a large soup pot and cook until crisp. Remove bacon and drain off bacon grease 

except for 1/4 cup leave in pot.
Add celery,carrot,onion,garlic and potatoes to the bacon grease and cook on low for about 15 min. Add chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then simmer until potatoes are softened, stirring occasionally.
Place butter in saucepan over medium heat, whisk in flour. Add milk slowly, while whisking constantly. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and continue stirring until mixture thickens.
Stir cream mixture into the potato mixture. Stir in cheese and bacon. Salt and pepper to taste.

Inside my makeup drawer and my faves

I thought I would share a peek into my makeup drawer... I have a lot of products in there but only a few are my fave that I use on a daily basis... so I thought I would share my fave products I can't live without!

First off I start with Garnier Skin renew bb cream, I have tried other bb creams but this one is my fave I don't even have to use a foundation with it... but I do use a 2-in-1 concealer and highlighter under my eyes.  For my powder, bronzer and blush I use Physicians formula. For my eyes I got Urban decay naked 2, naked 3 and the basics and I'm addicted its the only shadow I use now. Any one who loves eyeliner as much as I do needs to try Lorac front of the line pro, you can get it at ulta for around $25, I love, love, love it! I love how skinny the tip is and how effortless and easy it goes on, I don't like most liquid eyeliners so that says a lot. last but not least is Mascara... currently I'm using Benefits they're real and CK One and both are great.

DIY Makeup brush jar

DIY makeup brush jar... the possibilities are endless. All it takes is a jar and some spray paint.... and like I said the possibilities are endless because there are so many different colors you can choose from there is even glitter paint... you can add ribbon or bows for even more decoration. It didn't cost me anything I already had the supplies at home and its a simple project.

Healthy Super Bowl appetizer

Yippie the Seattle Seahawks are going to the Super Bowl.... AGAIN!!!! If you can't tell I'm super excited!! I'm already planning what I'm going to make for the family to snack on while we are watching the game.... so this weekend I tried this healthy dip and it was a hit!

Ingredients:

2 cans white beans
1/2 jar of the roasted red peppers
2-3 gloves roasted garlic
1 tbsp. olive oil
salt and pepper

Instructions:

First I roasted my garlic in the oven for about 30 min, then I added everything to my food processor and gave it a whirl until everything was mixed well, scoop it all into a container and put in refrigerator and let it sit for a few hrs or overnight. Serve with corn chips or pita crackers

This has been a great week for me, I already can cross some things off on my to do list for the year. Got my yearly check-up out of the way, got my hair cut and it feels wonderful! I've decided I'm getting my haircut a lot more often! Started back at the gym and it actually feels good to have sore abs. Hopefully this next week will be another good week, going to work on some more goals :) God is good! Go seahawks!!

Back yard chicken coop

This year for Christmas I got spoiled!! My parents, my sister and brother in law surprised me with this chicken coop. I have been wanting one for a few years now and now I finally have the best one ever, and they made it them selves. Spring can't come soon enough so I can get my chicks.

My cooking adventures ~ Blueberry Cobbler

Yesterday was my Husbands birthday and we aren't a big cake eating family, so instead of cake I made one of our families fave blueberry cobbler. Yummy!! This last summer I also made it to take camping in jars and it was a big hit. I will share my recipe and how I made it in the jars as well.

Blueberry filling Ingredients:

1/3 cup sugar
1 tbsp. cornstarch
1/4 cup water
4 cups blueberries.

Instructions:
In a sauce pan combine sugar, cornstarch and water. Stir in 4 cups of fresh or frozen blueberries. Cook and stir until thick and bubbly.

Topping Ingredients;

1 cup flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
3 tbsp. butter
1 beaten egg
3 tbsp. milk

Instructions:

Mix flour, sugar, baking powder. Cut in butter till mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Combine egg and milk. Add to flour mixture, stirring just until moisten.

Transfer filling into a 8x8x2 inch baking dish. drop filling into 6 mounds atop hot filling. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 20 -25 minutes.

Jar instructions:

I made exactly the same recipe. Then instead of a baking dish I split the filling into 8 oz jars and then put a scoop of the topping on top of the filling. Put the jars on a cookie sheet and then bake.