Warm Autumn Chili and Cornbread Combo

October 26, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Temperatures are dropping and your appetite is rising, so how in the world do we tackle those hearty hunger pains and keep warm at the same time? Whether you’ve spent the day working in the crisp outdoors or your planning on tailgating at your favorite college or professional football game, here’s a winning combination guaranteed to satisfy your palate and warm your bones!

KC’s Chili

Serving Size – 12

1 1/2 lbs. Hamburger, Browned

1 Can of Tomato Juice (46 Ounce)

2 Small Cans of Tomato Paste

1 Can of Tomato Sauce

2 Cans of Diced Tomatoes

1 Can Tomato Soup

1/4 Cup Brown Sugar

1 Green Pepper, Chopped

1 Onion, Chopped

3 Tablespoons of Chili Powder or to Taste

1 Can Baked Beans

1 Can Kidney Beans

1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder

Salt and Pepper to Taste

Combine all ingredients in a large soup pot; Simmer until vegetables are tender. Stir occasionally

OR

Combine all ingredients in slow cooker; Low setting for 6 hours

KC’s Cornbread

Serving Size – 6

1 Pack of Martha White Sweet Yellow Cornbread & Muffin Mix (7 Ounce)

Heat oven to 400 Degrees F

8 Inch Ovenproof Skillet or Square Pan. Grease with shortening or spray with no-stick cooking spray, then place in oven for 7 to 8 minutes or until hot

1/2 Cup of Milk

1 Egg, Beaten

Combine cornbread mix, milk and egg in small mixing bowl; stir until smooth; pour into hot skillet or pan

Bake at 400 degrees F for 17 to 22 minutes or until golden brown

KC’s Beverage Selection

Serving Size – 1

8 Ounce Glass of Warm, Spiced Apple Cider

Filed Under: Feature Collections, KC's Kitchen

Fancies of Fall

October 26, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Autumn is in full swing at the Rhoades household. Oh, how we love this time of year! The crispness of the air, the changing colors of the foliage, the migrating geese, the scent of burning leaves, and the harvesting of the crops provides us the awe-inspiring opportunity to celebrate the blessings of the past while preparing us to find relentless courage for the cold, icy season to come.

So, how do we celebrate this season of change? Here are some creative ideas we’d like to share with you:

1. Home Decorations

Karen and I love the warm and cozy atmosphere fall decorations bring to our home, and while purchasing commercial, retail products is an option, the prices can quickly add up. Some inexpensive decorating ideas we have used in and around our home include pumpkins, gourds, hay/straw bales (outside), apples, ornamental flint or Indian corn, colored leaves, wheat, and grapevines to form decorative wreaths.

2. Autumn Scents

Don’t you enjoy the phenomenal odors we associate with this special time of year? We certainly do and candles, oils, plug-in aroma dispensers, and natural baking odors are a great way to immerse yourself into the spirit of the season. Scientists have proven the powerful effect odors have on our psychological, emotional, spiritual, and physiological well-being and they also serve to evoke those precious and endearing memories associated with celebrations of the past. The smell of fresh pumpkin, spices, burning wood, bread, and baked goods can bring a sense of relaxation, decreased anxiety, and recapture moments in grandma’s kitchen or beside the glowing fireplace.

3. Seasonal Foods

As the temperature drops and the nights grow longer, it’s natural to seek those warm and appetizing comfort foods. Who doesn’t want a nice big slice of pumpkin pie or cranberry bread with a big mug of warm apple cider or hot chocolate or a big bowl of butternut squash soup? The good news is you don’t have to sacrifice your health in the process. Recipes are available to provide you the same great tasting cuisine while keeping your body in check. A simple internet search or a stroll through the cookbook section of your local bookstore can provide you with a variety of resources where you can locate delicious, low-calorie, seasonal delights. Always remember, moderation in everything.

4. Seasonal Traditions

There are a variety of ways you can celebrate the autumn season with your friends and family! Don’t forget to visit that corn maze and/or local pumpkin patch, fall festival, haunted house, or find a local farm for a good old fashioned hay ride. Most importantly, make it your tradition and create a memory to last a lifetime!

We trust you are enjoying this autumn season and hope these ideas will help you create a warm and welcoming home and seasonal experience for you and your family and friends.

Happy Autumn!

Filed Under: Feature Collections, Welcome Home

Funeral Tribute To My Grandmother

October 12, 2013 by Leave a Comment

As we celebrate the life of our mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, neighbor, and friend, I am once again reminded of the exceptional characteristics and values we have learned from her and the people of this, the great Blacklick Valley – people such as you, your parents, grandparents and great-grandparents.

From the most difficult and trying of times to our best days and celebrations, you have left us with a heritage and legacy; preparing all of us to engage the future and change the piece of the world God has purposed us to transform, no matter how great or how small.

As miners, steelworkers, lumberjacks, farmers, soldiers, and wives, you imparted to us a fearless resolve to press forward in spite of life’s circumstances. You taught us to trust in God, to rely on the abilities and common sense He relegated to us, and to embrace family and friend. Without explanation or apology, you indoctrinated us in the virtues and ethics of hard work simply because “you said so.” You constantly reminded us to take pride in who we were and where we were from, so that in turn, we knew where we were going.

You were not without your imperfections, but after watching your lives I am convinced now, more than ever, that the Book of Life is more than a mere list of imperfect believers, it’s the unending, miraculous accounts of the perfections of grace.

Today, as we celebrate my grandmother’s life, it is appropriate that another member of “The Greatest Generation”, who toiled incessantly through The Great Depression, two world wars, and the era of “big coal” and steel, will be laid to rest on a day we celebrate the backbone of America and rest from our labors, and while our family may be fewer in number, we are greater than the sum of our parts because of our legacy, our heritage, and God’s love and grace.

©Copyright 2013 Scott Rhoades/Ivory Hill Studios

Filed Under: Scott's Blog