Its finally starting to get cooler here in the SEGA (Southeast Georgia) area. So my first thought this morning was mmmmmmm I want Chili. So i am making my version of chili which is a very very meaty rich yummy mixture! What is your favorite cold weather food? Let me know and maybe I will make it and post it!

Meaty Chili

Needed:

Crock Pot
Stew Pork
Stew Beef
Tomato Puree
Dark Kidney Beans
Pinto Beans
Packaged Chili Seasoning
Water
Your seasonings to taste.

How to:

1. Cut stew meats into bite sized pieces, put in crock pot.
2. Open cans or beans and tomatos and add to crock pot.
3. Add seasoning package and stir it all together.
4. Add enough water to cover mixture and stir.
5. Set Crock pot to high and let cook for 3 to 5 hours. Stir every once in a while.
6. Serve with Corn bread and enjoy!!!
   

Gettin lazy in my cooking!

This is not good! I love to cook, I live to cook. But as of late I have gone into a cooking rut. For me this means semi homemade boxed meals, not like hambuger helper or anything like that but... thats just ew. I blame it on the fact that we have been so busy as of late, between Cheyenne's gymnastics, and Shane's erratic hours he has been pulling both at work and various side jobs it seems like we are never home. Not to add that Monday I had to go to the hospital again because of my stupid galbladder. I would say tommorow is going to be different, that I am going to get off my rump and cook, but I would be lying to myself and you dear readers. I have a male review to attend!!!

Queen of Hearts and Alice in Wonderland Costume Set GIVEAWAY!!!!

Queen of Hearts and Alice in Wonderland Costume Set GIVEAWAY!!!!

This costume is soooooo amazing Cheyenne would be the coolest kid on the block in this!!! Heres hoping lil bit wins!!!!!

Are we teaching our school children to test or learn?

This is a question I have had for a few years now, the thought popped in my head while I was sitting in a college class a couple years after I had graduated and a younger student who had just graduated couldn't answer a question that was a thought based question instead of a book based question. After I had my daughter I started really looking at education in my area and have come to the conclusion that yes we are teaching them to test. Most children in the schools now can tell you and answer based on what a teacher has told them is going to be on a test but they could not tell you what they thought about any given subject. I remember in school we were encouraged to think, to come up with our own conclusions. I graduated a year before the high school graduation test started, I have seen that the school systems are now teaching what it on that test as well as the one that is in elementary school no more no less. What has happened??? Why are we standing by and letting this happen??? What as parents and friends of parents are we going to do about it???
The floor is open, lets hear some opinions!!

Cubano Sandwiches

Cubano sandwiches are a wonderful easy meal for the whole family. They are pretty easy to make and taste so great! The Cubano sandwich has been featured in many magazines and tv shows. Have fun with them any add any extras you want!

Cubano Sandwiches

Ingredients:

1. One small pork loin
2. Deli Ham
3. Swiss Cheese
4. Dill Pickles
5. Your Choice of Mustard
6. Cuban Bread or French Bread
7. Any extras and marinade for the pork that you choose.

Directions:

1. Marinade pork loin with your choice of marinade for at least 30 minutes. I personally love the premade Jack Daniels line of marinades.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
3. Place marinaded pork loin in a pan and bake for One hour and thirty minutes.
4. When pork is fully cooked, slice it into slices.
5. Cut bread in half long ways.
6. Smear mustard on both sides of bread.
7. Layer Pork, Ham, and Swiss Cheese on bread.
8. Top with Pickles.
9. Place fully made sandwiches in a shallow skillet on medium heat and grill on both sides until the cheese is melted and the bread is browned and crispy.
10. Plate and Enjoy!!!
    

Musical Gourmet? What does it mean? As as owner of a DJ company and an avid cook I have decided to combine my passions in blog form, so truly you will never know what you are going to get. Today you are going to get both, food and music.

I love my work as a DJ but it can get difficult. I have a gig next month on Halloween, it is a wedding and the couple is cute as can be. Their musical tastes are very interesting. The bride wants the traditional wedding march played, but she wants either a jazz big band version or a guitar version. I have come to the conclusion that neither of these are easy to find, but I am always up for a challenge. Wish me luck.

Onto food! At my house Spaghetti is always a hit. I have a 3 year old and a husband with a tape worm. Over the years I have gotten bored with the norm spaghetti pasta, sauce, and beef. With this said I have come up with a completely different twist on the old classic. Enjoy!

The Musical Gourmet's New Spaghetti Twist
Serves 4 people.
Ingredients:

2 cups Garden Rotini Pasta
Your Choice of Jared Pasta Sauce
1 lb. Lean Ground Beef
2 to 3 tbs. Fresh Grated Parmesan Cheese
2 to 3 tbs. Crumbled Feta
Italian Seasoning to taste.

Directions:

1. In a large skillet brown lean ground beef add Italian seasoning to your own taste. While cooking continue to step 2.
   
2. In a large pot boil 4 cups of water, add rotini pasta, cook pasta until it is tender but not falling apart or al dente, stir often.
3. Drain both pasta and ground beef, add both together in large pot.
   
4. Add the entire jar of pasta sauce to the pasta and ground beef, stir together on stove top on low.
   
5. While stirring add Parmesan and feta to the pot. Stir until all is warm and cheese has began melting.