Winebottle to Pumpkin

It's amazing what my neighbor can make from a wine bottle.  This was her latest creation she gave me last Halloween.  Pretty clever huh?

Looks like she took a green wine bottle, spray painted the body orange and left the top green.  Added some black paint for the eyes and mouth and added a raffia bow.  Why didn't I think of that????

Beef and Black Bean Chili

I went to yard sales this past weekend and have to admit it was the worst day ever for finding junk.  I had my $20 yard sale cash in my pocket and was ready to bargain shop and after wasting a half a tank of gas I came home with a small wicker table, a white pitcher from Pier 1 and last but not least..... 2 COOKBOOKS!  For those of you who know me know I am cookbook obsessed.   Turns out one of them actually had a recipe I found interesting and decided to give it a try Saturday night.  My quarter was well spent.

(Adapted from Prevention's Quick and Healthy Low-Fat Cooking Cookbook)

Beef and Black Bean Chili 

Chili Puree
1 chipotle pepper (I used the canned ones with adobo sauce)
1 cup beef stock
1/2 cup diced sweet red peppers
1/4 cup diced onions
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 teaspoon cumin seeds ( I used ground cumin and you may want to use less and add more later if needed)
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon


Beef and Black Bean Chili
1 teaspoon olive oil
12 oz beef tenderloin, cubed ( I used sirloin fillet)

1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper
1 cup diced onions
1 cup diced tomatoes ( I used canned tomatoes)
1 cup beef stock
1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained

To make the chili puree:  In a food processor combine the chipotle pepper, stock, red peppers, onions, garlic, oregano, oil, cumin and cinnamon.  Puree and set aside.

To make the beef and black bean chili:  In a Dutch oven over medium high heat, heat the oil for 2 minutes and then add the beef.  Cook until no longer raw looking, about 3 minutes.  Season with the popper and removed the meat from the pan.  Add the onions and tomatoes to the pan and cook for  5 minutes. Add the stock, beans and chili puree.  Mix well and simmer for 5 minutes.  Add the reserved beef and cook for 5 to 10 minutes more. 

** The original recipe called for 2 chipotle peppers and that is what I added but it was a tad spicy even for me so I added sour cream to mine and it cooled it down and tasted great.  Enjoy!

Thrifty finds

I love summer and summer activities.... like yard sales and thrift store shopping. I took Friday off this week and my intent was to clean my house for a cookout on Saturday but I got side tracked and I spent the day hopping from the thrift stores to the consignment stores to the Goodwill stores. What a fun day and I found some really neat and cheap items. Take a peek.


I can't believe I found this. I had just looked at one at Amazon and was seriously considering buying it but the $42 price tag said hold off.... and I'm so glad I did cause this little gem was only $7.98 at the consignment store. Yay me!

I found this at a yard sale on Saturday morning.... It just screamed BUY ME! So I did. The girl having this sale had at least 35 designer purses and all of them were $35 or less. She had Dooney and Burkes, a small Coach bag, and Kenneth Cole ones. I think she was purse obsessed but I don't care... I made out.