Slow Cooker Saturday: Chili Over Cornbread Waffles

This week for Slow Cooker Saturday-- Chili over Cornbread Waffles.

I know it is almost July and it could be said that it isn't really chili weather.

However, I have men of both normal and itty bitty size and a chili craving can not be thwarted just because it is the wrong season.

When they want chili, chili must be made.

However, I decided to make slow cooker chili so that I didn't have to sweat it out over a stove. This way they got chili and I remained cool and collected (aka not sweating like a man through my shirt).

Then Hubby requested cornbread waffles be served with the chili. This is what happens when your husband likes to peruse Pinterest.

So I tweaked a slow cooker chili recipe that I found. I am NOT a burn your mouth and innards kind of chili gal. So this recipe is very mild. Just enough season and heat to know you are eating chili. If chili can be light and refreshing, this is it.

 Then I made a basic cornbread recipe and simply cooked it in a greased waffle iron.

A topping of sour cream and cheese, and the result is...

A really satisfying, no-fuss Summer and kid friendly chili.

Enjoy!

Slow Cooker Chili Over Cornbread Waffles 
chili adapted from Jimmy Fallon via Martha Stewart





Printable Recipe

Chili:

2 Tablespoons olive oil
3 lbs ground beef (90/10)
salt and pepper
1 white onion, diced
1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 jalapeno, seeded and finely chopped
1/4 cup chile powder
1 Tablespoon dried oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 (28oz) cans of whole tomatoes, roughly chopped in juices
1/3 cup chopped cilantro
2 (15oz) cans kidney beans drained and rinsed

Waffles:

2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups yellow corn meal
1 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt

Toppings:
shredded cheddar cheese
sour cream

To make the chili, in a large skillet heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Cook the ground hamburger. Season with salt and pepper. Drain fat and set aside.

In the skillet, heat up the other tablespoon of oil. Cook the onions, garlic, and jalapeno. Cook for about 5 minutes, until translucent. Set aside.

In a slow cooker, combine beef, onion mixture, chili powder, oregano, cumin, cayenne pepper. Stir to combine. Add in tomatoes and cilantro. Cover and cook on high for 5 hours

Add in kidney beans and season again with salt and pepper. Cook uncovered for 30 minutes, or until thickened.

When the chili is done, turn down to low and make the waffles.

Heat the waffle iron.

Beat eggs in a bowl. Stir in milk, oil, corn meal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt until smooth. Batter should be smooth and pourable. If it is too thick add a tablespoon of milk at a time.

Grease waffle iron. Pour some of the cornbread mixture into the waffle iron. Cook until done.

Serve chili over a warm cornbread waffle. Top with cheese and sour cream.

Thanks for reading!

Face Painting Kit: Funner in the Summer

Today I am over at Thirty Handmade Days

for Mique's Funner in the Summer Series.

I am sharing a fun Face Painting Kit idea.

My boys had so much fun with the face paint, it was a great 

way to have fun on a Summer afternoon.

Go on by and check it out.

Albion Fit WINNER

This is NOT me...just in case you thought I got 

plastic surgery and turned all statuesque and gorgeous. 

This is Albion's new suit the Athena and I totally love it. 

But I know that my love of this new suit is not what you wanna hear.

You want to know who the winner is...

Thanks to Rafflecopter and Random.org, the winner is...

#168 April Bolda Jacobson who left a comment--

"I love the gown suit in poppy!"

Congrats April!

Thanks to everyone else for reading and for entering!

Glitter Mason Jar Vases-Patriotic Center Pieces

I was beyond excited to work with American Crafts and their new Glitter line.

Glitter-tastic is what it is!

I fell in love with their glitter in all forms.

I knew when I saw the super fine glitter and the strong double sided adhesive that they should immediately be friends and that they needed to make something beautiful.

I also knew mason jars needed to be involved. Also since I got the patriotic glitter pack, I knew there needed to be some stars.

I made these Glitter Mason Jar Vases and filled them with white daisies and glitter stars and dots to make a very patriotic centerpiece.

The gingham jar might be my very favorite.

Not that I don't also love the ombre striped jars too. 'Cause I do.

 

Now table it fully Red, White, and Blue ready with just the right amount of sparkle, and all thanks to this great paper and glitter line from American Crafts.

The Patriotic Glitter pack from American Crafts includes some insanely cute paper.

Then there is all the glitter-tastic fun.

This double sided adhesive tape is FANTASTIC. Awesome I tell you. Along with the glitter, this was the key player in the making of my Glitter Mason Jar Vases.

For the Ombre Jars, I wrapped the tape around the jars.

Then they dusted them with glitter. I shook off the excess. I started with the darker shade and then did another stripe with the lighter blue.

For the gingham jar I just cut 1" squares of the double adheasive. Then I laid them out in a checker pattern. Then I dusted every square with the white glitter.

For the stars and dots to go into the flowers, I cut circles and stars out of the red, white, and blue glitter paper. Then I attached the stars and dots to a long skinny dowel.

The dowel stuck to one star. Then the other star got stuck to the top.

Repeat until you have all the stars and dots a person could ever want.

Stick them right into the flowers.

The perfect addition to the Glitter Mason Jars. These would be super cute on the table of an outdoor 4th of July barbeque.

Thank you American Crafts for these great products. Keep an eye out for their glitter products in your local stores. They can also be found on Amazon. 

Keep up with American Crafts--

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/americancrafts

Instagram: http://instagram.com/americancrafts#

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/americancrafts/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/amcrafts 

Thanks for stopping by. Have a glorious Tuesday!

Red White and Blue Guest Post: Mini Patriotic Pies

Don't forget to enter the

Albion $100 gift card giveaway.

 

I am very happy to be apart of Sugar Bee Crafts fun and patriotic Red, White, and Blue Series.

I am sharing how to make these Mini Patriotic Pies.

They are perfectly yummy little pies. Each pie filled with RED cherry filling and BLUEberry filling. Then each little pie is topped with their own little fancy crust.

They are the perfect little portable treat for any 4th of July party. Well really they are quite perfect for any Summer backyard barbeque or picnic.

They are quite the little showstoppers, and guess what they are just about the easiest thing to make EVER.

Here is what you need:

4 oz Jelly Jars (aka the teeniest tiniest canning jars)
canned pie filling
2 packages of refrigerated pie crust
egg white (for crust)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Spray the jars lightly with cooking spray.

Next line each jar with pie crust.

Each pie crust piece will line 4 jars, so one package will line 8 jars. Tear off a quarter and push it down in the jar. Smoosh and smooth it out in the jar. Make sure the inside of the jar is completely covered. Push out any air pockets.

Fill the crust lined jars with several scoops of the pie filling of your juice. Fill to the rim, but not heaping over.

Take the other package of pie crust and use one sheet to top the pies.

Using one of the rings from the jars, cut out rounds for the top.

For the BLUEberry pies I took the end of a straw and created a polka dot pattern. For the RED cherry pies I cut the round into slits and then wove the strips.

Then I crimped the tops closed and cut off any excess with a knife.

Next brush the tops of each pie with the egg white. Then sprinkle the tops with sugar.

Bake the pies for 20-25 minutes, or until the tops are golden.

Don't they look good enough to eat?

Oh wait, they are...

Yup, they were good enough to eat. They were good enough to lick the little bitty jars clean.

Once you have eaten one...or two little jar pies, let the rest cool. Tie some patriotic baker's twine around the jar. Pack them away and carry them with you to your 4th of July picnic/bbq.

Thanks Mandy for letting me join

your Red, White, and Blue Series.

It gave me the perfect excuse to bake myself a sweet treat!

A Pinteresting Wednesday: Batman T-shirt

Don't forget to enter the

Albion $100 gift card giveaway.

It is A Pinteresting Wednesday. Woot! Woot!

I actually made this shirt a couple months ago. I don't know why it took me so long to share it with you. Especially since I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this shirt.

I mean LUHHHVE.

I first saw this shirt idea on a friends board. I actually saw it and then just kept the idea in my head. I finally pinned it to my Little Men Clothing board as I was making my knock-off.

The original shirt is an adult shirt, and while I am sure Hubby could rock it, I really wanted one for Little.

So in an afternoon, I designed and the made my own.

Little wore it quite cutely, wouldn't you say?

I originally shared this on Instagram 

(follow along @larissa_anotherday)

I hand drew the batman mask image.

Then I scanned my drawing into the computer. I opened the image in Picmonkey and then I added in the writing using the font Amatic Small Caps in various sizes.

Once the image was saved, I imported the image into my Silhouette software. I cut it out in black flocked heat transfer vinyl from Expressions Vinyl.

Keeping it real moment--the teeny tiny letters were a little tedious, but with a small pair of tweezers it is doable.

Man, was it totally worth it. I love this font and I think it makes this shirt.

This is probably my most favoritest shirt to date. Maybe my most favorite Pinterest project to date.

Ah man. Love. Wait, I said that already.

I also love Pinterest.

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Thanks for reading!

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Albion Swimsuit Review and $100 Giveaway

First, this a lovely and wonderfully comfortable bathing suit from Albion Fit that I am absolutely in love with.

Second...

Goosh.

That is a photo of me.

That is a photo of me in a swimsuit.

That is a photo of me in a swimsuit that I am actually posting.

Give me a moment to freak out in my head.

(aaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...gasp...gasp...aaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....head between my knees...deep breaths....aaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh)

Thanks for giving me a moment.

For those of you who know me, you know this is a Hell freezing over kind of situation.

Which is why I would only trust my very close, very talented photographer friend Lisa of Lisa Hansen Photography to snap my bathing suit photos. When I called her in hysterics, she immediately obliged. I am so very grateful she lent me her talents.

Now that I have gotten over the shock of showing the world me in a bathing suit, let me tell you about this swimsuit and why I am willing to break my cardinal law (being photographed in a swimsuit).

Albion Fit contacted me and asked me if I would like to review one of their swimsuits. In under 3 seconds of looking at their site I was eagerly typing them back with an ecstatic "YES".

I ultimately picked the Criss Cross Suit because of its vintage feel. I have also wanted a classic black suit for awhile.

I was a little nervous after I picked it because I have not worn a one piece in over a decade. I have stuck strictly to tankinis for the very simple reason that prior to this whenever I have tried a one piece it looked horrible. They would cut me off all funny. I would feel like I had to walk all hunchback to make it fit. Basically, for whatever reason I would always look like a sad and unfortunate oompa loompa.

Not normally the look one goes for on the beach.

Well, who knew that was because I had been trying on sub par cheapo suits?!!??

As soon as I slipped the Criss Cross Suit on from Albion Fit, I actually said out loud, "Well this is how a swimsuit is supposed to fit. Glory be."

Yes I did actually say GLORY BE...just ask Hubby.

I can not fully explain how comfortable and supportive this suit is.

To. Die. For.

I am now fully confident that if I jump off the diving board in my normal graceful fashion I will neither a) get a wedgie or b) come out of the top.

Besides the comfort and support of the suit, it really is rather lovely.

Like I said earlier, it is a classic and vintage looking suit. I am in love with the neck line. LOVE I tell you.

The gathering in the front adds a great detail AND if you have had a few...say like four...kids the added bonus of the gathers is that it helps disguise any deflated balloon belly.

Speaking of my kids, this suit is the perfect suit for a day trip to the pool. I can lounge and look like a carefree movie star for the 60 seconds my boys will let me. Then when the monkeys realize they are free from their cage, the suit will keep up with all the carrying, saving, and being climbed upon that having four monkeys entails.

Best. Suit. Ever.

Now Albion doesn't just make suits. They also make a pretty rockin' line of athletic wear for women that I can't wait to try!

So now on to the best part.

Oh the giveaway. Happy dance for giveaways.

Albion Fit has so generously offered one of Just Another Day in Paradise readers a $100 gift card to use towards a suit or some workout clothes.

To enter all you need to do is follow the prompts of the Rafflecopter.

The mandatory entries are to visit Albion Fit, look around, fall in love, and 

come back and leave a comment about what you love.

The other entries are not mandatory, but hey who wouldn't

want more chances to win this gift card??

The giveaways will run until Saturday, June 22nd at 11:59 pm MST.

If you simply can't wait for the giveaway, then they are also offering $15 off any purchase of $50 or more

with the use of the code JustAnotherDay15.

Good Luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cherry Almond Cake

Summer in a bowl. In a dainty, delightful dessert bowl.

I am not always a fan of cherries. They are a fickle, high maintenance fruit. I don't do high maintenance.

I mean, for reals, cherries are a lot of work. You can't just eat them. You have to pluck and pit them. Call me lazy, but I hate to work for my fruit. Cherries and pomegranates duel it out for the diva fruit in my book.

Since I do care for them both a great deal, I occasionally put my laziness aside and I work for my fruit.

Recently we got a whole flat full of cherries. Gloriously plump, red, and delightful cherries.

Seriously they are so beautiful. I guess if I was that beautiful I would be high maintenance too. Hahaha.

Now since we love cherries, but not enough to sit down and eat that many in a few days, we decided to utilize all our bright and cheery cherries.

If you follow me on Instagram ( @larissa_anotherday ), then you know we canned over half of them.

We also saved a few cups of them to bake the yummiest dessert ever. Here is a "keep it real" moment. I did not bake this dessert. I thought the dessert sounded so/so. Hubby was the one who tried and tweaked this recipe. He was the one who baked it and gave me the "you are gonna be sorry for making fun of this dessert" look.

So yes, this lovely little dessert was completely made by Hubby (together with the help of Little).

I just snapped the pictures, scooped it up, and happily scarfed it down.

The consistency of this cake is more like German Pancakes, thicker than flan, but not airy like cake. The cherries sit happily amidst the cake. The top is delightfully golden and sugary. There is just the most delicious hint of almond.

Serve with a few scoops of vanilla ice cream...YUM!

Cherry season thanks for showing up. I sure love ya.

Cherry Almond Cake

2 cups pitted cherries
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour
pinch of salt
3/4 cup almond milk
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Lightly spray a 9x9 baking dish. Pour the cherries into the bottom of the baking dish.

Mix eggs, sugar, flour, and salt in a bowl. Whisk to blend. Add in milk, oil, and extract. Whisk until smooth.

Pour the mixture over the cherries.

Bake for 45 minutes. Cool slightly on a wire rack.

Serve warm with ice cream or serve cool.

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Reasons to Skip the Housework

Father's Day Gift: Master of the Grill

Hi friends! I feel like it has been while since I have shown my face around here.

Summer is in full swing and that means crazy, full-steam-ahead, jam-packed schedules. I basically don't know which way is up. By the end of the day (which of course is later during the Summer), I plop myself, exhausted, on the couch and I sit there pretending I am not asleep.

So that is why I am not around as much.

But I am here today to share number three of number four Father's Day Gifts idea. I already shared a World's Best Pop and a CAMP Be Beat gift idea.

Today I have a Master of the Grill Father's Day Gift idea for you.

I mean what dad doesn't love to cook raw meat over an open flame? It is kind of a tale as old as time.

Man. Meat. Flame.

For this Master of the Grill gift, first I made an apron.

I bought a simple apron from a craft store. I found a basic grill image and then traced it onto freezer paper. Then I cut the image out and used it as a stencil to paint on the image with black fabric paint. I used iron on adhesive and white jersey fabric for the letters. I figured the phrase I Turn Grills On  was very fitting for my oh-so-studly Hubby.

To the grilling apron I added a few new grilling utensils, some fancy BBQ sauces from a local specialty store,  a set of vintage looking condiment bottles and then I put them all in a Summery container.

I was planning on making a printable to attach to my gift, but then the heavens opened and the Grilling Gods led me to this very appropriate and quite manly meat DAD card.

Could you die? Seriously. I couldn't have found a more perfect card. I would have had to mold giant piles of raw beef to even come close.

Gratefully someone else handled the piles of beef for me.

Less than a week to Father's Day and I only have one more idea to share with you. So exciting!

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The 36th Avenue