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Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Texas Cowboy Soup (Great for Leftover Roast)

Ingredients

1–2 cups shredded roast beef

1 small onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 can diced tomatoes

4–5 cups beef broth (or broth + water)

3 potatoes, diced

1 can corn

1 can green beans

1 can beans (pinto, kidney, or black beans)

1 tsp chili powder

1 tsp paprika

½ tsp cumin

Salt & pepper

In a soup pot, cook the onion in oil for about 4 minutes until soft.  Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.  Stir in diced tomatoes, broth, potatoes, chili powder, paprika, cumin.  Bring to a simmer.  Add the shredded roast beef and let it simmer about 10 minutes. Stir in beans, corn, green beans.  Simmer another 5–10 minutes until the potatoes are tender. Add salt and pepper to taste.  

Toppings that make it amazing: shredded cheese, sour cream, crushed tortilla or corn chips, green onions




Sunday, March 15, 2026

Spring heights for the boys

Moose is almost 15 1/2 years old and is 6'2".

Levi is 13 1/2 years old and is 5'10".

Peewee is almost 11 years old and is 5' .25".



Monday, February 2, 2026

Cabbage Recipes

 

Stuffed Cabbage Skillet (Loose Recipe)

Brown some ground beef in a large skillet and season it well with salt and plenty of black pepper, plus a little garlic. Don’t be shy here — cabbage needs bold seasoning.

Once the beef is cooked, add a big pile of chopped cabbage and let it start to soften and cook down.

Stir in a can of corn (drained), and a little tomato sauce or canned tomatoes, just enough to bring everything together. Season again with more salt and pepper, tasting as you go.

Let it simmer until the cabbage is tender and everything is cozy and well combined. Adjust seasoning one last time before serving. Serve over baked potato or rice.

This is hearty, comforting, and even better as leftovers.

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Cabbage, Bean & Ham Chili-Style Stew (Loose Recipe)

If you’re using dry beans, get those cooked first and set aside.

In a large pot, sauté onion and garlic in a little oil until soft. Add a big pile of chopped cabbage and let it cook down until it starts to soften.

Stir in your cooked beans, chopped cooked ham, one can of corn (drained), and one can of jalapeños (with some or all of the liquid, depending on heat preference).

Sprinkle in a full McCormick chili seasoning packet and stir well. Add water or broth until everything is just covered. Taste, then add salt and pepper if needed (the ham and chili packet already bring some salt).

Let it simmer until the cabbage is very soft and the flavors come together, stirring occasionally. Adjust seasoning at the end.

This is hearty, slightly smoky, and even better the next day.

Easy Chicken Tinga–Style (Loose Recipe)

Easy Chicken Tinga–Style (Loose Recipe)

Start by sautéing some onion and garlic in a pan until soft and fragrant.
Once that smells good, add your shredded chicken and let it warm through.

Stir in canned tomatoes to make everything saucy. Add one can of jalapeños (with some or all of the liquid, depending on how spicy you want it) and a can of corn (with the juice).

Season generously with chili powder — heavier than you think — plus a little cumin and salt. Taste and adjust until it’s bold and cozy, not flat.

Let everything simmer for about 10–15 minutes, just long enough for the flavors to come together and the chicken to soak up the sauce.

Serve however you like:

  • In tortillas

  • Over rice

  • Or piled onto a baked potato

This gets even better the next day and reheats really well.

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Blackberry Freezer Jam

Blackberry Freezer Jam

Yields about 9–10 half-pint jars (or equivalent)

Ingredients

4 cups crushed blackberries

(from frozen, thawed and well-drained)

7 cups granulated sugar

2 (2-oz) packages MCP pectin

¾ cup water

Instructions

Thaw blackberries completely.  Drain off excess juice (save it for smoothies!).  Lightly mash berries — chunky is fine.  Measure exactly. Jam chemistry is picky.

Prepare containers by washing jars and lids.  No need to sterilize for freezer jam.

Measure 4 cups crushed blackberries.  Put into a large bowl and set aside.  Add 7 cups sugar to berries.  Stir very well (2–3 minutes).  Let sit while you prep pectin.  The sugar should start dissolving.

In a saucepan, combine:

2 pouches MCP pectin

¾ cup water

Bring to a full rolling boil (can’t be stirred down).  Boil 1 full minute, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat immediately.

Pour hot pectin mixture into the berry/sugar bowl.  Stir constantly for 3 minutes.  Make sure sugar is fully dissolved (no grainy feel).  

Pour jam into containers.  Leave about ½ inch headspace.  Wipe rims, add lids.  Let jars sit at room temp for 24 hours.  Jam will thicken as it sets.

Refrigerate up to 3 weeks.  Freeze up to 1 year.



Monday, January 12, 2026

Asian Inspired Roast

Asian Inspired Roast

3 1/2-4 lbs chuck roast⁣
1 cup low sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup honey⁣
1/3 cup rice vinegar
1 cup chicken broth ⁣
3 tb brown sugar⁣
5 cloves garlic, mashed⁣
2 tb sesame oil⁣
2 tsp red chili pepper flakes
sliced jalapenos (to taste)
1 tsp kosher salt⁣

Prepare the marinade by whisking all of the ingredients together in a medium bowl. Pat the chuck roast dry and place it in the crock pot. Pour the marinade over the roast, turning it a few times so it’s well coated. Cover and cook on LOW for 8–9 hours or on HIGH for 4–5 hours, until the meat is very tender.

About 30 minutes before serving, check the roast and use two forks to gently pull it apart. If it doesn’t shred easily, cover and continue cooking until tender. Once ready, fully shred the meat and toss it with the juices in the crock pot.

Serve over rice and garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds if desired.