Great Fall Meals

This is without a doubt my favorite time of year! It always seems to make me want to be in my kitchen more than usual. I love pouring over soup recipes, trying out new desserts, and setting out the honey and apple butter to go on whatever bread I put with dinner. I keep a candle burning on the counter and light the old oil lamp to make it feel even cozier. I never feel like grilling or making light meals in October or November. I always find myself craving something more savory and hearty. I have already blogged about different soup recipes and my chili, but there are so many great things to put in the big pot and let simmer all day. This past weekend, I found a huge, bright red, dutch oven at TJMaxx and decided that it belonged on my stove. It is now full of beans and the leftover ham from last night. The whole house smells wonderful and I have the peace of mind that dinner is already prepared and all I have to do is pop some biscuits in the oven this evening.

I found a new soup recipe last year and made it again last week. It's called Taco Soup and is really hearty and delicious. All you do is brown 1 and 1/2 pounds of ground chuck with 1 onion diced, then add a can of pinto beans and a can of chili beans, a large can of diced tomatoes, a can of rotel, two cans of chili with no beans, 1 pound of Velveeta, and a packet of taco seasoning. After this has simmered for just a bit, add in 2 cups of sour cream and heat through. Serve it with cornbread and you have a simple, delicious meal!

Another great meal to remember is ham. It is a little expensive but it goes so far and makes so many meals. Last night, I basted my pre-cooked ham with a sauce made out of yellow mustard, brown sugar, and coke. Then I slow cooked it covered, all afternoon. Right before I served it, I basted it one more time then let it cook without the lid on for about ten minutes.
After that meal, you have ham sandwiches for the next couple of days, and then when you're tired of sandwiches, dump it into a pot with your favorite canned beans, add extra water and some minced onion.
You have just served at least four meals off of one ham!

If you're family likes spicy Cajun food, I found a recipe for jambalaya and changed it up a little. It is one of my family's favorites.
I'll try to give you the recipe as close to the way I make it as possible.

Jambalaya
Brown 2 cloves of garlic and 2 tablespoons of butter in a large pot. Add 2 14 and 1/2 ounce cans of diced tomatoes, 2 cans of chicken broth, and two cups of uncooked instant rice, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and let simmer about half an hour. Then add a package of smoked sausage cut up and browned, cooked ham or chicken (whichever your prefer) and a cup or two of shrimp (depending on how much you like shrimp. We LOVE it so I add quite a bit.).
Then add spices to your liking. Salt, pepper, Tony Cacheras, (the more of this you add, the more Cajun it will taste. I put in alot!), garlic salt, whatever spices you like in your Cajun food.

Of course don't forget roast! I posted different roast recipes back in January under "Regarding Roasts" so if you need a new idea for your roast, check back in my blog archives.

Well I have to hop off here now and go start one of the huge baskets of ironing screaming at me from down in the laundry room. I hope this gets you in the cooking mood and if it doesn't, then read "Farmer Boy" by Laura Ingalls Wilder. If that doesn't get you into your kitchen, then nothing will!
Bye for now!!