The leaves are changing, carved pumpkins are out on the front porch of almost every house, it's starting to get really cold at night. It's fall -- and chili season. Josh and I have come up with a wacky recipe that'll spice up your fall and keep you warm all night long. This chili is slow cooked so the flavors are thoroughly absorbed....Read More
The leaves are changing, carved pumpkins are out on the front porch of almost every house, it's starting to get really cold at night. It's fall -- and chili season. Josh and I have come up with a wacky recipe that'll spice up your fall and keep you warm all night long. This chili is slow cooked so the flavors are thoroughly absorbed....Read More
What is comfort food if not a grilled cheese with tomato soup. As a child, going over to my girl friends' homes for sleep overs, we always hoped that our lunches would consist of tomato soup, grilled cheese, and Goldfish Crackers. It was the best, and even better if bacon was involved. The recipe below has no bacon involved, but with a soup as flavorful as this, and a combo of white cheddar, and asiago cheese on beer bread, it's not even necessary.
Adding basil makes this soup a little bit different from the grilled cheese and tomato soup I was used to as a kid. But it isn't too overwhelming and remains a kid friendly soup. I'm sure it would pair well with Goldfish Crackers :)
What You'll Need:
-A blender/food processor
-5 Medium Sized Tomatoes cut into wedges
-2 Cloves Garlic minced
-1 Tbsp dried Basil
-A Pinch of Crushed Red Pepper
-1/4 tsp Black Pepper
-1 tsp Salt
-1 tsp Oregano
-2 tsp Olive Oil
-1/2 Cup Fresh Basil
-1/2 Cup Vegetable Stock (I always go for organic)
-Salt and Pepper to taste
-1/2 Cup White Cheddar
-1/2 Cup Asiago Cheese
-1/2 Tbsp Unsalted Butter
--A sprinkle of Paprika per sandwich
-Your bread of choice -- if you've made our beer bread recipe use it here! :)
If you're interested in adding a bit more heat to your soup, consider adding more crushed red pepper, or throwing a dried chili pepper in!
(The nutrition facts above only include the tomato soup)
Josh and I are really into making our own bread; I couldn't tell you the last time we actually went out to buy a loaf of bread. We've even made bagels, and I'll tell you what, homemade bagels are wonderful! The trouble with bread is how long it takes, especially since Josh and I don't have a mixer, so everything is done by...Read More
Leaves started changing here in Carbondale. The colder months in Southern Illinois usually take there time to creep in, which I'm very thankful of! However, by night, lately the temperatures have been hitting 50 steadily, and Josh and I started binge watching scary movies. Inevitably we are feeling the giddiness of Halloween approaching. In light of this, we spent our entire night watching...Read More
When I think of sloppy joes, I immediately think of tater tots; I consider it the ultimate side for sloppy joes.
Josh and I really freaking love Mexican food. We like to try to put a Mexican flair on as much as we possibly can! We took an American classic and put a little bit of Mexican twist on it to create a slightly spicy, and super delicious dish.
Sloppy Joes without the bun, on a bed of tater tots. Topped off with cheese, and an array of nacho toppings, putting these items together in one delicious pile is the ultimate quick fix dinner.

2. While prepping the vegetables, cook the bacon over medium-low heat (if you are cooking your bacon while chopping, make sure you don't forget about it!) Once the bacon is cooked to a nice crispy texture put it off to the side on a paper towel. Then slice the bacon. Cook the tater tots according to package directions.
Josh and I really freaking love Mexican food. We like to try to put a Mexican flair on as much as we possibly can! We took an American classic and put a little bit of Mexican twist on it to create a slightly spicy, and super delicious dish.
Sloppy Joes without the bun, on a bed of tater tots. Topped off with cheese, and an array of nacho toppings, putting these items together in one delicious pile is the ultimate quick fix dinner.

What You'll Need:
-1 Bell Pepper
-1 Small Yellow Onion
-4 Leaves of Romain, shredded
-1 Tomato
-3 Cloves of Garlic
-1/4 Cup of Cilantro
-1 lb of Ground Beef
-4 Strips of Bacon, sliced
-1/2 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
-1/2 Cup of Ketchup
-1/2 Cup Chipotle Sauce
-2 Tbsp Mustard
-1 Tbsp Worcestershire
-1 tsp olive oil
-2 tsp Brown Sugar
-1 tsp Oregano
-1 tsp Cumin
-1/4 tsp Chili Powder
-Salt
Pepper
-1 Bag of Frozen Tater Tots (cooked according to package instructions)
We used this amazing Worcestershire sauce that Josh and I have been picking up every time we visit his mom in Nashville. We've found so many different things to use this in... even good for a
"bourbon-ey"twist on a Bloody Mary :)
1. Prep all the vegetables: dice the onion, bell pepper, and tomato. Put these off to the side in separate containers. Mince the cilantro and garlic.

3. Cook the ground beef in a large frying pan with tall edges until browned. Drain the pan of grease. Add in the ketchup, Worcestershire, chipotle sauce, mustard, half of the minced garlic, brown sugar, half of the cilantro, and all of the spices. Add 1/2 tsp of Salt, and Pepper to taste. Stir everything together, bring to simmer and let it sit covered for about 10-12 minutes.
4. While the sloppy joe simmers, in a separate pan, bring the olive oil to a hot temperature and add the rest of the minced garlic. Stir constantly until the garlic becomes fragrant, and add the onion. When the onion is cooked, lastly, add in the bell pepper. Add the contents of the pan into the sloppy joe mixture and stir everything together. Let it simmer for about 5 minutes.
5. Arrange your cooked tater tots on a baking sheet so that you can't really see the baking sheet. Layer the sloppy joe mixture on top, and sprinkle the cheese on top of the meat.
6. Shred the lettuce and top off the sloppy joe tater tots with lettuce, diced tomato, bacon, and the fresh cilantro that you have left over!
As always, enjoy! :)
Breakfast for dinner is something I crave at least once a week, at least. Sweet or savory, you name it, as long as breakfast comes with bacon, I'm usually a happy camper. This sandwich is seriously satisfying no matter what the time of day, and such a quick fix. In this recipe I've included directions to make crispy and delicious hash browns, and...Read More