CHICKEN TACO SOUP...CROCKPOT STYLE

Good Morning Loves...
y'all grab a pen and paper because you will want to
jot down this recipe....you are going to LOVE this easy, delicious recipe!
I just adore crockpot recipes where you can just add
all the ingredients at once, turn your slow cooker on Low....
and dinner is ready when you are!

This recipe was just so yummy and filling for a Saturday night dinner....
The recipe was actually entitled White Chicken Chili, but I call
it Chicken Taco Soup which is more descriptive of the recipe.

The SALSA VERDE was the perfect ingredient too!

15 ounce can pinto beans drained

15.5 ounce can great northern beans drained

11 ounce can shoepeg corn drained

10 ounce can Rotel (diced tomatoes and green chilies)

2 cups chicken broth

16 ounce jar salsa verde

1 ½-2 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs

1 cup diced yellow onion about 1 medium onion

2 tablespoons taco seasoning

Garnish Options:
 tortilla chips, lime wedges, jalapeno slices,
sour cream, cilantro, avocado slices

Drain the pinto beans, great northern beans, and corn.

To a crockpot, add the drained beans and corn,
 Rotel, broth, salsa verde, chicken, onion, and taco seasoning.

Stir the mixture until combined well.
Cook on low 6-8 hours or high 4-5 hours.

Break the chicken into smaller pieces either inside the crockpot
 or by transferring to a bowl, shredding,
and returning to the crockpot.

Ladle and serve with garnishes as desired.

It's Texas thing....y'all are gonna love this one!

 

OUR TEXAS WINTER STORM DAYS

We are cold, cold Texans y'all....It is currently 15 degrees
with a wind chill of 6 degrees.
I send you warm wishes and hope you are snuggled up
under the covers, staying warm and well in your corner of the world.
Schools are closed and will be for a few days.
Roads are icy and dangerous....
I am so grateful for a warm home and power to cook
delicious meals for the boys.... 
They were so helpful in storing away the last
of our Christmas decor....
let's take a look at our winter weekend....

Out at the ranch, Miss Elizabeth snapped a few moments of
the sleet and snow outside of her window....

The horses wear their winter blankets and gather in the barn on these days....

She lives way out in the countryside.....

Such a beautiful piece of property that holds so many memories
of marvelous celebrations....

Here at home, Otis loved snuggling under a soft throw....
he does not like winter weather one bit...

Sunday morning was made even more cozy with hot blueberry biscuits....

The sleet was beginning to fall....

Just a bit of snow falling, but extremely cold and icy...

This leaves me yearning for spring and sunshine

Even the birds and squirrels were staying in their nests....

I made a sheet pan dinner of roasted chicken, corn and carrots....

Sunday morning, we had a tiny peek of sun...
then a beautiful snowfall began....

Lucy was on patrol....

The greenbelt is beautiful in winter...

There is no place like home....
remember, spring is sure to follow

COTTAGECORE WINTER TABLE AND A DELICIOUS POUND CAKE

Winter has a quiet rhythm.... 

have you ever been for a walk in nearby woods
on a winter afternoon after a snowfall?

It's incredibly quiet...not a sound can be heard,
except for a maybe a falling ice laden tree branch..
you pull your coat a bit tighter and keep
your hands tucked inside your mittens....
longing to return home and warm up with hot chocolate...



When I think of designing a winter themed tablescape
on the farmhouse table, I go for simplicity...
I need warmth and tradition in the heart of our home...
so I think of cottage core style of plaids and ginghams!
I like the charm of it all....a feeling of nostalgia...
that feeling can be found in the details...
the linens, warm woods, brass and candlelight...
and of course, something good to eat.....

And, I am still embracing deep greens, along
with a few accents of winter white...as in a touch
of my vintage William-Sonoma plates, which
I use every season!



The necessity of layering a look...
and it can be as simple as a cloth napkin within your color story....
I wanted to include this brass deer that belonged to my mother-in-law

The centerpiece is simplistic but it features just what I wanted
with carefully selected decor pieces that are vintage and well loved...

I think I shall stay awhile and enjoy a cup of tea and a piece of this marvelous pound cake..

Recipe is linked below

CONDENSED MILK POUND CAKE

LEMON CAKE AND WINTER WEATHER

 GOOD MORNING WINTER LOVERS....
Are you snug and warm in your cozy home?
I hope this finds you well, sitting by the fire
in warm socks and soft blankets....we need
comforts during winter as we dream of
warmer weather and picnics in the park....
I have a delightful recipe for your today..
a marvelous lemon cake that tastes sooo good and
smells like a fresh lemon while baking...
You will want to make this for your 
next gathering!

One box lemon cake mix
One small box instant lemon pudding
1 cup milk
1 stick of melted butter
4 eggs
1 t. lemon extract

Mix all ingredients with a hand mixer
Pour into a prepared bundt pan
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes

I wish I could have bottled the aroma....

I always serve a lemon dessert at Easter and this is the one
that will be served for 2026

If you are looking for a good cookbook, this darling
book is all about the art of the PICNIC ...
full of recipes, illustrations and lovely stories..

We love salad for a light lunch and this
Lime garden chopped salad was so refreshing....
I love a bag salad, how about you?

A winter storm is headed our way for the weekend....
perhaps a time for a pot of 15 bean soup....

NEW TABLESCAPE AND SCRUMPTIOUS BROWN BUTTER CHOCOLATE CHUNK COOKIES

 Good morning Kindred Spirits...
I so hope all is well in your corner of the world!
It's been gray and cold here in Texas....
I am STILL packing away all the Christmas decor
and the outside lighting was removed too!
Our evenings are cozy as we enjoy cocktails by the fire.....
I am loving trying out NEW recipes and today.
I have got a fabulous one to share with you....
So, let's pay a visit to the kitchen....

My thoughts can be so random on nights when I have trouble sleeping...
and I was thinking about my little set of Mikasa plates I had..
I love these little plates and thought I need to use them on the
farmhouse table...and so this is what has transpired....

It reminds me of grandmother's table...
I think this theme could work for most seasons too!

I adore vintage glassware and chose to use
these highball glasses from Kate Aspen.

Candles are perfect for winter months and I 
selected one of my Cheerful Giver candles...

This is my favorite brand of candles...
and have been for a long time...

Can you even imagine a more beautiful scent?

And now, let's talk cookies!!!
Y'all....Harry was right!
These are AMAZING!!!!

Harrison Wallace, my favorite home chef and delightful
influencer, who resides in Dallas, bakes these cookies
for most of his dinner parties and celebrations....
he said, everyone will often say, "let's skip dinner, where are the cookies?"

Here is the link to the recipe
BROWN BUTTER CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

These cookies are a bit of a process, but fun to make and
lovely to bake...what beautiful cookies and I will say,
I was a bit nervous to try my hand at them, but was
over the moon happy about how perfect they turned out!
It's been fun to try new things...

Did you ever go ice skating?
I did as a child and loved it..
it requires strong ankles as I recall....
now that's a lovely memory....

COTTAGE CHIC HOME DECOR AND TRIPLE BERRY PIE

Well....we begin again....perhaps, you are experiencing a bit
of the winter blahs....we often do after the flurry of holiday
activities and all the merriment of Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Texas sunrise on a January morning....
cottonwoods are bare in the greenbelt....
Winter can be rather bleak but how thankful that
we live in the great state of Texas....
the high today will be 75 degrees..perfecto for a bit
of outdoor activity....
inside, I am transitioning our home into the spring season....
yes, I decided to skip over the winter months....
I am even planning my Easter decor....makes me happy!



A good beginning in this transition, was to refresh
the farmhouse table with a table runner and a few
of my favorite little pieces that gives off a cottage vibe....

I needed warm and cosy colors of golds and persimmon...
which gives off a feeling of comfort and relaxation.

It's important to keep feeling passionate for a few things you 
enjoying doing, such as changing out your home decor
for the changing seasons.

And it can be as simple as changing out a throw pillow and cozy throw..
I feel better already......
and I still embrace my love for cooking new recipes....
I tried my hand at baking a fresh triple berry pie....

COMFORT FOOD FROM ESTELLE'S KITCHEN

The fresh berries reminded me of summer....
and they are so beautiful and soooo delicious....

I wanted to make a lattice top crust in order for the berries
to show through and make it appear a bit rustic....

Here's a tip on creating a beautiful slice of pie...
allow the fresh berry pie to cool, and then chill
in the refrigerator a bit before serving...
this will allow the juice to settle and prevent it from being too runny....

I would say we are off to a pretty good start for the new year.....