Simple Turkey Chili

I make this turkey chili at least once a year... I love it!!

Ingredients

3 teaspoons olive oil

1 onion, chopped

1 green pepper, chopped

1 red pepper, chopped

1 tablespoon garlic, minced

1 pound ground turkey

2 cups water

1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes

1 (16 ounce) can kidney beans – drained, rinsed and half mashed

2 tablespoons chili powder

½ teaspoon paprika

½ teaspoon dried oregano

½ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

½ teaspoon ground cumin

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

1. Cook onions, peppers and garlic in half the oil until tender.

2. Heat the other half of the oil in a pot.  Place turkey in the pot, and cook until evenly brown. 

3. Stir in onion mixture.

4. Pour water into the pot. Mix in tomatoes and kidney beans. 

5. Season with chili powder, paprika, oregano, cayenne pepper, cumin, salt and pepper.  

6. Bring to a boil. 

7. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 30 minutes.

I like cheese & sour cream on my chili... and a few Fritos. YUM!

Happy New Year!!

Well, it's 2012!  Happy New Year!!!!

Time to make some New Year's resolutions!  Obviously, like most people, first I need to loose some weight & be healthier... but that's every year, so what can I do different for this year?

1. Take more pictures. I love looking back at great times and reliving happy memories through photographs.  But, I have become a slacker photographer.  So, 2012... more pictures!

2. Get back to scrapbooking.  Tying into #1, I want to get back into scrapbooking.  I am over 6 years behind.  I was always a little behind, but then started back to school, bought a house and then just was overwhelmed by how far behind I am!  But baby steps back into it.

3. Blog more often.  Obviously. :)

I also want to add a couple new things into 2012... something different & fun.  What will it be?  Maybe learn another language? Take a cooking class?  Take a photography class?

www.mythirtyone.com/agrupp

Lastly I became a Thirty-One consultant last summer.  I had a few great parties thanks to some awesome friends, but would really like to grow my little business in 2012.  I started out to have something fun "to-do" and meet some new people.  Mission accomplished.  Thirty-One is definitely FUN... everything about it!  For instance this past weekend I went to a movie theater to see the new spring catalog released.  What a great time!  And I have met some great people and made lots of new friends.  Now, I will continue to have fun, build relationships, and meet new people.... but also want to make a little extra money to help lower some bills I have accumulated.

So, I see a fun year ahead of me... and I'm ready!!  Good bye 2011!!

OHMYGOSH!

What happened to my poor blog?  I will be back at it ASAP! 

In the meantime, here are some older pictures of me...



1960





1966



1972



1976

Ten on Tuesday #15

Ten on Tuesday


All About You!!


A. Age: 31
B. Bed Size: Queen
C. Chore that you hate: cleaning the bathroom
D. Dogs: yes - I have one... Shelby :)
E. Essential start to your day: Morning news & GMA
F. Favorite Color: Yellow (and purple... and hot pink...)
G. Gold or Silver: Silver
H. Height: 5'5.75" 
I. Instruments you play: I used to play the flute...
J. Job Title: On Demand HR Generalist and Thirty-One Independent Consultant
K. Kids: just Shelby :)
L. Live:  Live??  I don't get it...
M. Mother's Name:  Judy... visit her blog! http://judygruppstudio.blogspot.com/
N. Nicknames: Ash, Gruppy, Smash
O. Overnight hospital stays: Maybe one when I was younger?
P. Pet Peeve: dumb drivers
Q. Quote from a movie: “A dog doesn’t care if you’re rich or poor, educated or illiterate, clever or dull. Give him your heart and he will give you his.” (John Grogan from Marley & Me)
R. Right or Left Handed:  Right
S. Siblings: none
T. Time you wake up: 5:45am on weekdays... weekends I sleep as late as I can!
U. Underwear:  yes, I wear underwear :)
V. Vegetable you hate: Brussel Sprouts
W. What makes you run late: myself!
X. X-Rays you've had: both ankles & back
Y. Yummy food that you make: Cookies
Z. Zoo Animal: Giraffes

The Best Lemon Bars

The Best Lemon Bars

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
•  
• 4 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 lemons, juiced (about 2/3 cup)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2.  In a medium bowl, blend together softened butter, 2 cups flour and 1/2 cup sugar.  Press into the bottom on an ungreased 9x13 inch pan.

3.  Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until firm and golden. 


4.  In another bowl, whisk together the remaining 1 1/2 cups sugar and 1/4 cup flour. Whisk in the eggs and lemon juice. Pour over the baked crust.

5.  Bake for an additional 20 minutes in the preheated oven. The bars will firm up as they cool. Add powdered sugar.

YUM!!!!

Ten on Tuesday #14

Ten on Tuesday 8.24.11

1. Do you listen to the radio in your car? If so, what type of station do you like?

Yes, most of the time.  I listen to Maryland stations 98 Rock I(mostly talk) and Mix 106.5 in the morning... I like more talk stuff to keep my mind occupied.  Other times I listen to 92.1, 96.9, 99.3, 106.7, 101.3, 103.3... I stop when I hear a song I like.

2. What is the best concert you have ever attended?

That's hard... probably any Kenny Chesney... although I went to my fair share of *NSYNC concerts that I loved too...

3. What is the most embarrassing concert you have ever attended?

I don't think I'm embarrassed by any concert I've been to??

4. If you could have the singing voice of anyone in the world, who would it be?

Carrie Underwood

5. You’re auditioning for American Idol. What song do you sing?

Do I have Carrie Underwood's voice??  If not, then nothing. (you're welcome America)

6. If your previous weekend had its own soundtrack, what would be a few of the songs?

OMG - "Come on Eileen" was in my head all weekend... except I kept substituting "Irene" for "Eileen" :)

7. Most annoying television show theme song ever?

Can't think of one?

8. Are you and your significant other music-compatible?

No significant other here... so sure! =P

9. A song that brings me back to middle school:

10. A song that brings me back to high school:

11. A guilty pleasure song:

I have a ton... I have a soft spot for boy bands, so anything by NKOTB or *NSYNC is my guilty pleasure... lately I've been listening to a lot of Colbie Caillat... is that a guilty pleasure song?

Baked Eggplant and Zucchini

During the hurricane, I decided to try a recipe I had seen online... it was simple and delish!!

Baked Eggplant and Zucchini from Rachel Ray

Ingredients:

2 cups tomato sauce

1 small eggplant, cut into long slabs

2 small zucchini, cut into long slabs

1 cup each shredded fontina and parmesan

1/3 cup torn basil

As you can see I made some minor adjustments... I added mushrooms and used a 6 Cheese Italian blend cheese.

Directions:

1. Spread 1/2 cup sauce in 9-by-13-inch baking dish; top with eggplant, zucchini, 3/4 cup sauce and half of each cheese and basil; repeat. Bake for 25 minutes at 400 degrees.

First layer...

Second layer (I forgot to put the mushrooms on before the sauce & cheese)

After... yummm...

It was pretty tasty!!  Next time I would slice the eggplant and zucchini thinner.  I also added some Tastefully Simple Italian Seasoning mix which helped give it some flavor.