Easy Black Bean Soup

This soup is so easy and so low fat.

3 cans of black beans
1 small onion chopped
1 small jar of picante or you can add more if you like
1 1/2 cup of beef broth
1 1/2 cup of water
1 tsp of cumin

Drain 2 cans of the beans. On the 3rd can you want to put it in a bowl with the can juice. Smash it with a potato masher. Add the picante and cumin to the mashed beans. Take your chopped up onion, beef broth, and water to a boil until the onions are tender. When the onions are tender add the mashed up beans and the other two drained beans. Simmer for about 45min. Add a little of sour cream in your bowl and eat.

Marshalls find

I love me some Marshalls. I go about 2 times a week. I was lucky enough to find a cute little picture for $5. I love the colors

Now that I look at in a picture it might need to be hung lower.

Snickerdoodle Cupcake

If you like the snickerdoodle cookie then will love this. Very easy to make

Ingredients
2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup shortening
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
3 tablespoons white sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Directions
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan.
2.In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
3.In a large bowl, cream shortening and 2 cups sugar until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well with each addition. Alternately add milk and flour mixture in three stages, mixing well with each addition.
4.In a small bowl, mix 3 tablespoons sugar with 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over cake.
5.Pour into prepared 9x13 inch pan and bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 35 to 40 minutes or until done.

I made up my own icing but it was really good

I took about 4 tablespoons of butter softened and mixed it with a bag of powdered sugar. I added some cream until it got looking like icing. Then I sprinkled some cinnamon and sugar on top

I didn't marry a baker

The other night I was craving cookie dough. I wanted something sweet but I sure didn't want to make it. I asked my hubby if he would make some cookies and to my surprise he said yes. I was so excited but very nervous of him making cookies from scratch. I decided that a box of brownie mix would be easy enough for him to do. Hubby and my youngest boy were busy making the brownies while the oldest and I played Mario. I was so excited to finally get some brownies. I waited for the timer to go off and being the nice wife I am I got them out of the oven. What I saw next blew my mind. You see hubby put the brownie dough on a cookie sheet. The brownies looked like a huge pancake. I really couldn't understand how you don't know what kind of pan to use. I mean they tell you on the box. I have to admit though they were really good. You had to scrape them off the pan because he forgot the cooking spray. He tried and they were good. Thank you Ryan for being you!

About me Game

Rules:
1. You must post these rules.
2. Each per­son must post 11 things about them­selves on their blog.
3. Answer the ques­tions the tag­ger set for you in their post

About Me:

1. I take a bath just about every night and read my book in the bath

2. I'm a big baby when I don't feel good...just ask the hubby

3. I drink a lot of green tea

4. I have guilt all the time. Guilt about eating that cookie..guilt about letting my kid play a game. GUILT GUILT

5. I get US weekly every Friday and love love love it.

6. I LOATHE the misuse of the apostrophe. Sorry Brooke I don't even know hhow to spell apostrophe. I do not have good grammer.

7. I love kathie lee and Hoda. I try not to miss an episode nor do I miss a Teen Mom episode.

8. I want a baby girl so bad that it makes me sick.

9. I love Marshalls more than Target. BUT I love getting a Starbucks and ppopcorn with my mom while shopping at Target

10. I would love to adopt but don't ever see it happening. It is just far more money then I have.

11. I love getting mail. It really makes my day to go to the mailbox and see a letter from someone or an US WEEKLY!

The 11 questions from Christina (the blogger who tagged Katie):

1. What was your favorite moment from 2011? Well it was much better then the last part of 2010 for sure. There are so many moments that I love. I can't just pick one.

2. What was your favorite Christmas gift? I would have to say that the gift my son gave me from Santa's workshop at school. It was a sweet little blue box. He said it was to put my ring in when I take my bath. I don't take off my ring but I do put my earrings in it.

3. What's on your list to accomplish in 2012? Saving money by coupons. Get rid of anxiety for once and all. Man I sound like such a sad case.

4. In a pinch, what is your go-to meal to make? Umm well I have been a pinch for the last 3 weeks. I have eggs and toast for dinner.

5. What is your guilty-pleasure show? There is no guilt in my shows. I love them all and proud to tell the world. Kathie lee and Hoda, Housewifes, Teen mom, and the SHORE BABY!

6. How many children do you want? 3 maybe

7. Flats or heels? I can't walk in heels really good. I am a stay at home momma so you know I am in some flats all the time

8. Favorite brand of mascara? Maybelline - whatever I have a coupon for

9. Your greatest accomplishment? My degree. It wasn't easy for me but I made it.





10. Who inspires you most? When I think I am not a good mom I think of my grandma and how she took care of 5 kids with hardly any money. My Aunt Teresa makes me want to keep a clean house. My great Aunt Geneva makes me want to suck it up when I don't feel good.

11. Ever met a celebrity? Yes! My sister in law (Marilyn) and I went to Dallas just hang out. We were starving so we went to the Hard Rock to eat and Kevin Bacon was there performing with his brother. We stayed after to get his autograph. Of course I got his CD.

chicken tortilla soup

My last day to have my oldest boy home before he has to go to school. I love him home. My oldest is my best friend. I am having a blast spending the whole day with my two boys. I told them last night that I would spend my whole day playing what they wanted. I love that they want me to play with them. I hate it when people post on facebook that they are watching a movie with the family....UMMM no you aren't! You are on facebook. I might sound like that but I have taken a quick break to eat lunch. We will be back playing after this post.

So, this chicken tortilla soup is one of the best. I made it on as one of my soups for the Christmas party I had. It was a hit. Picture and recipe is from allrecipes.com

Ingredients
1 pound shredded, cooked chicken
1 (15 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, mashed
1 (10 ounce) can enchilada sauce
1 medium onion, chopped
1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chile peppers
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups water
1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 bay leaf
1 (10 ounce) package frozen corn
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
7 corn tortillas
vegetable oil
Directions
1.Place chicken, tomatoes, enchilada sauce, onion, green chiles, and garlic into a slow cooker. Pour in water and chicken broth, and season with cumin, chili powder, salt, pepper, and bay leaf. Stir in corn and cilantro. Cover, and cook on Low setting for 6 to 8 hours or on High setting for 3 to 4 hours.
2.Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
3.Lightly brush both sides of tortillas with oil. Cut tortillas into strips, then spread on a baking sheet.
4.Bake in preheated oven until crisp, about 10 to 15 minutes. To serve, sprinkle tortilla strips over soup.

Hoppin John

Happy New Year! My plans for 2012 is going to be to save money with coupons. So far so good thanks to consumer queen. I made for the first time Hoppin John for New Years day. I must say it was really good. It was pretty cheap to make. The picture is one I found on the internet but I must say it looked just like my bowl. This is Emerill's recipe.

Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large ham hock
1 cup onion, chopped
1/2 cup celery, chopped
1/2 cup green pepper, chopped
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
1 pound black-eyed peas, soaked overnight and rinsed
1 quart chicken stock
Bay leaf
1 teaspoon dry thyme leaves
Salt, black pepper, and cayenne
3 tablespoons finely chopped green onion
3 cups steamed white rice
Directions
Heat oil in a large soup pot, add the ham hock and sear on all sides for 4 minutes. Add the onion, celery, green pepper, and garlic, cook for 4 minutes. Add the black-eyed peas, stock, bay leaves, thyme, and seasonings. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 40 minutes, or until the peas are creamy and tender, stir occasionally. If the liquid evaporates, add more water or stock. Adjust seasonings, and garnish with green onions. Serve over rice