2015 Holiday Gift Guide - 15 Must-Have Items for Your Kitchen

Don't know what to put on your wish list?  I'll show you 15 items I have in my kitchen that I just couldn't live without.  Not everything here is exactly what I own but if I couldn't find it I found you something comparable. 

Show your friends and family these items or buy them for yourself.  No one said you couldn't buy your own gifts!

Crock Pot Chicken Chili with Rice

In October I met up with 9 other bloggers to learn about corn.  I am familiar with sweet corn and use it in many of our dishes.  I love the crunch and sweetness it adds.  It is also a good source of fiber, antioxidants and Vitamin Bs.

 I prefer it fresh but when I can't have it fresh I use what I have that I froze during the summer months. You can read all about how I preserve it here.  Want to know more about our Iowa Corn Quest?  This link will show you more! #iacornquest

Crock Pot Chicken Chili with Rice                                                       Printable Recipe

1-1/2 pounds chicken tenders*

1/2 small onion, diced

15 ounce can black beans, drained (not rinsed)

14.5 ounce can petite diced tomatoes (not drained)

1 cup whole corn, drained if needed (thawed if frozen)

1 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon cumin

2-4 dashes cayenne pepper

salt (to taste)

2 cups cooked brown rice

sour cream

shredded Mexican blend cheese

Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party #175

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20+ Leftover Turkey Recipes

If your family is anything like my family there is always leftover turkey after the big Thanksgiving meal.   Every year it seems that it is the same ol' sandwiches or heated up leftovers. This year let's change up the sandwiches and meals!

I called out to the food blogging community and found many fantastic tasty ideas to use up  your turkey.  Some of them are chicken recipes but leftover turkey will do just fine.  Same goes for the turkey ones,  you can absolutely use leftover chicken.  

Bon appétit!

Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party #174

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Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownie Bars

One day I had a craving for brownies but then I had a thought that chocolate chips cookies sounded good too.  Then I wondered if I could combine them both in one recipe.  I took my great grandma's Congo Squares recipe and my Coffee Cream Brownie recipe and got to stirring.  The end result was better than I imagined it would be so I had to take my few pieces out of the pan and send the rest with my husband to work. He said they didn't last long before they were all gone and the plate was empty. 

Soft and chewy with a little bit of crunch from the nuts and the cookie bar dough on top makes this a taste for the senses! 

Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownie Bars                                                    Printable Recipe

Cookie Layer:

2-3/4 cups flour

2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

2/3 cup shortening

2-1/2 cups light brown sugar

3 eggs

1 cup nuts, coconut and/or chocolate chips

Brownie Layer:

1/2 cup butter, cut up

3 ounces unsweetened chocolate broken into pieces.

3 eggs

1-1/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 cup flour 

3 Tablespoons finely chopped nuts

Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party #173

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Iowa Corn Quest 2015 #Iacornquest

In October,  I met up with 9 other bloggers in Davenport, Iowa to get a little “corny.”  We attended Iowa Corn Quest 2015, a blogger tour put on by Iowa Corn.  We learned about corn, its development,  its uses and talked with farmers who grow it.

First, a little bit about me and my connection to the farm.  My family lives on a farm but my husband and I do not do the day to day farming of the land, tend to the pigs or cows.  My father in law and nephew do that.  I do, however, tend to our goats and ”farm” our garden and preserve our harvest.  My husband helps out as needed during hay baling time.

Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party #172

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