Happy Halloween Dinner!

Yes... it is here again!  And you may be thinking.... What am I going to have for dinner on Halloween because you are either trick or treating or answering the door!   THE best thing to do on a Halloween night is to do something easy like Chili!   You can also add that Chili to a hot dog for a little twist!  Here's a quick recipe that is YUMMY you may want to try!

Prep: 20 min.; Cook: 1 hr., 25 min.

Yield: Makes about 6 servings (serving size: 1 2/3 cups)

Chunky Beef and Tomato Chili(from Southern Living)

Ingredients

• 1  pound  ground round
• 1  (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes with green peppers and onions
• 1  (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes with zesty mild green chiles
• 1  (10-ounce) can condensed beef broth
• 2  garlic cloves, pressed
• 3  tablespoons  tomato paste
• 1  tablespoon  chili powder
• 1  teaspoon  ground cumin
• 1/2  teaspoon  black pepper
• 1/2  teaspoon  ground red pepper
• 1  (15-ounce) can light kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1  (15-ounce) can dark kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• Toppings: chipotle hot sauce, shredded Cheddar cheese, chopped green onions, Quick Creamy Vegetable Dip

Preparation

Cook beef in a Dutch oven over medium heat, stirring occasionally into large chunks, 10 minutes or until no longer pink. (Do not stir beef into crumbles.) Drain and return beef to Dutch oven.
Stir both cans of diced tomatoes and next 7 ingredients into browned beef; reduce heat to medium low, and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, 1 hour. Stir in beans, and simmer 15 minutes. Serve with desired toppings.

Do you have a blank wall?

Think of a wall that is "naked" in your home!    It could be a sliver of a wall.... or a huge open space!    Use multiples to create impact!

Three of these little Trilogy Mirrors arranged vertically create GREAT impact but imagine 12 of them in a large space like this photo!  Wow!!!!   This same concept works for table scapes!    We'll chat more about that tomorrow!!!

A Few Fall Leaves

How simple to add a touch of FALL to anything!  Remember how I said to pick up leaves and acorns out of the yard?   Just adding a few leaves to your plate of fruit, makes it FABULOUS!    I can't even tell you how simple this is and FREE!!  Enjoy the AMAZING fall foliage and add a touch of FALL to everything!  

1. Add leaves to centerpieces.
2. Get a GREAT platter or dish and add 1 or 3 pillar candles( things look better in odd numbers) ... tuck in leaves or acorns or even pinecones from the yard!  Instant fall Centerpiece!
3. Add some real leaves to your mantle or yes, HURRICANES! :)  I love them! 



Now that I have your attention! :) FOOD!    I have to share another AMAZING recipe I got from one of my amazing hostesses Kate!  

1. Pop 1/2 cup popcorn - or one bag of plain microwave popcorn
2. Melt one 8 oz bag of white chocolate chips with 3 TBS vegtable oil in microwave on 10 second intervals ( stirring in between) until melted.
3. Pour melted chocolate over popped popcorn and toss thoroughly
4. Spread on parchment paper or wax paper and let "dry"

"Crumble" and put and a bowl ready to eat! 

My kids and my Friends all LOVE this EASY recipe!   Package it in celophane bags tied with a pretty holiday ribbon and give as a gift to hosts, neighbors, teachers etc! EASY!!!!  

ENJOY!  



Save money!

Okay... I normally don't post til the morning but I had to share this today!    Did you know that you can take 1/4 cup of popcorn and put it in a brown paper bag, crimp the top and microwave on the popcorn setting or for 2-3 minutes depending on your microwave?

Wow!!  Seriously!  I tried it today, melted 1 tbs of butter and tossed the popcorn in a bowl with a little salt - so yummy!!!   A quick easy snack without the "process" and so easy!!

Belle Meade Canister

Cinnabar Canister

Store your popcorn kernels in a pretty canister and you are good to go!

Wow!

Organize Beautifully!! Here's another use for a hurricane!   I put Meredith's headbands in one... a GREAT storage piece when you are not using it as your Thanksgiving centerpiece!

Or... use it to organize your pretty scarves on your vanity!  It's your own little store to grab the accessory you want.... and it looks SO good! 

I used the Large Galveston Hurricane from my Willow House line for these photos!  Enjoy! 

Want to get more done today?

How do some people seem to get it all done when we all have 24 hours in a day?   Here's a tip to help you stay on top of your day today!  Decide this morning what your're going to do!   Sounds simple right?   Here's a tip for families to enjoy a nice dinner together when your schedules are hectic.   The busier we get we tend to forgo that meal at home, grab stuff on the go and waste money and calories on processed food.  Let's simplify this so we can save money and time and calories.

1. Decide what you'll have for dinner in the morning or the night before.
2. Thaw whatever needs to be thawed.
3. Prepare whatever needs to be prepared, chopping veggies or measuring ingredients.
4. If you have small kids at home, make their lunch at breakfast time and while they are eating lunch you can prep dinner.    You can even make YOUR lunch ahead too! Saves time in the kitchen!
5. Late afternoon/earlly evening your dinner is all but cooked... just cook when it is convenient and re-heat if necessary becuase of kids activities if they run late. 

You and your family can enjoy a home cooked meal without stress.   

Throw a load of laundry in the washer/dryer in the morning, and repeat process at breakfast, lunch and dinnertime and you'll mow through your laundry while allowing you to get OTHER major projects done in larger chunks of your day!  Who says you have to do your laundry all day :)

Just think, you now have large chunks of time to get other productive things done!  Yeah!  

Fall is the Absolute BEST time to decorate!   Start collecting BEAUTIFUL leaves and press them so you can scatter them down your Thanksgiving table later.... Use some pretty little votives and you have an amazing simple look!

Have acorns or pinecones - just grab a grocery bag and collect them now!    You'll love decorating with them later!    They add an organic look to your glass hurricanes or a pretty ceramic bowl.   EASY!

Here's a few pieces I am really excited about to help you create this look! 

You can purchase ONE Hawthorne Hurricane and get one HALF price this month or purchase ONE Galveston Hurricane and get one half price ONLY through Oct 31st! Check out my website and order online!  http://theda.willowhouse.com/

Heritage Hurricane Trio

Anabelle Iron Votives

Hawthorne Hurricane

Hemingway Hurricane

Galveston Hurricane

A day for organizing!

Doesn't it feel liberating to organize?  Today, I got a big black trash bag and did some cleaning up.  When we are busy, things may not get put away like they should, right?   I thought I would share an organizing idea for those charger cords and electronic accessories like earbuds, ipod stuff and more!   ZIP lock bags are great for storing little pieces and parts in and they don't get tangled up.    Charger cords, adapters etc that you need to keep until you get rid of that electronic device work great!   Use a Sharpie marker to label the baggie and you'll know what goes with what.    STORE the baggies in a little crate or clear box labeled clearly for Electronic devices and put it where it's convenient for you to grab when needed!  

MORE tips coming soon!   Have fun getting organized!

YUM!!!

We had our dinner IN!!!  YUM!  Thought I'd share the recipe!  My son said it was AWESOME!  Isn't that what every mom wants to hear?

Chicken and Shrimp Linguine

1 lb linguine pasta
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1 pinch cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
4 TBS butter
1/2 c milk
1 c heavy cream
2 TBS olive oil
2 cloves garlic (I always double)
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast cut into cubes
3/4 c white wine
1 lb medium shrimp peeled/deveined

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.  Add linguine pasta and cook for 8-10 minutes or until al dente: drain
2. In a small bowl, combine nutmeg, cayenne pepper, onion powder and pepper; set aside
3. in a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter and add 1/2 of the spice mixture, milk and cream.  Heat until sauce thickens; set aside
4. In a large skillet over medium heat, warm olive oil and add garlic, chicken, wine and remaining spice; cook until chicken is no longer pink.   Remove chicken from pan and cook shrimp
5. Deglaze pan by adding some wine and heating it for 2 to 3 minutes; add the cream sauce and reheat if needded.  Pour sauce over hot linguine and add chicken mixutre and shrimp.

We added artichoke hearts to the chicken !!  YUMMMMY !!!!!

Light some candles and it's like going out for a nice dinner!!  FUN!

Enjoy HOME!

Enjoy your home!  It's your haven!   Whether you read a great book, work on a project or cook a great meal for your family, make it AWESOME!   

• Treat yourself to a special dinner "in" and use your good dishes or serving pieces!  Play some great music and enjoy!  
• Try making those cute ghosts this weekend! They literally take 10 minutes to make!  All you need is cheesecloth, liquid starch, a balloon and a cup!   See my website for instructions!
• Go ahead... start thinking about Thanksgiving or Holiday shopping!  Why be hurried.   I have some great ideas I'll be posting soon but check out my Outlet for some Amazing Deals!
• What room do you want to make your "project" this season?     SHARE on my blog!

• Most importantly.... have a fabulous weekend!!!

A Great little Get-together for the Weekend!

Thinking of asking a few friends over for dinner or to watch a football game this weekend!  Make it simple and fun using an ENTERTAINING bucket, my favorite Savannah beverage server and a few beautiful platters or bowls to put munchies in.   

I love our Italian Stitch Platter for an appy.... ( you can heat the platter in the oven too)   Serve water with sliced lemons in the beverage server to encourage water consumption without the recyclables... and serve other beverages in the drink bucket!  So easy, so fun and looks like you spent a lot of time on it!  It's all about the presentation!