Feel Good with Fall Fashion

Hi y'all! Mandie here! I realized the other day that I haven't blogged in almost a year. Life happened to me pretty hard earlier this year, so it has taken a little while for me to be myself again after all the ugliness and hurt I was feeling. As they say... Life Happens....or as I say....shit happens!! But, I'm back now, and better than I have ever been! So, when I saw the Arkansas Women Bloggers Blogtoberfest Challenge, I knew I had to participate to get the blog up and rolling again. I always love a good challenge, because that is what life is all about! As Winston Churchill said, "If you're going through hell, keep going!"

 

 

Arkansas Women Bloggers is hosting a 5 day challenge. They give us a topic every day this week, and we blog the heck out of it! Today's challenge caught my eye, because it is about fall fashion and decorating. Y'all know I like digging in the dirt and getting muddy, but I also LOVE to get all dolled up. Because, you never know who you're going to meet or where it will be! I could go to the store and meet the man of my dreams. Anything is possible!!! I live in Arkansas, so we might be a little behind the times on fashion, but I'm going to tell y'all what types of fashions I dig!

#1 - It's all about the dresses!

Those of you who know me, know that I'm totally in LOVE with dresses. I wear one practically every day, everywhere, for most every occasion. For this gal, Dresses are a must any time of year! I even wear dresses when I garden! But, there's one golden rule of dresses I like to follow: If you can't bend over in it without showing your a$$, then you shouldn't buy it. I like dresses that are just above the knee. Keep it classy ladies! The only exception to the rule is if you wear tights with it, you can go a little shorter. Tights are another must have for fall! However, no matter skinny you are, tights don't substitute as pants. So don't do it outside the house, pretty please! Dresses are an addiction for me, and I'm pretty sure my fellow ARWB Proactive Bridesmaid feels the same way! So, go out and grab a dress for the fall, you won't regret it!

 

And, If you don't like dresses, you can always go for their cousin, the skirt. I have to say, I think every woman needs a great pencil skirt. They look good on curvy women and skinny women alike! I only have one, but it's a classic, the black pencil skirt! Tuck a cute shirt into your pencil skirt, add a big necklace or some cute earrings, and you're good to go!

 

Black pencil skirt paired with pointy heels, cute tank, and chunky necklace.

 #2 - It's all about the jeans!

For those of you who despise dresses and skirts (I know you're out there), all you need is one great pair of jeans. This is the only thing I will spend a little extra money on, which is weird, since I rarely wear jeans. Personally, I like silver brand jeans. The suki jean is the best because it's stretchy and comfy, but also makes any booty look great! And, they don't stretch through the day and stay tight on the bum! They also have a higher rise so your butt doesn't hang out of them (Crack kills!)Another great thing about the silver suki's is when you sit down in them, they don't create a muffin top. If you're curvy, try to buy jeans that have a straight leg. You can also get skinny jeans and just tuck them into a super cute pair of boots! That brings us to accessories.

#3 - It's all about the accessories!

I LOVE, love, LOVE accessories. I have an entire closet full of them! But, I have to say, the most important accessory you can wear is a big smile! So SMILE, damnit!!! ! It makes your entire outfit look better, makes other people smile, and just makes your day better! No matter what you wear, a smile always makes it better! See!

 SHOES!!!! My second favorite accessory is shoes. SHOES!!! As Marilyn Monroe said, "Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world." I'm working on it Marilyn! I promise! I LOVE high heels. Nothing makes an outfit pop more than a colorful pair of wedges or stilettos. If you're not very good at walking on stilettos, grab a pair of wedges. They are really easy to walk on, and you're less likely to break an ankle!

Some of my favorite heels

An easy way to transition from summer to fall is a great pair of boots! Boots! Boots are a must have for fall fashion! Stilettos, wedges, chunky heels, cowboy boots! Whatever your forte is, wear these babies like they are going out of style! My favorite pair of boots are my mid calf red slouchy boots. They are super cute, and red is my absolute favorite color!!

 

Me with my niece Meghan wearing my favorite pairing - little black dress with red boots!



I love knee high boots for this year. You can wear boots with skinny jeans, dresses, regular jeans or a skirt! And, if you're out working on the farm, you can get a pair of rain boots and just tuck your jeans into them.

 

My go-to black knee high boots paired with skinny jeans

 

Another great accessory for fall is the scarf. I only have a few scarves, but my niece, Meghan, lives in these things! And, there are so many ways to wear them. They make any outfit look cute and the best part is they keep your neck warm! Here's a few of the scarves around our house.

We have a lot of scarves!

 

Most of the time when you think of accessories, you think of jewelry. I Love jewelry because you can take a plain shirt and a pair of jeans, add a big chunky necklace or a dangly pair of earrings, and you're ready to leave the house. The best thing about a pair of cute dangly earrings is that they dress up a ponytail or bun.

Lately, I've been wearing a lot of vintage jewelry that was my Mom's

 

You can even use your hair as an accessory. My favorite thing about my hair is my bangs. I can wear them several ways and they always look cute. And, if you have long hair, there are so many things you can do with it, but we will save that for another post! The last accessory I love for fall is glasses. If you can't see two feet in front of you, use it to your advantage. I just bought two pairs from Success Vision for $99, and, I have to say, they make any outfit look super sexy.

 

One of my new pairs of glasses. Love them!

 

#4 - It's all about layering!

To me, fall is all about layering, especially in Arkansas. It can be 55 one day and 85 the next! I love the cardigan for this season. Pair that cute dress you wore this summer with a cardigan and a great pair of boots and Voila!, you've transitioned to fall effortlessly! Or you can pair a cardi with a cute shirt and a pair jeans! A cute cardigan can give any outfit a nice pop of color.

My niece wears the cutest cardigans.

And remember ladies, your clothes and pops of colors don't have to match, they just have to go. Mix it up a little bit! Have a little fun with your accessories, you will be glad you did! Even if it seems like you went a little too far with your accessories/colors, you probably hit the nail on the head, so go with it! Take this next outfit for example. I paired a flare leg brown pinstriped pant with a grey sweater with white lace. Then I made it pop a little bit with some pink snakeskin pointy heels and some metallic jewelry. Would most people pair grey and brown, no, because they don't match, but they are both neutrals and they go great together!This outfit is fun because it has different textures. Lace, spikes, snake skin, pinstripes. Is it a little much? Maybe, but I LOVE it!

 

 

 

If there's one fall must-have, it's definitely the fitted jacket. It's the better half of the "power suit." Some people think this is more 90's businesswoman, but to me, this is a classic. The fitted jacket can show off your curves and for ladies with a bit extra to hug, it covers up those unwanted muffin tops and gives you structure. If you're on the IBTC, you can wear any kind of these jackets. However, if you're busting out of your shirt, you should get one with a button that falls under the bust line and with several buttons. Jackets are great because you can dress up a pair of jeans, or wear them with a pair of trousers for work. And, they add structure to any type of figure and smooth out any bumps! They can even give you curves if you're lacking in that area! You can even dress a jacket down with a t-shirt underneath and skinny jeans! Or you can throw a jacket together with a dress and a pair of heels.

#5 - It's all about the underwear!

If you're not all about dressing up, or you stay home a lot, a great way to feel good about yourself is wearing some super cute undergarments. If you want to feel sexy for fall, you need to get some cute undies and bras.I believe that every woman should own at least one pair of sexy panties that makes them feel good on a bad day.

My bandeau bras from Aerie

I love the bandeau bras from Aerie. But if you're big busted, these may not work for you. The best thing about these is that they double as a cami. I'm the president of the IBTC (haha!), so I wear these almost every day. They are really comfortable and really cute! I have one in every color! I have a lot of shirts with lace or that are sheer and these go perfect under them. When you wear them under something, they don't look like a bra, they just look like an undershirt. The best part is, it feels like you're not even wearing a bra!

 

 

The bandeau bra doubles as a cami for clothes with deep vnecks like this dress

 

#6 - It's all about comfort!

At the grill with my suki jeans, Johnny shirt and a cute flowered bracelet!

My go - to comfortable outfit is usually skinny jeans, a JC t-shirt and a warm pair of ugg boots! And, if I'm going four-wheeler riding or somewhere I'm going to get dirty, I trade the uggs in for a pair of rubber boots. You can still look cute while playing in the mud! A pair of jeans, a comfy tshirt, boots, and a scarf make a perfect comfy and cute fall outfit! I have a large collection of Johnny Cash Tshirts, Razorback T's, and a few other favorites. I love them all!!!

 

A few of my favorite t-shirts

 

I sure do hope you enjoyed reading my post. I want to encourage you to dress up! No matter who you are or what you do, you should take pride in your appearance. If you're confident and positive about what you're wearing, it shows. Earlier this year, I didn't care about my appearance, and I felt horrible about myself. But, I decided that I'm better than that. I started taking pride in my appearance and lately, my whole life if changing for the best, and it's only going to get better! I feel confident and happy every single day. Only you can decide how you're going to feel every day. So wake up and feel good about yourself already!!! Feeling good about yourself  will naturally attract other happy and positive people on a daily basis to your life. And, who doesn't like a good compliment? No matter how many compliments that I get, each compliment makes me feel even better about myself. I get them all the time now!! 

Chicken Chipotle Veggie Stew

In the winter time, it's nice to have something hot and spicy to warm your tummy. What better than Chicken Chipotle stew. I cooked this before and it was missing a little something, so this time I added veggies making it Chicken Chipotle Veggie Stew! The veggies are optional, and it tastes great both ways! And, I'm going to show you how to cook this soup. I use fresh beans in my stew, but I'm also going to tell you how to make this with beans from a can. It's an easy soup either way! Again, I made a huge stew and have a really big crock pot, so you may want to half this recipe if you're just making it for supper and don't want leftovers. But, if you do have extra, this freezes really well in the freezer if you want to put it in tiny Ziploc bowls and get it out later to heat it up.

Here's what you will need:

Large Slow Cooker

2-2.5 pounds Boneless Skinless Chicken

2 cans (or 28 ounces) stewed tomatoes (Or you can use crushed tomatoes or diced tomatoes)

3 cups dry Black Beans or 2 cans (30 ounces) Black Beans

3 cups dry Navy Beans or 2 cans (30 ounces) Navy Beans

2 medium or 1 large onion(s)

2-3 carrots (optional)

1/2-1 bunch celery (optional)

2-3 chipotle Pepper(s) in Adobo Sauce (depending if you want it spicy or Oh My Gosh That's HOT!)

3 Cups Orange Juice

5 cups Chicken Broth

2-3 teaspoons salt (to taste)

1 Tbsp. Cumin

1 Tbsp dry cilantro

2 bay leaves

If you are using dry beans instead of canned beans, first you need to wash them, check for any rocks, etc... and rinse them in the drainer. Then, soak them in water for up to 6 hours to soften. Then, drain them and leave them in the crock pot, but don't turn it on just yet! If you use canned beans, put them in the strainer and wash the juices away before you add them to the slow cooker.

Next, add the tomatoes and do not drain these, just add tomatoes and juice to the crock pot. Next add the orange juice and chicken broth. Peel and slice the carrots and slice up the celery (both are optional). Peel the onion and dice it (by hand, or low in an electric chopper). Add all of these veggies to the slow cooker. Put the chipotle peppers in an electric chopper on high and dice them finely before you add them to the slow cooker. Next add the salt, cumin and cilantro. Stir it all up. Cube the chicken and add it too. Lightly stir it all up. When it's stirred, add the bay leaves.  

Cover and cook on low 7-8 hours. Or, if you're in a hurry, cook it on high for 4-5 hours until chicken and beans are done. Before serving, make sure you remove both bay leaves.

Enjoy!

Chicken with Fruit Salsa

I have to say....Chicken and Fruit go together so well! I have an obsession with pairing pineapple with everything: Chicken, Steak, Hamburger, everything!!! This recipe has pineapple, but it also has an array of fruits and jalapeno for a little added kick! My family LOVES it! It does take a little time to cut up the fruit, but if you do it while the chicken is baking, it doesn't take as long. I like to cook a lot of food at once, so if you're cooking this for just one dinner, you will need to half the recipe.  

Here's what you will need:

8-10 boneless skinless chicken breasts

2 mangoes

1 pineapple

2 oranges

1 pear

1 apple

1-2 jalapenos (depending on how much kick you want)

4 Tbsp. lemon juice

8 Tbsp. apple jelly

10-12 oz. fresh cilantro

3 Tbsp. fresh parsley

1/2 cup honey

Glass baking dish

Big mixing bowl

Directions:

Combine honey, 4 Tbsp. apple jelly and lemon juice in a small microwaveable bowl. Microwave on high until the honey is melted (about 20 seconds) and stir it all up really well.

Put the chicken breasts in a glass baking dish and set the oven on broil. Brush or pour half of the glaze over the chicken. Broil for 6 minutes for thinner breasts or 8 minutes for thicker breasts. Make sure the chicken is about 4-6 inches from the broiler. After the time is up, take chicken out of oven and flip it over to the other side. Then, brush or pour the other half of the glaze on. Broil again for another 6-8 minutes. When you take it out of the oven, make sure the chicken is all the way cooked by cutting a breast in half to make sure.

While the chicken is broiling, you can cut up all the fruit into small pieces. Peel and chop the mango, discarding the core and put it in a big mixing bowl. Peel, seed, and chop the oranges, apple, and pear. Cut the bottom and top and sides off the pineapple and take out the core. Chop up the remaining pieces. Make sure you get all the seeds out of the jalapeno and mince it up into really tiny pieces (I put it in an electric chopper on high speed). I also mince the parsley and cilantro in the electric chopper on low.

If you don't want to use fresh fruits, you can use canned fruits, but this recipe is way better if it's fresh! And, if you can't find fresh parsley and cilantro, you can use the dried kind, just double the amount. 

Combine chopped mango, oranges, pear, apple, jalapeno, pineapple, cilantro, parsley, and 4 Tbsp. apple jelly in a large bowl and mix it all up really well.

By the time you get done chopping the fruit and mixing it all together the chicken should be done. Just make sure to put a timer on it so you won't forget to flip it over and broil the other side. Discard the remaining glaze. Put a piece of chicken on your plate, and Spoon fruit salsa over chicken to serve.

Delicious!

How to Deep Fry a Turkey

Do you like turkey? I've always dreaded having turkey. Who wants a dry turkey you have to smother in gravy? Not me. That's why I LOVE to fry our turkey. How about a turkey that is  juicy with a crispy skin and has a ton of flavor?  That sounds much better! I'm sure you've heard horror stories of how someone fried a turkey and burned their entire house down. If you fry a turkey, all you have to do is be very cautious and follow instructions exactly! So, I've compiled these directions for you if you're a first time fryer. After eating fried turkey, you will never want to eat "normal" turkey again! I Promise!  There are a zillion ways to season a fried turkey and today, I'm giving you the cajun version!

Here's what you will need:

12 lb turkey (You can fry a larger turkey, but I wouldn't suggest anything over 15 lbs. or under 10 lbs.)

3-5 gallons peanut oil

16-32 oz. Marinade (I used Tony Chachere’s  Roasted Garlic & Herb Marinade and Cajun Injector Creole Garlic)

Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning

Cavendar's Seasoning (you can also use salt and pepper)

Marinade Injector

Turkey Fryer Pot (you need at least 26 quarts, but if you haven't bought one yet, I would opt for the larger pot)

Burner and Propane tank (usually comes with the turkey fryer)

Oil thermometer

Turkey Stand (usually comes with the turkey fryer)

Turkey Stand Hook (usually comes with the turkey fryer)

Oven Mitts

Make sure the turkey is completely thawed. Thawing usually takes approximately 3 days in the refrigerator. if you want to hurry up the process, put the wrapped turkey in the sink filled with cold water. Turn and fill up with cold water again every hour. WARNING: If the turkey is not thawed correctly and fully, the hot oil could boil over and/or cause a fire.

Make sure you take the giblet bag out from the inside (cavity) of the turkey. Take the neck out of the neck cavity of the turkey. Trim the excess skin away from the neck area.

Place the turkey on the turkey stand that came with your fryer (put the neck first, legs up) and put both the turkey and turkey stand in the empty deep fryer pot.

Fill the pot up with water until it entirely covers the turkey.  Next, take the turkey out of the deep fryer and mark the water level so you will know exactly how much oil to put in the deep fryer. WARNING: This step is important because if you put too much oil in the fryer, it could boil over and cause a fire and/or injury.

Set the turkey aside and let it dry. Make sure there is no water on or in the turkey. WARNING: if you leave any water on or in the turkey, this will make the oil bubble and splash on you and could cause a fire.

Go outside and set up your deep fryer. Most turkey fryers are propane, so make sure you place the fryer far away from your house, deck, trees, or anything that could catch on fire.

Using the thermometer that came with your fryer, mount it on the side of the pot where the tip of it is at least one inch into the grease. Fill the fryer to the line you determined earlier with peanut oil. If you're allergic to peanuts, you can use any other type of oil such as corn, canola, etc.... Peanut oil is the best to use if you're not allergic because it can withstand a higher temperature without burning  your turkey. The oil will need to get up to 350 degrees to fry the turkey. Turn on the gas to get the oil hot.

While you prepare the turkey, make sure someone is outside watching the oil for cautionary purposes. WARNING: If you leave the fryer unattended, it could get too hot and catch on fire. Make sure there aren't any animals outside that can tip the fryer over.  Also make sure the fryer is on a flat level surface.

To prepare the turkey: Buy injectable marinade seasoning at the store. We used Tony Chachere’s Roasted Garlic and Herb Marinade and Cajun Injector Creole Garlic. You will need about 2 pints. And, get one that comes with an injector.

Take the turkey off the stand and place it in a pan to season it. Fill up the injector and repeatedly poke it in the turkey. Do this slowly. While you push the needle in slowly, slowly push the plunger. Poke it in the breast, legs, wings, thigh, drumsticks, everywhere about 3 inches apart and inject about 1/4 of the needle every poke. It will bubble out around the needle and saturate the outside of the turkey as well. 

Put the turkey back on the turkey stand, making sure you place the neck first, with the legs up. Sprinkle seasoning outside and inside the turkey. Don't be shy with the seasoning. I usually put a lot!!! We use Tony Chachere’s and Cavendars, but if you don't have those, you can use Cajun seasoning and a little salt and pepper.

When the oil gets up to 350 degrees (which should take about 20 minutes),  get the turkey ready to put in the fryer. As you carry it outside on the turkey stand, place a pan underneath, so you don't drop it. Attach the hook to the turkey stand and slowly lower the turkey into the oil. Stand away from it as far as you can because it WILL bubble over and you do NOT want to get burnt. And, when I say slowly, I mean very very very slowly!!! WARNING:Do not drop the turkey in the fryer because this could cause a fire and/or injury. It should take at least 60 seconds to put the turkey in the fryer.

After the turkey is all the way in, remove the hook from the turkey stand by pushing down to unhook it, then pulling it out. The temperature will drop a little, so make sure you monitor and make sure it gets back up to 325-350 degrees and stays at that temperature. If the temperature gets higher than 350 degrees, lower the gas level on your cooker. WARNING: if you let the turkey get over 350 degrees, the oil could catch on fire and/or cause injury.

You will need to cook the turkey 3-3.5 minutes for every pound of turkey. For example, if you have a 13 lb. turkey, you will need to cook it for 39-45 minutes. Usually, when it's done, it will start to float and will be golden brown. If you're not sure if it's done, you can ease it out of the oil a little and cut a piece off. Make sure you have someone to help you!

Make sure you monitor the temperature at all times to keep it between 325 and 350, so you will not undercook or burn your turkey. You can adjust the flame anytime to adjust the temperature. Never leave the turkey fryer unattended because if it gets too hot, it could start a fire. Do not use the lid on the fryer, leave it off.

When the turkey is done, turn the heat off on your cooker. Re-attach the hook to the turkey stand and carefully remove the turkey. Also make sure you get a pan to put under it so the turkey doesn't fall to the ground, or so you don't drip grease everywhere. 

With a glove, lay the turkey over into a pan to serve!!!

Make sure you let the oil in the fryer cool before you dispose of it. The fryer will be very hot! It could take up to 3 hours.

Enjoy!

**DISCLAIMER** Frying a turkey is very dangerous. Do not fry a turkey anywhere near your house or deck, or under any trees, etc.....  FRY A TURKEY AT YOUR OWN RISK. FARM DIVA IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY FIRE OR INJURY THAT COULD BE CAUSED FROM THESE INSTRUCTIONS.

If you have any questions about frying a turkey, please feel free to comment below or email me at farmdivas@hotmail.com. I will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

The best Meatloaf you will ever eat!

I've never been a fan of meatloaf, so when my Dad requested that I cook him some, I dreaded it. Dry meatloaf with ketchup on top. One word comes to mind: GROSS!!! So I went on a quest to find the best meatloaf recipe out there, no ketchup necessary. I came across this recipe, tweaked it a little bit, and whalah!!!! The best Meatloaf you will ever eat. It is soooooo good! I've cooked it a few times now and the entire family LOVES it. The last time I cooked it, I cooked a 7 lb. meatloaf and it was gone within a couple days. Even a picky 18 year old said it was good. So, I wanted to share the recipe with y'all!!! I know everyone doesn't want a 5+ lb meatloaf, so I'm giving you a recipe for a small loaf. If you want a lot of it (and you probably will!!!), just double, triple, quadruple the recipe!!

Here's what you will need for a  small 1 lb. meatloaf (3-4 servings):

Cooking Spray

8 green onions (sliced)

1 pepper (chopped)

1 carrot (chopped)

2 eggs (beat) OR 2 slightly beaten egg whites

1 lb. ground beef

1 Tbsp. brown sugar

1/2 cup chili sauce (if you want a little kick, you can use hot asian chili garlic sauce)

2 Tbsp. milk

14 crackers (1/2 cup smashed)

1 Tbsp basil OR oregano

1/4 tsp. pepper

1 tsp. white distilled vinegar

skillet

meatloaf pan (I prefer glass)

Coat a skillet with oil. Add chopped peppers, carrots, and green onions. Cook over medium heat until tender. Remove from heat.

Combine eggs, crackers, milk, 2 Tbsp. chili sauce, basil or oregano, and pepper.

Add cooked vegetables and raw ground beef. Mix together with your hands and mash the mixture down evenly into a meatloaf pan.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake for 30 minutes. While it is cooking, mix up 1/4 cup chili sauce, brown sugar, and vinegar.

Spoon glaze mixture over the meatloaf and bake for an additional 20 minutes.

Enjoy!!!



Mom's Cheese Soup

My mom, Jeannie, was my best friend in the world, hands down!!! I think about her everyday and all the wonderful memories we made together. She was a goofball and put her family before anything else, just like me! Truly one of a kind! One of the best memories I have of her is cooking in the kitchen. Her favorite thing to cook was this soup. She called it cheese soup, but other places where I've seen similar soups call it something like cheesy bacon potato soup. Bacon, Potatoes, Cheese, Onions, what more could you want in a creamy soup? Since we have some big guys in our family (my brothers are 6'10"!), she always cooked huge amounts of food. I'm addicted to cheese, so this is one of my favorite soups!!! This recipe will make approximately 20 bowls of soup. So, If you want less soup, half the recipe!

Here' what you will need:

A block (2.5 lbs) of velveeta cheese (you can also use any other kind of cheese that melts well)

Two packages (2 lbs.) of bacon

5 lbs of potatoes

3-4 large onions

1 cup Milk

3 Tbsp. Corn Starch

Salt and Pepper (to taste)

Chives or Parsley (optional)
Stock Pot (preferably granite instead of aluminum)
Frying Pan

Cooking Instructions:

Peel the potatoes and cut them up into small cubes. Peel and chop the onions. Put the onions and potatoes in a large pot and add water. The water should be at least two inches above the potatoes and onions. Boil the onions and potatoes on high until tender.

While the potatoes and onions cook, cut the bacon up into 1 inch peices and fry it in a frying pan. Fry it to the the desired crispness.

When the potatoes and onions are done, add cooked bacon. Turn the burner to a very low heat and add cheese (cut up into small peices). Stir constantly until cheese melts.  Immediately mix up corn starch and milk in a bowl with a fork. Make sure there aren't any lumps.

Pour mixture into the soup and stir some more. (Stir, Stir, Stir!!) Turn burner off as soon as you add corn starch and milk. Add salt and pepper (to taste).

Stir some more! If after 5 minutes the soup isn't thick enough, you can add more corn starch and milk. Sometimes I garnish the soup with parsley or chives (optional).

Enjoy!

Since this recipe makes tons of soup, I always put it in ziploc bowls and toss it in the freezer. It always reheats perfectly!!!

A picture of me and my Mom!!!

Pasta E Fagioli

My niece, Meghan, moved in with us and has an obsession with the Olive Garden. She LOVES their Pasta E Fagioli soup. Since we don't go out to eat much, she wanted me to cook the soup at home. I cooked this last night and half of it is gone already. Success! I know other people love this soup too, so, here's the recipe, just for you! **DISCLAIMER** I have one of the biggest crock pots they make, so you might want to half the recipe. This recipe yields approximately 15 bowls of soup.

Here's what you will need:

2 lbs hamburger meat

1 large onion

4 carrots

1/2 - 1 stalk celery

56 oz. diced tomatoes (you can also use stewed tomatoes)

16 oz. white kidney beans

16 oz. red kidney beans

30-40 oz. beef stock (depending on how soupy you want it)

20 oz. spaghetti sauce

1 tsp. tabasco sauce

3 tsp. oregano

2 tsp. pepper

5 tsp. parsley

8 oz. pasta

Brown the hamburger in a pan. While the hamburger is cooking, chop up the onion, carrots, and celery. When the hamburger is done, drain off the grease and put the meat in the crock pot.  Drain the red and the white kidney beans and add them to the meat. Add the undrained diced tomatoes. Then, add everything else except the pasta and stir it all up. Cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 5 hours.

 During the last 30 minutes to an hour, add the pasta.

Enjoy!!!!