Short, spicy and cheap!

I haven't been posting much lately.  Every time I wanted to work on something I realized I needed to go and pick something up.  Let me explain.  My town is located about 20 minutes from Charlotte, NC and as you know the Democratic National Convention was there last week.  Every time I needed to go and get a few supplies, the stores were located in a section of Charlotte in which the traffic was ridiculous or the roads were closed due to the President and First Lady being in town.  I know this was great for our area, but I am glad the DNC is gone!  Now, we can all get back to normal.

With that being said, I didn't get accomplished last week what I wanted  so I am going to post a very easy and short recipe for Homemade Taco Seasoning!  I saw this on the internet last year, but failed to write down the source.....didn't think I needed to since I wasn't blogging at the time!  We had homemade Taco Salad last week and I used this.  I keep it on hand and it is so much better than the little packages you get at the grocery store.  Plus, it doesn't contain MSG (which I am very allergic to)!!  I hope you enjoy!

This is my spice rack.  I got the bottles from Crate and Barrel
several years ago and use a label maker.  I love it!

Here are the ingredients:

Missing are the red pepper flakes.  The container on the
end is the result of all these lovely spices!

Homemade Taco Seasoning

2 tablespoons  cumin

1 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon cayenne

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1 tablespoon chili powder

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

Simply combine all the ingredients together and

store in an airtight container.  You can opt to not use

the red pepper flakes if that is too spicy for you and

you can change the amount of chili powder to

suit your taste.  Use 1 tablespoon per pound

of ground beef.

When we make our homemade taco salad, we simply combine the seasoning with the ground beef, add some kidney beans, whole kernel corn, sliced olives and get it good and hot.  Then we just layer lettuce, corn chips, homemade salsa, shredded cheese, a little Catalina dressing and top with  sour cream.  It is one of my family's favorite go to meals and so very simple.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Monday and enjoy the fall-like temperatures!

An obsession, a symbol, something good to eat or all of the above???

Can you guess what this post is about?  All of us Southern girls know that the pineapple is a symbol of Southern Hospitality.   I have an obsession with pineapples.  I love to eat them and I love to decorate with them.  (I have even been trying to get the picture above to post with my signature at the bottom of each post, but to no avail.)  Here is a warning....there are quite a few pictures!  I didn't realize I had so many things with pineapples on them until this post.

My first pineapple was a plate from my sister that she gave me at Christmas.  It came from a shop in Charleston, SC.   The paperweight with the floating pineapple and the "Welcome" was given to me by my daughter.  I also have a Willow Tree figurine holding a pineapple given to me by a dear friend years ago.  I have these on a chest with two lamps and a mirror and it is the first thing you see when you enter the front door.  

After these, the rest is history.  Here are a few things in the house with the pineapple symbol.

I couldn't resist the frame to put
a picture of my sweet baby Lucy.

This is a very old chair
that I had covered in
black pineapple fabric
and put it in the dining room.

I used the same fabric from the chair
in the dining room to make
pillows for the Bergere chairs
in the den.

I don't even remember where this
was purchased, but I like it in the
bookcases in the den.

I bought this at the Southern Living
Show in Charlotte, NC  several
years ago and hang it over a
door in the kitchen.

This bench was a wedding gift over
30 years ago by a co-worker.  I found
the pillows at various locations and
have it placed in the foyer.

I actually think this came from
Hancock Fabrics and the contents
change with the seasons. 

Another pineapple plate over the
door in the kitchen leading
to the screened porch.

Just a "Welcome" pillow
hanging from furniture
in the kitchen.

I even incorporated the pineapple
in the master bedroom with custom made
shams and comforer from
Calico Corners

I promise, it is there....in the middle!

And the reason for the post is this cute as a button container I ordered from One Kings Lane last week.  It came in yesterday, and I couldn't wait to find a home for it.  For all of you wives and moms out there, we all know that as soon as the hubby and kids walk in the door, all the papers go on the island in the kitchen or the kitchen table.  This was driving me crazy and I had to figure out something.  When I saw this in my daily email from One Kings Lane, I knew I had to have it.  Where did I put it you ask?  The perfect place:

The hubby's "loose change" drawer
is right underneath.  No excuses!

There you go....it might be an obsession, but I think it is a pretty obsession!  I hope everyone has a great day!