Cozy Kitchen (some recipes) & Fall Decorating has Begun!

 

Hello beautiful Friends! 

How has this week been treating you so far? Are you getting into all the Fall feels yet? I have definitely got the vibes going on the inside of the house...but not so much outside. It's still been summer temps during the day and I've had to put the a/c on still quite a bit. 

But inside I've been doing cozy kitchen time, partly in preparation for the weekend. And I've also finally been putting away summer. I've been cleaning and then going through the closets and bins to drag out my Autumn decorations. I have a good majority of it up now and only a few more bins to go through. :) 🌻🍂🍁🧡💛

Last night I got cozy in the kitchen making a sheet pan of veggies (I forgot to photo) - to go along with Italian beef sandwiches. Here is how I make slow cooker Italian beefs:

I add a little water and a couple of pepperoncini peppers, and some of their juices from the jar, to the bottom of a slow cooker. I don't like it super spicy and I like to taste the meat that's why I don't do mine like a mississippi pot roast style. I place a 3 pound beef roast on top of the water/peppers mix. I salt and pepper it a bit. I then add 2 packets of dry Italian dressing seasoning mix all over the roast. And a sprinkle of garlic powder too. I then add a few more peppers on top and cover and cook on low all day (about 7 hours). 

Once it's tender enough I shred it up in the slow cooker and turn to warm until ready to eat. We had ours on onion buns - but you could do hoagie buns, low carb keto buns, whatever you like. I like mine with some of the au jus from the bottom of the cooker. Matt likes his topped with some sriracha mayo. I had made a sheet pan of roasted veggies and Matt put some of the roasted onions on top of his too. You could do BBQ sauce too and that would be tasty. 

I didn't get a pic - but how I like to do my sheet pan veggies is to cut up whichever veggies you want to use (or need to use up like me). Last night I did zucchini, carrots, broccoli, onion, and cauliflower. I cut them into chunks and put them in a big bowl. I drizzled the veggies with oil (I usually use olive or avocado) and I sprinkle whatever seasonings I'm feeling. Last night was seasoned salt, pepper, garlic powder and Italian seasonings. Toss it all together and pour onto a sheet pan. I baked them in a preheated *425 oven for about 30 mins until they were browned and caramelized a bit. Then I take them out and put a balsamic glaze drizzle on top and a little sprinkle of parm. SO GOOD! 

Then today I was cooking and baking to prepare for a weekend we're going to be spending with Matt's family. I made a batch of taco meat. My brown sugar chili (great for football time!), honey butter glazed cornbread muffins, and spiced peach pie. I have all the fixings ready for both the tacos and chili too. 

Of course candles make kitchen time extra cozy!! 

And you know me - I had to be "extra" and I cut out some Fall leaves. I felt I need to remind us of the season...as right now it feels like summer! Lol We will have this with vanilla bean ice cream. My recipe for this pie you can find if you click here.

Next week I'll share my brown sugar chili and honey glazed cornbread muffins as I don't think I've ever fully posted them on here (I don't think it linked right and only my sloppy joe recipe is on there that time?). 

And I thought I'd share some of the decorating I've accomplished (although I tend to rearrange over time - anyone else do that?). Also some shots of the glow last night. I love having pretty decorations on timers this time of year. It adds to the cozy since it's getting dark earlier and earlier. How about you, have you got all your Autumn decorating finished?

The glass that looks like a mug of apple cider with a cinnamon stick is a candle. I got it at a craft fair last year and I think it's the best smelling thing on earth!!! 

Do you have fun plans for the weekend? Are you a football fan? 

I hope whatever you get up to you have a very blessed and snuggly weekend ahead. 

xoxo