Stuffed Bell Peppers

Whipped these babies up for dinner the other night :)

Ingredients:
4 BELL PEPPERS (cut of the tops, and hollow them out)
1 lb HAMBURGER (I used Extra Lean)
1 small ONION, diced
1 CELERY stalk, diced
1/4 cp MANGO, diced
1 pkg frozen BROWN RICE (it's the only way I can cook rice lol)
2 cans Campbell's TOMATO SOUP
Shredded PARMESEAN CHEESE
BREADCRUMBS
SLAP YO' MAMA seasoning or simular CAJUN  seasoning
KETCHUP
SALT and PEPPER


Directions:
*Pre-heat oven to 350.*
 Microwave your rice according to package directions. While that's cooking start the other stuff.
  Put a little oil in the pan (I used coconut), and saute the onion and celery. Once the onions start 'sweating', add the hamburger,and season to taste with the cajun seasoning, salt and pepper. Cook until done (the hamburger will be brown).
 In a large bowl, stir the cooked mixture, 1 can of soup, mango,a big squirt of ketchup and rice together. Spoon the mixture into the peppers. Stuff 'em full! Now in your baking dish (I used a loaf pan for bread), pour half of the second can of soup in the bottom of the pan. Set the peppers into the pan, they will more than likely fall over which is why I used the loaf pan (they still fell :/). Now pour the rest of the soup over the peppers. Sprinkle the tops with breadcrumbs and parmesean cheese.
 Cook in the oven for 45-50 minutes at 350.
Before you eat it, spoon some of what's on the bottom of the pan, over your peppers, and sprinkle a little more cheese on top :)

 Happy Eating!



Edinburg Ole Time Festival

 Last weekend in Edinburg, VA  was the 'Ole Time Festival. Edinburg is a teeny tiny town in Shenandoah County. It's pretty much two streets (of main road). Route 11 runs right through it. It's located between Woodstock and Mount Jackson.
  I love Shenandoah County. It's just a few small towns, but there it seems like every month, there is something community driven to do. Last month we had the Rt11 Yard Sale Crawl and the fair. This month we had the Edinburg 'Ole Time Festival.
 'Ole Time-y Day (as my mom and I call it), is on the two main streets. They're lined with tables full of crafts, and food trucks. Usually, at the old elementary school there are bands playing and dancers (like cloggers), and food vendors and craft tables set up on the lawn, but  didn't see any of that when I drove past.
  I always park at the top of the hill, and make my way down. If you go down Rt 11 and cross the river, there are vendors set up at the Edinburg Mill. The Mill is open for tours (Free!). It's pretty cool inside. There's food down there too (There is stuff to eat everywhere).
 There is also a rubber ducky race, and a parade! The parade....hhmm....there is really no point to most of what is in the parade....there were a couple of guys on tractors....a couple on four-wheelers....a few cars.... I think the only few things that had purpose were the people and beds that were in the annual bed races, the Massanutten Military Academy marching band (they were great and led the parade), and the Central High School marching band and Flag Corp (they were awesome and closed the parade). My biggest complaint about the parade is that THEY ALLOW TRAFFIC TO GO THROUGH IT!! They need to find an alternate route or something. We couldn't see half of what was going on, because of the traffic. That is so annoying.
 On a more positive note, Thank you to the people who live at the big huge pink house on the corner for letting us sit on your lawn for the parade :)

 Here's the link for more info on the Edinburg 'Ole Time Festival (wear comfy shoes, and sunblock!)http://www.edinburgoletimefestival.org/
All The Best, Candi

Pumpkin Chili

I freaking LOVE pumpkins!! I just moved into my house last week, and needed to make dinner, but most of everything was still packed up. So, I had to use what I had handy! Pumpkin Chili is what I came up with :)

Ingriedents:
1 lb Hamburger (I used extra lean)
Corn (small can, drained)
Guacamole
Sour Cream
Tortilla Chips
Salsa
Oil (if using lean meat; I used Coconut oil)
Shredded Cheese
And these, one can EACH.

Directions:

- If you're using lean burger, put a little oil in the skillet (I used coconut oil). Brown the hamburger.

-Add in about a cup of (drained) corn. Cook for about 2 min.

-Drain the beans, add them to the mixture. -Add the tomatoes, and 1/2 can of pumpkin. Stir it up good.  

-Let this simmer (heat on med/lo) for about 10-15 min.

- Now put it in a bowl, and top with guacamole, sour cream, cheese, salsa, chips, whatever :)

***NOTE: The pumpkin is pumpkin ONLY. Do NOT use the one for PUMPKIN PIE***

 Enjoy, Candi

Strasburg Emporium

  I love going to the Strasburg (VA) Emporium and just walking around looking at everything. The place is HUGE. There is so much stuff to see...Lots of antiques and vintage items, books, vintage clothes and jewelry, quilts...You name it, it is probably in there! The prices on a lot of the stuff is pretty high, but those items are generally priced about right considering what it is. There are bargains to be found though! They have a Clearance/As Is room!! If you enjoy re-doing furniture like I do, this is a great room to rummage around in.

 Inside the Emporium, is a little cafe (It also has outside access). I haven't eatin there since the new owners took over, but I hear it's pretty good!! The smell of coffee wafts through the air inside the building. It's pretty nice.

 I take my son with me, a lot when I go (lack of a sitter, plus he likes the old stuff too). He isn't rowdy,running around, loud, or anything. He's well behaved, and knows his limits. The only gripe I have really about this place, is that I've noticed that when he's with me, we get followed. Once the man who was working the register in front, followed my family (myself, son, grandma, mother, aunt, and another child), around the store for a good 30 min. Then two or three weeks ago, a lady who owns one of the booths was watching my son like a hawk. I don't appreciate that. I understand you don't want your items stolen or broken, but you don't have to be so blatantly obvious that you have targeted my kid who wasn't doing anything wrong. Everything else about the Strasburg Emporium, I LOVE.

 So next door to the Emporium, is the Indoor Flea Market. It's a great little place if you're looking for Star Wars, wrestling (WWE?), and comic book items. The rest of the stuff is iffy. I always feel the urgent need to wash my hands once I leave. My greatest find was a stack of reprints of Vintage WWII "Join The Army" posters. My boy is weirdly interested in WWII for a young kid, so I knew he would love them!Plus, on the back they had an address sticker that had my little brother's childhood friend's grandfather's name, address, and phone number! That was kindof cool :)

 Across the parking lot is this quaint little shabby chic shop, with the nicest lady inside. She is just so sweet. She has lots of lady-like items inside, and lawn decor sitting out front.

Here are some pictures from the trip!

  
 All The Best, Candi

Shenandoah County, VA Fair

 Hello World! This is my first post....I'm excited! I live and work in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. This blog will be about places to visit (Roadtrip!!), Places to eat, local Valley- resident owned businesses, and there will be recipes scattered throughout too. I hope ya'll enjoy!!

 The Shenandoah County Fair is something my 11 y/o son looks forward to (even though it means school starts as soon as the fair ends). They always seem to have the best musical line-up too!! This year they had the legendary George Jones and Travis Tritt!!! I took my son, Bailey, and his friend, Austin this year. We always go on Kids Night (usually a Tuesday), because I can save $2 as there is no children's entrance fee that day. Unless you only plan on your child riding one ride (like that ever happens), you're much better off buying an All-Night/Unlimited ride bracelet. They're $18. I remember when I was a kid (I'm 30 now), the bracelets were $10. So, I walked in with $70.  I left with $2. That I then spent on two tacos at Taco Bell for Austin. That $70 included a 3 teas, 2 bottled sodas, 1.5 bracelets (paid the difference for Austin), 2 BBQ sandwich meals, 2 funnel cakes, and my entrance fee. Wow. It is not cheap at all to take the family to the fair. It's like you have to save up for it like you would a vacation! But, the kids had fun, I got some great pictures, and I actually saw the cows this time!! There was a cow there, that was a big as a VW Bug....He was a massive fella.
                  Well, here are a few pictures :)

This is Bailey and me

All The Best, Candi