Soutwestern Soup

Perfect for a cool evening.

1 pound ground beef
1 cup coarsely chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 (16-oz.) cans light red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15-oz.) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (14.5-oz.) can petite diced tomatoes and jalapeños, undrained
1 (14.5-oz.) can diced tomatoes and mild green chiles, undrained
2 (14.5-oz.) cans tomato sauce
1 (14-oz.) can beef broth
2 cups frozen yellow and white whole kernel corn
1 (1-oz.) envelope taco seasoning mix
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Toppings: sour cream and chopped fresh cilantro
Brown ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium-high heat, stirring often, 10 to 12 minutes or until meat crumbles and is no longer pink and onion is softened; drain.

Stir in kidney beans, next 9 ingredients, and 4 cups water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 30 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Stir in cilantro just before serving. Serve with desired toppings.

Chocolate Chip Cream Cheese Dip

Mix 2 8oz packages of cream cheese, 1 cup powdered sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar and 1 tsp. vanilla extract until fluffy. Stir in 3/4 package dark chocolate chips. The recipe called for graham crackers to dip with but we used Granny Smith apples instead. The sour with the sweet was yummy!

Play Silks

I bought this silk from Dharma Trading way before Christmas and never got around to dying it. My son and I finally did it together and it was super easy. After reading about 10 different methods, this is how we dyed the fabric:

• Mix 2 packets of Kool-Aid with 1 cup of white vinegar. ( I think next time I would do 4 packets for the yellow.)
  Add 2 cups very hot (almost boiling) water and stir in 1 yard of silk. It's amazing how you can literally see the silk drinking up the color.
• Once most of the color has been soaked up from the mixture, rinse under cold water, one by one, ringing until it runs clear.
• Hang to dry.
• Play.
  

Magical Muck

This fun mixture goes back and forth from solid to liquid.

• Mix 1/3 cup of water and 5 drops of food coloring (optional - if you use color fingers will pick it up) in a small bowl.
• Slowly add 3/4 cup of corn starch to water but do not stir.
• Let mixture stand for 2-3 minutes.
• Play, play, play.

Snow Cream

1 Gallon Fresh Clean Snow
2 Cups Milk
1 Cup Sugar
1 Tsp. Vanilla

Combine milk, sugar, and vanilla in a bowl. Pour over snow. Mix and enjoy!