Feeling a hint of Autumn in the air...

[C-dub]

Ditto on the chili. It's getting close. I think I'm going to get in on our school's chili cook-off this year.

[bauer]

Pumpkin can also be used to make lasagna and to stuff raviolis.

One of the greatest things I've ever eaten was pumpkin/mushroom stuffed raviolis at a hole in the wall restaurant in ATL. I can still taste it as I type this.

I was in Round Rock last night and had dinner at the Main Street Grill. I had to try the fried avocado. It was very good.

Never been there before, I'll have to try it out the next time we go out!

As for chili recipes I got a pork shoulder chili that the family loves.

1 pound ground pork
1 pound boneless pork shoulder, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3 cups chopped onion
1 3/4 cups chopped red bell pepper
3 garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons tomato paste
3 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
2 teaspoons dried oregano
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
6 tomatillos, quartered
2 bay leaves
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can chicken broth
2 (14 1/2-ounce) cans diced tomatoes
1 (15-ounce) can ranch beans
1 (7 3/4-ounce) can Mexican tomato sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar

Brown the ground pork, drain, place in crockpot.
Pan sear the shoulder pieces on all sides. Add to crock pot.
Saute onion, bell pepper, and garlic with a teaspoon of olive oil. Once the onion is translucent add to crock pot.
Combine the rest of the ingredients in the crock pot. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high 4-5.

You can add cilantro and green onion as a garnish or leave it off.

[stash]

CHLLady - Just to let you know, went to the store yesterday and they had a couple bottles of the liqueur. Its called Fulton's Harvest and described on the bottle as a pumpkin pie cream liqueur.

[CHLLady]

CHLLady - Just to let you know, went to the store yesterday and they had a couple bottles of the liqueur. Its called Fulton's Harvest and described on the bottle as a pumpkin pie cream liqueur.

Where?! My head is full of possibilities! Pumpkin liqueur cheesecake, buttercream, and whoopsie pie filling...

I'm putting it in my notes on my phone.

Now I'm making my shopping list for the above recipes.

Thank you for the photo! It looks like a Thai dipping sauce I've used for my egg rolls. I'm gonna look for Penzeys spices.

[bauer]

I'm gonna look for Penzeys spices.

If I remember correctly from our time living in Dallas there is a Penzey's Spice store at Preston, south of 635. I don't know if the store is still there or not though. We actually first discovered Penzeys on a trip in St. Louis and have been buying from them ever since. If the family likes a bit of spice give the dried jalapenos a try. You won't be disappointed!!

[MotherBear]

Thank you MotherBear and Wild Bill for sharing your recipes! I've had a sick kid and new braces lately and ran out of soup ideas. MotherBear, do you peel & cube the potatoes? I've never used kale or escarole before, can I sub with fresh spinach?

Whoops -- you dice the potatoes but I've never bothered with peeling them. Sorry about that! I've never tried it with spinach, but if you do let me know how you like it. I've never actually seen escarole, and this soup is the only reason I ever buy kale, so if it's good with spinach I might have to try it myself.

[CHLLady]

Thank you MotherBear and Wild Bill for sharing your recipes! I've had a sick kid and new braces lately and ran out of soup ideas. MotherBear, do you peel & cube the potatoes? I've never used kale or escarole before, can I sub with fresh spinach?

Whoops -- you dice the potatoes but I've never bothered with peeling them. Sorry about that! I've never tried it with spinach, but if you do let me know how you like it. I've never actually seen escarole, and this soup is the only reason I ever buy kale, so if it's good with spinach I might have to try it myself.

Awesome! I'll have to give it a try. I think I will peel them due to the kids braces. I'll let you know about the spinach.

Thank you Bauer, if I'm on that side of town, I'll check it out for sure. I'm so glad Wild Bill mentioned it because I've never heard of it, but it sure seems everyone else has. It must be good quality if they have specialty stores.

[WildBill]

I'm gonna look for Penzeys spices.

If I remember correctly from our time living in Dallas there is a Penzey's Spice store at Preston, south of 635. I don't know if the store is still there or not though. We actually first discovered Penzeys on a trip in St. Louis and have been buying from them ever since. If the family likes a bit of spice give the dried jalapenos a try. You won't be disappointed!!

The Penzey's store is 12835 Preston Rd Dallas, TX 75230 Phone: (972) 392-7777

One nice thing about visiting the store is that they have jars of the spices that you can open up and smell. Also, if you get their mail order catalog they usually have a coupon for a free bottle of spice with a $3.00 purchase.

[bauer]

I'm gonna look for Penzeys spices.

If I remember correctly from our time living in Dallas there is a Penzey's Spice store at Preston, south of 635. I don't know if the store is still there or not though. We actually first discovered Penzeys on a trip in St. Louis and have been buying from them ever since. If the family likes a bit of spice give the dried jalapenos a try. You won't be disappointed!!

The Penzey's store is 12835 Preston Rd Dallas, TX 75230 Phone: (972) 392-7777

One nice thing about visiting the store is that they have jars of the spices that you can open up and smell. Also, if you get their mail order catalog they usually have a coupon for a free bottle of spice with a $3.00 purchase.

Yes, the first time we went into a store we opened and smelled quite the number of jars. It took a few hours after leaving the store to regain our sense of smell as it had been overloaded.

Also, I forgot to add to my chili recipe above that I use a tbsp of Penzeys Chili 9000.