Black Bean Chili

 

all in one pot, black bean chili {via simply happenstance}

:: Black Bean Chili ::

Can you believe that Halloween is this week? We are still waiting on costumes {delivery takes a bit longer now that we are living in the mountains}. It looks like we have a super girl, batman, a werewolf, and obi wan kenobi! Ha! An eclectic bunch, for sure!

I thought I’d share with you one of our favorite Halloween traditions…. chili! I don’t think we are alone in this one. I have lots of friends that make a big pot of warm chili for a quick and easy dinner on Halloween night! This recipe is one of my favorites, as it is loaded with healthy vegetables and hearty black beans. I also like that it’s hard to mess up. Measurements aren’t really a necessity {as long as you don’t go overboard with the optional hot peppers and spices}. Also, you can adjust the recipe as needed to suit your own taste… even adding in ground turkey or beef, if you’d like. The best part about this recipe is that it’s ALL IN ONE POT! That’s right! Way less clean up, my friends! With four kids… I am completely over the clean up process…. plus less time cleaning up, means more time enjoying your sweet littles! 

So, without further ado, here is the dream dish…. easy, healthy, and completely delish! [Read more…]

It’s {simply} Our One Year Blogiversary!

 

SIMPLY IS ONE YEAR!

It’s hard to believe… but it’s been ONE YEAR since we created and started blogging on Simply Happenstance! To celebrate, we had our talented friend and sorority sister, Candace Rock, take our photos!

We’ve learned so much over the past year… in fact, I think we both deserve honorary degrees in Technology and Social Media! There have been many highs and lows on this journey… but all-in-all, we are both so grateful for our site, for our loyal readers, for everyone we’ve met through social media, and most of all, for having each other to lean on throughout the past year. We’ve both driven our husbands completely crazy with late nights on the computer, tech lingo, and blog talk…. but, they’ve both been our biggest fans and sources of support! We can’t forget about our moms who seriously “like” all that we do and post on Facebook! Ha! Somedays… we think they may be the only two reading what we have written! {Thanks, P & P!}

We are very excited for what the future holds for {simply}. We now have advertising through BlogHer and Google, we’ve written two articles for a local magazine…. and have even worked with a few big brands! We are hopeful that with continued hard work, we will be able to encourage other moms and engrain a message for women to take time for themselves daily to do what they love and are passionate about. Hopefully our site brings smiles, laughs, a focus on the positive, and the lovely things in life. All too often, we get stuck in negativity, comparing ourselves to others, and only looking to the future to bring happiness instead of living in the ‘now.’ We both strive to keep things simple in our families, and to become more and more present with our children. We hope that message gets across in our online journaling. 

We really hope that you will continue to stick by us on this journey. We adore your comments, feedback, and support! Words simply can’t express our gratitude for you reading our blog!

By the way…. instead of {weekend} lovelies… we decided to link some of our favorite posts and recipes from the past year!

Simply-52

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Pumpkin Applesauce Muffins

Pumpkin Applesauce Muffins 1

:: Pumpkin Applesauce Muffins ::

Do you have an upcoming school event that that requires you to bring a healthy home made snack?  These Pumpkin Applesauce Muffins are the perfect fall treat.  Loaded with pumpkin flavor these little muffins make for an easy bite sized snack.  Made without nuts and the additive of applesauce and yogurt with a mixture of canned pumpkin these muffins won’t disappoint your little ones.  I know for myself, I often would love to bring in cupcakes for a birthday celebration or fall party, but these muffins were just as fun with half the sugar.  Easy to make and full of pumpkin spice flavor this is sure to be a new healthy fall treat to add to your list. [Read more…]

Creamy Corn Chowder

 

Creamy Corn Chowder {Simply Happenstance}

:: Creamy Corn Chowder ::

Have you ever had the corn chowder from Mimi’s Cafe? That soup was my inspiration behind this quick, easy, and flavorful autumn meal! {I actually haven’t been there in years… but I have fond memories of that warm, comforting dish!} This recipe is extremely easy using only a few ingredients. It can be made vegetarian, effortlessly, by omitting the bacon. It can also be made healthier by using milk in place of half & half, or heavy cream…. it’s your choice! I decided not to skimp on the creaminess… so I went with the heavy cream. {It was just one of those days!} The corn chowder turned out rich, creamy, and delicious friends! Paired with warm, crusty french bread… you have the perfect fall meal! I hope you enjoy!  [Read more…]

Perfectly Homemade Pizza Dough

 

pizza dough :: Perfectly Homemade Pizza Dough ::

Believe it or not… I actually went about two years without eating pizza {Gasp! I know!}. During my first pregnancy, I didn’t experience food cravings as much as I experienced food aversions. Unfortunately, pizza… was the enemy. I couldn’t handle the taste, smell, or even the word P-I-Z-Z-A. Thankfully with time, the aversion passed {I think Husby was especially grateful for that}! Now… like most of you, I completely savor a good slice of pizza… especially if it’s homemade. Typically my husby picks up some of Trader Joe’s premade pizza dough, on his stop at the market before making his way up the mountain to our home. However, this week, he was home from the fire station for a few days and we didn’t have any dough on hand. I decided to mix up an easy homemade pizza dough {from one of my faves… The Pioneer Woman}, and top it with fresh, organic veggies from my mom’s garden. Yum!

pizza dough simply happenstance

The best part about making homemade pizza dough, is that there are literally only a few key ingredients needed…. flour, salt, olive oil, water and yeast. It honestly took me less than 5 minutes to make, and only an hour to let rise. 

Homemade Pizza Dough Simply Happenstance

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M&M Skillet Cookie

m&m skillet cookie

:: M&M Skillet Cookie ::

It’s fall and I am feeling inspired by all that I see.  Target really has a way of taking a hold of oneself with it’s lovely displays of Halloween and all its seasonal M&M’s.  I can’t help it….the kids want chocolate chip cookies, and I am thinking we need something new… something that I actually have to think a little bit about and use one of the many gadgets that I like to covet.  How many of you have this problem?  I love kitchen appliances, cake plates, pans, and coffee mugs….I can go on and on.  The problem is I buy them and then I sit and wait.  I wait to decide the best possible recipe I will create to use in that special addition to my kitchen.  So I am breaking out my Lodge cast iron and I am making it simple.  Two dishes to clean and I don’t have to roll out cookies, set them aside to cool, and repeat.  One pan and you get to slice your cookie out of it.  Genius and easy!  This M&M Skillet Cookie is simply inspired by BJ’s Restaurant.  When I first arrived at Long Beach State as a Freshman, BJ’s in Belmont Shore was a fun meet-up for food, friends, and family.  We would always end our meal with a Pizookie.  Since my kids have recently had their first try of one, I am making an at home version… and its not going to be in a small pan.  No rush to finish and we did top it with ice cream.  Yum! [Read more…]