It's Soup and Stew Season!

October already? The trees are beginning to blaze in all their glorious colors; this is my favorite part of Autumn. My least favorite part is less daylight, and the clean-up and putting away–raking leaves, putting away the deck furniture, etc.

But it is time to pull out the flannels, the cute boots, and the pumpkin decorations! Speaking of pumpkins, if you are a pumpkin spice lover, consider creating your own non-toxic diffuser blends and room sprays, and coffee creamers using essential oils! I have a coffee creamer class make & take coming up on October 19 and 20! Watch my FB page for the event, or email me if you aren’t on FB. https://www.facebook.com/MakingScentsStudio

Autumn is also a great time to make comfort foods, like hearty soups and stews, along with some crusty bread! I love my Crock-Pot and my bread machine! And even though this is neither a soup nor a stew, it is one of my favorite slow cooker recipes, because it is sooooo easy (and yummy):

SOUTHWEST CHICKEN

Makes 4 servings

4 frozen chicken breasts

1 16-ounce jar of salsa, any brand, any “heat” level

1 15 or 16-ounce can of black beans

1 8-oz brick of cream cheese

Line your slow cooker with a liner (makes clean up so much easier).

Add frozen chicken breasts evenly across the bottom.

Open salsa and pour contents over the chicken.

Open black beans and pour beans and juice over the chicken.

Leave the cream cheese on the counter, sealed, so it is ready to use later.

Cover and cook on high for 4 hours, or on low for 7 hours.

After initial cook time, add the brick of cream cheese, re-cover and cook another hour, then stir all together. The chicken should shred and mix with the other ingredients.

Serve alone in a bowl, or over rice if desired. Pair with a salad and a thick slice of crusty bread smeared with real butter and you have a nice and hearty cold weather meal.

Let me know if you try the recipe, I would love to hear how you like it. And watch for November’s post, where I will share some of my favorite Thanksgiving dinner recipes using essential oils!

Enjoy the colors, coolness, and scents of fall!

–Janet

P.S. Need high-quality oils? I trust Young Living (and their Seed to Seal Quality Commitment) to provide high-quality essential oils, because oils from the bargain bin at the dollar store just don’t have the same therapeutic qualities, and most likely contain additives or residues that you definitely DO NOT want.

Stop in at Making Scents Studio and let me help you get what you need, or to shop on-line for Young Living oils and diffusers, please use my referral code #10028291 and link www.youngliving.com/us/en/referral/10028291