Easy Entertaining

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I just found out that good friends are going to be in town tomorrow night and are coming for a visit. How many of you are saying the same thing? You have unexpected company arriving soon for a holiday visit and you need some easy entertaining ideas…fast. Try my favorite so simpleTriple-2 Chili along with a pretty tablescape made with fresh citrus.

Triple 2 Chili

My good friend gave me this recipe and I nicknamed it Triple 2 Chili because that’s how I remember the ingredients.

• 2 cans of reduced sodium tomato soup
• 2 cans of black beans or kidney beans
• 2 TBSP chili power

Optional: 1 pound ground turkey breast, lean beef or venison, chopped onions and bell peppers.

Sauté some chopped onions and green peppers in a Dutch oven or large pot (I use my pasta pot because I double or triple the recipe). Add a pound of ground turkey breast and brown. Then add the soup, beans and chili powder. Stir and cook 10-15 minutes. Serve with grated cheese, green onions, reduced fat sour cream or Fritos on top.

For a pretty tablescape, take a clear glass container…it can be a vase, bowl, hurricane type candle holder…whatever you have that will hold fruit and greenery. Fill it with a mix of fresh lemons, limes and oranges. Add water and then go outside and look for greenery. Maybe a palm frond, magnolia leaves or holly with red berries…all depends on where you live. Add a few pieces of greenery to the container of fresh citrus and it’s so natural and pretty. Plus the fruit and greenery will last a long time.

Good food and atmosphere don’t have to take a lot of effort leaving you more time to be with those you love.