Niki's Award Winning Chili

Even though it is warming up here in Utah I thought there is still time to enjoy this amazing chili recipe! Trust me though, you will want to make this over and over again throughout the year! I am not normally one to make amazing things, let alone share the recipe but this one just cannot be ignored!! My good friend Niki shared this chili with my husband and I one time and I begged her for the recipe!! She made it to go along with other food for a camp out we went on but the only thing I remember is we ate a lot of chili and chocolate covered almonds from Whole Foods. Ever since, this is most likely the number one requested recipe from my hubby!
 

A few months ago our church ward had a Chili Cook-off contest and out of maybe 30-40 different recipes to choose from, this recipe won!!! I'm not fooling around when I tell you this is probably the BEST CHILI YOU WILL EVER EAT!!
 

Okay I always hate when food bloggers give you such a long story before the actual recipe so here it is!

One important note *IF YOU DO NOT FOLLOW THIS EXACTLY YOU WILL NEVER KNOW WHAT GREAT CHILI REALLY IS!

 It is also important you use these two brand specific items if you can find them. They sell them here at our local Smith's.

 Niki’s Award Winning Chili

Sauce:
1 cup Garland Jack’s Secret Six bbq sauce
1 cup ketchup
1 cup loosely scooped brown sugar
salt and pepper to taste


Chili:
6 strips bacon (3 peppered 3 regular)
1 lb ground beef
5 chopped garlic cloves
1/2 a yellow onion
1 can S&W chili beans
1 can black beans
1 can white beans
1 can red beans

Combine all sauce ingredients and set aside

Cook bacon in a pan until fully cooked. Remove from pan and cook ground beef, garlic and onion in the remaining bacon grease until fully cooked.

In the crock pot use a quarter of the sauce and spread on the bottom then layer your meat mixture with half the bacon (chopped) then layer black beans, white beans, red beans and chili beans. Then layer remaining sauce on top and top with remaining bacon. DO NOT STIR.

For best results cook on high for five hours (NEVER STIRRING) and then on low for two hours and then a final one hour on warm. After that last hour stir thoroughly, turn heat off and enjoy!

We love to eat ours with tortilla chips and a little cheese on top but you really don't need either of those things to make it a meal! It speaks for itself!!

Bebe Deer Love

I had the opportunity to throw two of my friends a joint baby shower! It was so fun and turned out so beautifully!

I had the idea to do a Deer Love theme since it was just the week after Valentine's and well, I really love deer!!!

I tried my hand again at making some cookies thanks to Alison's Cookie Party (this woman knows what she is talking about people!!) and I was SO pleased with how these cute deer cookies turned out.

Just a quick note on these bacon wrapped water chestnuts, THEY ARE THE BEST THING YOU'LL EVER PUT IN YOUR MOUTH! Seriously. My friend Carli shared the recipe and I could really eat them everyday of my life and not care how fat I get. Maybe, one day I'll share the recipe with her permission!

Who doesn't like glittery donuts? They were so fun and with the strawberry milk it was just perfect!

Haven is having a boy and Emily is keeping hers a surprise so I wanted to do colors for both possibilities! Pink, mint and gold it was!

I made a couple of designs to go on some iron on sheets so the guests could make them for both babies. The "stay wild" design was free from Alexa Zurcher from the He&I blog. She actually gives a great tutorial on how to screen print using that design but we decided to make it a little cleaner and simpler for everyone.

I didn't get any pictures of the finished product but they turned out so cute! And much better than I was expecting from an iron on!

There were a lot of cute babies that joined us!

Dana from My Posh Designs was there every step of the way helping me put my vision together. Dana you are the best!!

Sara with Sara Vaz Photography did an AMAZING job with all the photos, no? You definitely should hire her for your next event or family portraits! She is so talented!

Well, there you have it! I wish these two beautiful girls healthy and happy babies! Mwah!

Beautiful Deer Spring Wreath

Yesterday was the first day of spring and let me just tell you, here in Utah, it was GORGEOUS! I went on a fun hike, found a pair of shed antlers (following Utahs regulations of course!) and soaked in the sun. Today I was inspired by the weather and antler find from yesterday to make this beautiful door decor. Hope you enjoy!