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Cozy Meal by the Fire

Weeknight Chili and Cornbread

When the kids were younger and trick o' treating was a BIG deal, we would invite friends and family over for a big batch of chili and cornbread before heading out for the sugar-palooza hunt! It was the perfect way to warm everyone up before walking in the chilly fall night ... and to get the kids to eat something healthy. It has since become a family tradition, so we thought we'd share!

Even though the kids are past the trick o’ treating days, we still love making a pot of chili. It’s the perfect weeknight meal, and makes great leftovers when you need a quick and hearty lunch. This recipe is courtesy of Tieghan over @halfbakedharvest. We love many of her dishes, and this one does not disappoint! It’s so easy, and a timesaver since you can make it in the slow cooker, which is our go-to appliance in the fall. Derrick puts it all in the cooker, and when we get home at dinnertime, it’s ready to eat!

We recently tried her Sweet Honey Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread Biscuits, and they are amazing as well. The buttery flavor and flaky biscuits are super delicious with a big bowl of chili. Derrick puts out different toppings so everyone can help themselves and top the chili with their favorite combo. My personal fave is cilantro, avocado and a big dollop of sour cream. Let us know if you try these recipes this fall!

 

Healthy Slow Cooker Turkey and White Bean Chili

1 TABLESPOON EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL

2 SMALL YELLOW ONIONS, CHOPPED

4 CLOVES GARLIC, MINCED OR GRATED

2 POUNDS GROUND TURKEY OR CHICKEN

2 RED PEPPERS, SEEDED AND CHOPPED

2 CHIPOTLE PEPPERS IN ADOBO, FINELY CHOPPED

2 TABLESPOONS CHILI POWDER

1 TABLESPOON SMOKED PAPRIKA

2 TEASPOONS GROUND CUMIN

1 TEASPOON GROUND CINNAMON

1 1/2 TEASPOONS SALT

2-3 CUPS LOW SODIUM CHICKEN BROTH

1 CAN (28 OZ) CRUSHED TOMATOES

1/4 CUP TOMATO PASTE

1 TABLESPOON APPLE BUTTER

2 BAY LEAVES

1 CAN (14 OZ) WHITE BEANS, DRAINED

CHEDDAR CHEESE, AVOCADO, GREEN ONIONS, SOUR CREAM AND CILANTRO FOR SERVING

Click on the link here for instructions. Hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

 

Sweet Honey Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread Biscuits

1 1/2 CUPS ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR

1 1/2 CUPS CORNMEAL

5 TEASPOONS BAKING POWDER

1/2 TEASPOON BAKING SODA

1/2 TEASPOON SALT

1/2 TEASPOON PEPPER

1 1/2 STICKS COLD UNSALTED BUTTER CUT INTO SMALL CUBES

1 EGG LIGHTLY BEATEN

3/4 CUP BUTTERMILK

1/4 CUP HONEY

3/4 CUP SHARP CHEDDAR CHEESE, CUBED

2 JALAPEÑOS, DESEEDED AND DICED

 

Click on the link here for instructions. Enjoy!

 

 

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Ok here’s the truth- I have a lot of favorite whites- but this may be my new fave for cabinetry! 
Here’s the part no one tells you:
Most “bad” white cabinets aren’t bad colors… they’re bad context. White fails when it’s chosen in isolation. Paint chips are judged under fluorescent store lighting, held next to nothing, and decided before cabinets, counters, floors, or hardware are even finalized. Then that same white gets wrapped around an entire kitchen and suddenly feels gray at noon, yellow at night, or weirdly dull no matter how much light you have.
That’s why we chose Shoji White by Sherwin-Williams for our kitchen cabinets this time around.
Not because it’s trendy.
Not because it photographs well.
But because it behaves.
Shoji White has a soft warmth that doesn’t show up on a chip, but does show up when it’s next to real materials. It stays steady throughout the day, doesn’t compete with natural wood or stone, and doesn’t turn chalky once it’s covering full-height cabinetry. That consistency is what actually makes a white “safe” — not how popular it is.
Designer truth:
If a white only looks good at one time of day, it’s not a good cabinet white.
If it needs perfect lighting to work, it’s not a good cabinet white.
If paint decisions make you spiral, it’s not because you’re bad at this (it’s because white is reactive, and no one teaches you how to test it properly).
Our blog goes live today at 3:00pm PST, where I break down how to evaluate whites in your actual space and share a few other cabinet whites we consider truly “safe” — the ones we use repeatedly for clients because they hold up in real life, not just in photos.
Save this if you’re choosing cabinets soon.
When I turned 50, I thought my story was already written.
Turns out, I was just getting to the good part.
I’ve rebuilt homes—and rebuilt a life.
Left what was familiar. Started over more than once.
Turned a lifelong love for design into a business alongside my husband, creating intentional homes for people all over the country.
I believe spaces should hold real life… the messy, meaningful, beautiful moments.
And I’ve always looked at older homes and thought, look at the potential.  Maybe that’s why starting over has never scared me, because I see life the same way. Not as finished, but as full of possibility.
How about you? Are you in the middle part of life and just getting going??? I want to hear! And, please don’t hesitate to reach out if you want some advice on how to get started- I’m realizing we are all in this together. 🤍
Life is short. Make it beautiful.
January, already?!
This month’s edit ended up being a mix of things I naturally reached for: cozy knits, everyday staples that don’t try too hard, little home upgrades that make winter feel more intentional. A few things for staying in, a few things for stepping out, and a few things that just make the house feel good again after the holiday rush.
It’s that in-between season where comfort wins, neutrals feel right, and anything with warmth or texture just makes sense. Simple, useful, grounding.
Here’s what’s on my radar as we settle into the new year. Comment “edit” for all my monthly picks! (Live on the blog at 3:00pm PST).
Hi 🤍 if you’re new here—my husband and I are the founders of Clouz Houz.
Three months ago, we packed up our life and moved across the country to follow a dream: expanding our design business in new ways and planting roots in a place completely unfamiliar to us. 
We bought a house in Middle Tennessee to renovate and call home… in a community where we knew no one.
It’s been scary. And humbling.
But we’re doing it.
While we haven’t gotten as far as we hoped on this first project, we are making progress—little by little. New hardwood floors. New electrical. Kitchen and laundry demo complete. A bathroom fully replumbed and rebuilt. 
And still… so much more ahead.
Living in the middle of a renovation while starting over at the same time has been overwhelming in ways we didn’t anticipate. This isn’t our first remodel, but this season feels different. It’s stretching us. Asking for patience. For trust. For presence.
And maybe that’s the point.
Progress doesn’t equal perfection. Sometimes it just looks like staying in it, even when the path feels uncertain. Learning a new place. Meeting new people. Believing that what you’re building—slowly—will be worth it.
This house is testing us, yes. 
Follow along as we restore this 1930s bungalow and build a new chapter, one step at a time.
2026, we can’t wait to see all that you have in store for us. 🤍