Technique Tuesday Kissing Lip Balm Valentine Recipe Monday - Taco Soup

Tuesday is the Technique Challenge day on Stampin' Addicts, and today I thought the Kissing Technique was in order since many Stampin' Up! demonstrators are preparing for Valentine's Day classes and clubs.

My project is a lip balm holder, and there is a tutorial on SA from the Monday 3-D challenges: Chapstick Holder Challenge

For this lip balm holder, I chose the new Sending Love Specialty Designer Series, decorated it with the Pinking Hearts Border Punch, Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon and a Real Red Heart Sending Love Epoxy Brad.

For the Kissing Technique I used the large solid heart from the I {Heart} Hearts set and stamped it onto the Fine Flourish Mini Background which had been inked with Real Red Classic Ink.  I lined it up carefully (which was easy using the center three petals at the top and bottom of the stamp) to place the circle in the center of the background in the center of the heart. Here's a link to the Challenge Post on Stampin' Addicts: Tech38 Kissing

On the 3 X 3 card and on the pink heart below, you can see the intended use of the technique for creating a shape with pattern on a larger sheet of paper.  My lip balm holder looked better with the heart cut out though :). So, following the technique, I cut out the heart, added the brad, sponged the edges with Real Red Classic Ink and popped it up on dimensionals. I also sponged the sentiment from the Teeny Tiny Wishes set and adhered it using dimensionals as well.

Today's Recipe is a combination of several recipes most notably a corn chowder altered to use lean ground beef.

Taco Soup

1 lb lean ground beef (Though not as good for hamburgers, I like 90% for this soup.)
1 package of taco seasoning
1 can of Mexican corn
1 can of Cream of Potato Soup (this is not enough to make the soup gooey-don't worry)
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 can diced green chilis
1 can of Rotel tomatoes
1 small can of tomato sauce (if you'd like a red broth)
1 32 ounce carton of Beef Broth
Cilantro and Mexican spices to taste (I added some chili powder and a scoop of a home sales party enchilada seasoning)

Brown ground beef and cook onion at the same time.  Add all other ingredients and bring to a boil...stirring to prevent sticking.  Turn down heat and simmer for an hour or so to meld flavors.  (You may need to add a little water at the half way point.) Serve with shredded cheese and tortillas or tortilla chips.  This recipe serves about 8.