Chili and Corn Cake

Have I  mentioned lately how much I love fall and fall dinners?  Nothing beats a pot simmering on the stove and making the house smell delicious all day long.  On this rainy day, the menu consisted of chili and corn cake. I call it corn cake after moving to the south and being "instructed" that this WAS NOT corn bread.  :)

Enjoy!

Chili:

Toss in a pan until the meat is browned and the onions are clear:
1.5 lbs of ground beef (you could use ground turkey, but just isn't as good)
1 large onion, diced
Tons of garlic (like 7-8 cloves, minced)
1/4 cup of chili powder
1 tbls of red chili flakes
Salt and fresh cracked pepper


Add in:
1 sm can of tomato paste
1 big ole can of diced tomatoes
1 sm can of tomato sauce
1 can of diced, green chilies
1 can of dark red kidney beans

Simmer on low for 3-4 hours. Serve it with a dollop of sour cream, some shredded cheese, chopped onions, macaroni......whatever sounds good to you.

Corn Cake:

Mix together:
2 eggs
1/3 cup of milk
1 can of creamed corn
*sm can of green chilies (if you want a Southwest taste)

Stir in:
2 boxes of Jiffy corn muffin mix

Pour into a buttered pan and bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

Christmas time in near.....

I am a fan of all things Christmas, with one exception.  I'm not keen on kids writing a Christmas list.  To me, the Christmas list fosters greed and a focus on all things material, which it the antithesis of Christmas.  Christmas is about gift giving, not receiving.  Starting with God the Father giving us the gift of His son the precedent for Christmas has always been giving.  When kids sit down to write a list they are totally focused on themselves and on getting, getting, getting.  I want this....I want that.....wrong.

Now, I understand the practicality of the list.  Friends and family want to know what kids like, understand their interests in the hopes of purchasing something that will be loved and enjoyed.  But that's where parents come in.  I know my kid fairly well.  Ask me if you want to know what she likes.  I don't like encouraging kids to ask for specific items. It seems....icky.  Instead I prefer to teach them that getting any present is a gift.  I remind my daughter that someone who cares about her has taken their time, energy and money to select something that they think she will enjoy, and THAT is the gift.  On the flip side I also think it's important to teach kids about the value of giving; the importance of thinking of others first and the joy that comes from celebrating with others.

To that end, I've decided to write my own Christmas list this year.  It's intended to be an advent calendar of sorts.  Each day we'll do an activity that will help us enjoy the season and focus on the true meaning of the season, the little things that make it fun, and the joy of sharing with others.  Way better than anything you find in a store.

December 1:   Bake X-mas cookies
December 2:   Create a countdown advent chain
December 3:   Make X-mas cards
December 4:   Read  Luke 1:26-38
December 5:   Read How the Grinch Stole Christmas
December 6 :  Shop for stuffed animals to donate to a Children's charity
December 7:   Christmas colored manicures and pedicures
December 8:   Watch a Christmas movie
December 9:   Wrap presents
December 10:  Make Christmas candy
December 11:  Assemble goody bags for school and dance teachers
December 12:  Make peppermint hot chocolate before bed
December 13:  Watch a Christmas movie 
December 14:  Drive through the neighborhood to see Christmas lights
December 15:  Decorate Christmas cookies
December 16:  Make a book of Christmas carols
December 17:  Sing Christmas songs
December 18:  Do an X-mas craft
December 19:  Read Matthew 2: 1-12
December 20:  Read Christmas stories
December 21:  Bake goodies
December 22:  Read The Night Before Christmas
December 23:  Deliver goodies to the residents at an assisted living facility
December 24:  Read Luke 2: 8-22
December 25:  Celebrate the greatest gift of all time with family.

Finally!

Fall has arrived and brought with it my desire to make soup.  I love to make soups.  They are my favorite thing to cook.  Something about the layers and depth of flavor; about how it cooks for hours and allows the anticipation of eating to grow.  Perfection.

This will be the first installment of many soup recipe posts.

Happy Fall!

Potato Soup

2.5 cups of chicken broth

1/2 an onion, finely chopped

A whole bunch of minced garlic

2 carrots, peeled and finely chopped

1.5 cups of cauliflower

6 large russet potatoes, peeled and chopped

Cook on high in the crock pot for 4 hours. Use a potato masher or immersion blender to mix until it is your desired consistency. I like a few chunks.

After four hours, drop the heat to low and add:

1 block of cream cheese, cubed. Stir until incorporated.

1 pint of heave whipping cream (warmed, so as not to curdle)

2-3 cups of crispy, chopped bacon.

Let simmer on low for another two hours, stirring occasionally. I garnished it with a dollop of sour cream, some shredded cheddar cheese and chives.

SO GOOD and very filling.

Essential Qualifications:

Upon being asked by my daughter to read a book about some distressed princess who has to be rescued by a prince in order to fulfill her dreams, it struck me to ask her what she thought were the qualifications of a good man/husband and woman/wife.  I was pleasantly surprised by her answers, which I have listed below, exactly as she said them.  Check it out.

Men/husbands:

1. Believe in Jesus.
2. Be able to fix a car.
3. Be a gentleman.
4. Have good manners.
5. Be smart.
6. Respect his wife.
7. Be able to cook steak.
8. Make his wife laugh.
9. Be active.
10. Be a hard worker.

Women/wives:

1. Believe in Jesus.
2. Be funny.
3. Do activities with your husband.
4. Know how to cook and bake.
5. Be strong.
6. Try to look pretty.
7. Be willing to get dirty.
8. Be kind.
9. Love your family.
10. Be a team with your husband.

I will no longer cringe when she brings princess books for bedtime.  Her reality is better than any fairy tale.