use-what-you-got chili

I was never much of a chili fan growing up, not sure why. Now here I am, taking time to blog about chili.

What a world we live in.

Anyways, many days when I get home from work, I do a mental search of what I could possible make for dinner (after potty-ing dogs, putting on my pajamas, putting away dishes, etc). 

Well, Thursday was a blustery, relatively cold day here in the north-state, so I thought - how about chili?

Well, here goes.

I like to start with one can of canned chili (high sodium, I know, but it kinda gets things going) in a saucepan.

I add as much of a can of black beans as I feel like, which was about 3/4 of a can.

I added a spoonful of tomato paste (the picture below lies).

 

Then, I added whatever veggies I had that would work.

Green pepper, onion, and frozen corn. However much I wanted.

Also, if you have veggies you forgot were in the fridge, like, say 2 ears of fresh corn-better make it!

 Then you do this and let it get nice and hot. I added random spices. 

I also added a spoonful of bbq sauce. Why? I don't know. But it was good.

Let it simmer until your fiance (or dinner-mate) gets home.

 Then, you fry up some corn tortilla pieces - mmmmmm.

 In all their greasy goodness.

Add whatever you can think of - I had cheese (cubed because the only grater we own was dirty) and sour cream. Chives would have been nice - but I couldn't find them in my fridge, what do you know.

There you have it. Fiance-approved meal.

(not all meals are so lucky)

All Things Homemade

Kev and I have been spending a lot of weekends "in" since its been raining the last two or three weekends. So, we've been finding various ways to keep ourselves busy, besides homework, of course. 

I made a different version of "peanut butter balls"--a snack favorite at the preschool I work at. They are easy, simple, fairly nutritious, and so yummy.

For 8-9 PBBs
1/2 cup PB
1/4 cup and a spoonful of honey
1/2 cup oats or rice cereal

Mix together in bowl, leave plain or roll in graham cracker, or drizzle chocolate syrup over, or add coconut flakes, or powdered sugar--the possibilities are endless!

I made the first three varieties for Kevin to try--they didn't last long!

That same weekend, Kev picked a bunch of pomegranates from our two trees in the front yard.Such a great winter fruit, and fairly sweet. We squeezed so many seeds to make some fresh juice which Kevin thoroughly enjoyed.

I looked up pomegranate facts and was surprised to read that grenadine was originally made from pomegranate juice, who would have thought?! Since we all know how much I love Shirley Temples, Kev and I decided to give it a try.

Home-made Grenadine Syrup
1 and 1/8 cup fresh-squeezed pom. juice
1/2 cup sugar
Mix and bring to boil, simmer 10-15 minutes until thickened slightly

 

The grenadine we are familiar with is made from mostly high-fructose corn syrup. Pomegranate juice is not even a listed ingredient. I always assumed it was made from cherries. It turned out great and tastes even better than Rosie's.

It has been "cuddle weather" and Tasha loves to bury into our blankets and wear home-sewn sweaters, when she isn't playing "attack dog."

 Thursday we visited our favorite thrift store, the Thrifty Bargain. It was 50% off Thursday. We came home with this functioning, clean, 10$ bread maker. Now, we are home-made bread bakers as well. Daddy, I need some of your recipes!!

 Our first loaf!!!

Our next project(s), knitting!!
We got some cheap needles and yarn from the Thrifty Bargain and away we went. Kevin has already knitted himself two beanies, and I have made myself a neck warmer/scarf for winter biking. Kev is now working on a wool scarf and I am starting Gaby and Dominic's Christmas presents. We're ready for winter--or fall at least, our favorite season.

See everyone soon!
Kev and Mal