Corn Chowder

Fall is in the air, we had stopped at the country produce market, and picked up some corn. Perfect for some of Sarah's corn chowder.

Corn Chowder

1 &1/2 lb. boneless chicken breast

1/2c. chopped onion

2 cloves minced garlic

3 Tbsp. butter

2 chicken boullion cubes

1 c. hot water

1 tsp. cumin

2c. half & half

2 c. shredded Monterey Jack Cheese

1 16oz can creamed corn (I used the fresh corn)

1 4oz can chopped green chilis (undrained)

1/4 - 1 tsp Tabasco sauce

1/2 c. salsa

Cut chicken & brown with onion, garlic, & butter. Dissolve boullion in hot water. Add to pot with cumin. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat. Cover and simmer 5 minutes. Add the rest of ingredients, up to the salsa. Cook over low heat stirring frequently. Stir in Salsa before serving.

Blue Skies

Nothing but blue skies.
music by the talented Halie Loren.
Close your eyes and think Norah Jones, Diana Krall, Eva Cassidy.....Grilled chicken strip ranch salad and iced tea.

Date night: picnic supper and concert in a park. Some smooth jazz and people watching, a nice way to end a busy work day.

Happy Pinterest Birthday, Sarah!

We took a birthday celebration lunch to Sarah's on Saturday. A crisp summer salad.
I made a slightly altered version of a potato casserole, she had pinned on Pinterest.

Another beer can chicken.

Sarah loves salty/sweet treats. She had pinned some buttery popcorn cupcakes which required popcorn flour. I made the flour, and the cupcakes, which TOTALLY flopped. They fell so bad, you could fit a second cupcake inside them. I think it was due to lots of butter, and not enough gluten. So......I pulled out a yellow cake mix, added the leftover 1/4th of the popcorn batter, and adjusted the amount of water, eggs, and less oil (used butter.) This was the result. The topping was a homemade caramel glaze, with a sea salt rim, buttercream frosting that includes some of the caramel glaze, and topped with caramel dipped buttered kettle popcorn. Sarah had pinned a gift card giving presentation that was a Starbucks cup, with brown paper, and white tissue. It was fun surprising her with it.

I'm so proud of how my little girl has grown into such a lovely woman, and wonderful mother to children of her own. She is an easy going, laid back, funny, resilient, creative, talented,wonderful friend.

Yard Crashers

Last week we worked for several days on the front yard. More digging up of plants and weeds, prepping and laying landscape cloth, and barkdust. We dismantled the old water garden and used the rocks for edging to discourage runoff on the sidewalk. Monday, another beer can chicken went on the grill. That and a Texas peach cobbler fed us for the next few days, since I had no further inclination to cook when I came in from carting rock.

Intervention?

Beer Can Chicken. ( I add garlic and onion powders to the rub and glaze.) This was the first of 4 beer can chickens made this past week. It was for the family reunion, and we loved it. Also made a roasted corn, black bean, mango salad, which I liked allot, but didn't get rave reviews from hubby, or mom. (Family Reunion was pretty quiet this year...Jim and I were among the youngsters there.) This trip over, we got Mom's kitchen and utility room painted and some garage sales in. Dad is such an avid garage sale guy. He gets on ....ummm...kicks.... For a while he brought home at least 1 table saw a week ....for months/years. He would repair them and sell them or donate them to a charity shop. He has acquired more telephones than Ma Bell, and gives them to anyone who needs some. He sought out electric typewriters galore, trying to find the best possible one for Mom. Filling a request for me, started a wave of antique typewriters. He's gotten so many computers, I doubt even he can remember how many at this point. He has several, and has donated beau coup to soooo many people. Then..... laptops....
At one point this weekend, He was sitting in his recliner with his laptop, Mom had one on her lap, Jim was on one Dad gave him,
and mine was on the sofa ....with the dogs. Can we say "Family Intervention?!"

Bake It and They Will Come

I've made a batch of Martha Stewart's Black and White Cheesecake Squares....in hopes of a birth celebration for the twins. Kate and Chris both love their chocolate! OK little ones......

Making Butter

Playing the Oregon Trail Game at school, learning about pioneer life, Big Sister was wanting to make butter. We put heavy whipping cream into pint jars, and went to shakin'!

Shake little Sister,

Shake!
We've got butter!

We drained the buttermilk off in a strainer.

Then washed the butter in cold water, til it was cool and clear.

My antique butter mold

The butter was packed into it,

And then pressed onto a little scalloped plate.

i Carley

Rather it's.... "Eye Carley." Ashi wanted it named "Carley"after her little neighbor friend that just moved away. Yesterday was gorgeous weather out, but I had a major sick headache that finally sent me to bed. That was sooooo maddening. There was so much I planned to do outside.


Today, it's drizzly again, so I finished the monster for the monster......


And......


made potato rolls to take to dinner at Anna's. She fixed a turkey with all the trimmings, since she didn't have to work today. It was reeely good!


American Idol tonight..... Throughout the competition, Scotty has stayed true to his testimony. "I believe in Jesus, I talk to God."

Happy Easter!

Resurrection Rolls

The white marshmallow represents the body of Christ.

Prepared with oils (butter) and spices (cinnamon)Rolled in Pillsbury flaky crescent roll dough

Secured in the tomb

After baking them:

The tomb is empty!

Martha Stewart's fresh pineapple glazed ham recipe.

Mom's potato roll recipe