Archive for February, 2011
The Easiest Sunday Dinner – Chuck Roast in Foil
February 26th, 2011 | 
Author: I had a hunk of chuck roast in the freezer and wasn’t really sure how I wanted to cook it.
Perusing my many cookbooks, software and the internet it seemed that Chuck Roast in Foil was a winner with many.
So I decided to give it a go.
The original recipe called for soy (I’m allergic), and espresso (don’t have any). So I omitted those and just rubbed the meat down with a spicy cornstarch mix.
Placed over some cut up red potatoes potatoes, onions, and carrots and popped in the oven in the early afternoon we had a delicious dinner that evening to be repeated on Sunday where we served 9 after church. It was so easy it’s shameless.
Stephanie from Gruve Mom Time’s generously shares the recipe here.
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Chili Day February 24th
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Today, February 24th is Chili Day.
Chili, the comfort food with a little spice. Derived from Chili Con Carne (which I can’t help pronouncing with an Italian accent) it means chili (the spice) with meat. Variations include veggies and beans.
You can find the history of chili along with a couple of recipes at the International Chili Society here.
Here are some recipes for great chili
Turkey Chili
(Serves about 6-7)
Ingredients:
1 can (14.5oz) chopped tomatoes
1 can (6oz) tomato paste
1 carrot, sliced
1 onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 cup chicken stock
1.5 pounds ground turkey (you can also use ground beef or a mix of both if you prefer)
1 package (1.25oz) chili seasoning mix
1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 cup green bell pepper, chopped
1/2 cup red bell pepper, chopped
1/3 cup bottled steak sauce
5 slices bacon
1 tsp ground cumin
1 can (15oz) kidney beans, drained
1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
1 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
Combine tomatoes, tomato paste, carrot, onion, celery, pepper flakes, peppers, steak sauce and chicken stock in a large heavy pot and simmer over low heat.
In a separately large frying pan cook the bacon slices until crisp and put on paper towels to drain. Cook the ground turkey in the bacon drippings until browned. Then drain. Stir the chili seasoning into the ground turkey.
Add the turkey to the tomato mixture and add the cumin and bacon. Keep simmering until the vegetables are tender. Then stir in beans, cilantro and parsley. Heat through and season well.
Serve immediately with grated cheese and crusty bread.
Chili Di Molto Beans
This chili has a little bit of a sweet taste due to the can of pork and beans.
1 pound of ground turkey, ground beef, or both
1 sweet onion, chopped
1 can kidney beans, drained
1 can black beans, drained
1 can pork and beans, drained
1 can diced green beans, drained
1 can diced tomatoes with juice
1 cup chicken stock
2 tablespoons chili powder (choose heat level based on your tastes)
Brown beef and drain. Sautee onions for five minutes, add back beef and all other ingredients. Simmer for 30 minutes. Serve with shredded cheese.
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My Nephew Got Me Hooked – Christian Fiction Review
I like a good book. Sometimes I like too many good books. I know I don’t talk about them often enough on this blog but mostly because I’m one of those who will read the cereal box just to read something. I read a lot of different things and they’re not always newsworthy.
But this time I really like what I’m reading so much so that I crawled under the dining table yesterday evening to escape and read some more. My husband and daughter understood. My daughter came over to pet my head.
My soon to graduate and head into the world of college nephew turned me on to the book. It’s actually his copy I’m borrowing so I’m being careful not to eat over it and such as I usually do.
Because the author is a female author and it’s Christian fiction one would think chick-lit but it held appeal for him so there must be more. And there was. He discovered the book in his English class where they were studying bits of writing and he enjoyed the bit from this book. He wanted to know more so he went and bought a copy. He thought my mother would enjoy it so he loaned it to her and then she thought I would like it too. I wasn’t sure what to expect when he loaned it to me but I’m impressed and now have ordered the rest of the series because I love to read. But what held the appeal for my nephew? Probably the focus on the teenage boys in the different families. I found them most interesting too.
Oh! What is it?
Title: By the Light of a Thousand Stars (The Derby Series #3)
Author: Jamie Langston, Turner
Synopsis: The book is written in the first person of four female characters, two Christian women and two non-Christian, who’s lives intertwine and the changes that happen in their lives and their families’ lives over the space of about a year. There is also a poetry club that sort of gives you the hint that there are many more characters perhaps whose lives are delved into in other books. I can’t say right off that I was ready to give this book a try. The opening pages are of a mother who is grieving for her lost child. Having lost a child I was finding myself getting a bit sad reading thoughts that mirrored once mine once were but I pulled through and I’m glad I did.
Geesh I know I’m not giving you much of the book but you can go to Amazon
The book is highly detailed. Meaning you will know every move of a character, “She went to put on her coat. Her left arm in the sleeve and then her right. She zipped the jacket closed and then pulled on the hood. Looking down she felt in her pockets for her gloves”. Okay that is NOT verbatim but some of it is like that and it can seem over the top but that is the beauty of the book. You really get to know the characters and even the family members.
It is the third in a series of 5 so I have a lot to read.
I enjoy it and hey! you might too.
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My Many Talents
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Have I ever mentioned how the mere fact that I have a daughter makes me very talented in several fields? It’s true. She brings it all out in me.
Read on…
1. Singer: We sing quite loudly and even have a few pretend mikes around the house. We have even made up a few songs. I should put them to paper. Stay tuned for our album. Greatest Gospel Hits by Peanut and the Mom
2. Dancer: We dance too. This one makes my husband laugh. I don’t know why as we are so extremely good. Occasionally I’ll pick her up for a dip. Our ballet technique is flawless (grunt).
3. Artist: Be sure and say that with an emphasis on the “i”. I have never colored or crafted so much in my life except maybe when I was her age. We have so much artwork we can now open that gallery.
4. Crafter: Kind of like the artist one only this challenges me a bit more. I think I have to blame this on the schooling. Each night I have to pull together some great craft for school the next day. And then there are the items I make just for fun. Dollhouse, doll clothes, felt food. You get the idea.
5. Gourmet Chef: My sweet peanut tells me each evening “Mommy. Thank you for this delicious meal.” I would say her father has put her up to it but since I’m so talented in all those other areas maybe it’s just true… hmmm!
6. Event Planner: Her birthday is still a few months away but I’ve already designed the cake in my head, planned gifts, shopped for the ultimate birthday present and alerted a few special guests.
7. Doctor: This I do with my faithful assistant/nurse. We have a special patient called “her father”. Since he works in a sometimes physically demanding job we like to see what the “wound of the week” is going to be. We have it down to a science now. Out comes the blue paper towels, hydrogen peroxide, bandaids, tweezers (for the occasional splinter), and desk lamp (for our surgical procedures). Sometimes we use a few technical words picked up here and there. Our patient loves us. Ignore his grimace.
8. Entomologist: Bugs are our specialty. I have been forced into this one but I’m getting rather good… on how to get rid of them.
I could go on but as you can see I am SOOOO talented I amaze myself.
