Day Three Hundred One 2013

Bought a new Crockpot yesterday and thought I’d take it for a spin today. It’s the first time I’ve ever actually bought a slow cooker even though I’ve been using them since I’ve been married [40 years and counting]. Crockpots made their debut way back in the seventies. Someone gave us our first one for a wedding gift. It is burnt orange. I still have it. My daughter Holly gave me one of her slow cookers after she got married ~ she and her hubs ended up with three as wedding presents.  I was happy to have a modern one where you can remove the crock from the pot. Easier to wash. It was time for a new one, though. Spent twenty bucks for it at Wal-Mart. Not too shabby. Works great, especially after the smells-like-I’m-cooking-batteries odor wore off and the sweet and sour chicken and broccoli aroma took over. Tasted great, too.

Day Eighty Four 2013

SNOW DAY

Ah, Spring! Who’d have thought March 25th would be a snow day? Talk about March madness. Students and teachers in our neck of middle Tennessee woke up and rejoiced and then went back to sleep.

I was going to make a new recipe this morning for the Crockpot that called for mild chopped green chilies. I had the chopped green chilies, but the operative word here was ‘mild’. Alas, mine were hot. Just wouldn’t do. So off I go to Wal-Mart for the proper ingredient. First, had to scrape the snow off the car. Looks like we got an inch or more.

It’s spring time in Wal-Mart (or maybe more like summer time). Guess Mother Nature didn’t get the memo.

It couldn’t have been a bleaker day, but I do like the snow flurries. It flurried here all day long. May get another inch or two tonight and tomorrow.

The new recipe  is White Chicken Chili ~ thus the need for chopped green chilies [mild]. I’m not a great cook, but I do know how to create a great mess when trying some new recipe.

Looked good. Smelled good while it cooked all day long.

I used the last of the bird seed to fill up one of the feeders this morning. And I always put out peanut butter when it’s this cold. The birdies love that stuff.

Even the doves didn’t want to be walking around on the cold ground today. They’re always welcome on the feeders …

… if they can manage to hang on and eat at the same time.

Grandpeeps Elijah and Shelby came to stay with me around lunch time today. Since our fave Thai food place is closed for the next six weeks, we had lunch with the Colonel. I wish I knew what Elijah was saying to Shelby … that’s what happens when you’re too busy taking the picture … you miss stuff.

Meat and potatoes kind of guy.

And girl. Love those KFC taters.

We hit Ralph’s Donut Shop after porking out on chicken and brought home a dozen to be savored later at snack time. With cold milk, of course. We didn't eat them all ~ just in case you're wondering.

The White Chicken Chili turned out great. A hearty meal on a cold windy snowy spring day. Especially with a dollop or two or three of sour cream. Fritos, too, which are always good anytime anywhere.

Seems like it was a day for chicken in various forms. Since we were out of bird seed, Neil and I went to Tractor Supply after supper to pick up some seed [the birds still need to be fed until the bugs start to hatch] and they had baby chicks for sale. [Easter is on its way.] They’re such cute fuzzy little peeps. You just want to hold them and squeeze them and love them.

And they had Easter bunnies, too.

And Easter ducks. Quack! Hope they all end up in good homes.
Happy Monday, y’all!

Day Eighty 2013

35 degrees at lunch time today. Welcome, first full day of Spring!

I’m trying some new recipes. Made Black Bean Soup in the Crockpot after lunch. I got to use things like lime and cilantro and cumin and ground cloves and balsamic vinegar, all in the same dish, a departure for me, especially the cumin. I made this unholy mess in my kitchen and for all my effort was rewarded with a most pleasing aroma wafting through my house.

This Black Bean Soup was great for a cold night, especially since it set our taste buds on fire. Didn’t expect it to be inferno hot, but Neil and I both agreed it was the most unusual tasting soup we’d ever experienced and it was quite good. Some sour cream on top helped take the bite off, and Fritos were good with it, too. And since there were leftovers, we’ll most likely be having it for lunch tomorrow.

Ah, Spring! It’s 36 degrees which called for a fire in the wood stove. There’s snow in the forecast for tonight and tomorrow. Like I said, ‘Mother Nature’ doesn’t care what the calendar says where the weather is concerned. Not one bit.