DIY-ing

So lately I've been in major clean out, clean up and spiffy up mode. I LOVE to DIY when I can and something that I do usually about once a week is thrift. I frequent local thrift stores and peruse and when the day is good, I'll find a good little treasure. My latest a sewing table complete with a powder blue sewing machine, parts, instruction booklet and box all included for $20. I'll take that! Another recent project was this little beaut that I got at Salvation for $8 and then got an additional 25% off! Ha! So I came across this fun little website called Skip to My Lou where each Monday there are a TON of crafty little DIY's that you can see and do each with it's own little tutorial and how-to. I live for these, these little to-do's that I can whip up and create on my own. Makes me feel accomplished. So I ran across this on my morning Monday peruse and it was a light bulb moment (pun intended) and also a total GOTTAHAVEITICANDOTHAT moment. So I did it. My DH offered his meek electrical experise and we went from "good grief that's hideous" to "wow that's terrific!" in our humble little kitchen. See for yourself! What kinds of DIY's do you like to do? (pics above show finished product, what you need, and the 'before' of our project).

Sigh.....parenthood

I was a finicky little kid. I had to have things a certain way, order and would cry when something icky was stuck to my hand. I still have issues with all three-me and honey do NOT get along. I'm learning that a certain little someone very dear to me is the very same way. The other day, for instance, I thought I'd help quell the 5 o'clock fits by making pumpkin pie playdough Oh this was not the case. She oooohhed and ahhhhhhed as I showed her what she could do with it but as soon as that index finger hit the surface of playdough squish...THAT WAS THE END OF IT. "All done" came out of her mouth and any attempt to convince her to try it was met with the sad lip and a quivering "all done, peas". Hence, she is her mother's daughter. We're battling the terrible two's and some days I'm at my wit's end. She has terrific qualities of independence, strong will and determination but right now, while we set boundaries and rules that will be upheld regardless of how many peas' we hear, it's a tough road. No one said parenting is easy. It's not. It's a constant war within yourself of, "am I doing this right?" "Did I make the right decision?" "Will giving her another bag of fruit 'nacks' really hurt anything?" And then the deeper questions of whether what you do now, will really make a difference in the future? Will I be able to establish a bond with her in spite of her independence? Will she come to me as a teenager and feel like she can ask me those tough questions? It's constant. I take it one day at a time as much as I can. I feel like those teenage years are still quite a while away, it still floors me that my daughter is nearly two already. Where did the time go hits me smack on the forehead daily. I can't just stick those questions and wonders on the back burner permanently because like everyday, it's gonna smack me in the face like a sack of bricks that one of those tomorrow's will eventually be today.

Not Your Mama's Chili

It's been too long since I've been here and I'm terribly overdue for a post. Sorry about that. But in light of the Fall season, I've been cooking up a comfort food storm in my kitchen. All those typical warm, cozy cookin' foods that you crave right aboouuutttt NOW! Chili, homemade chicken and noodle and my first batch of homemade spaghetti sauce-which thankfully, was a success. I battled my first batch of chili about two years ago and found that like most things, I wondered about going traditional or not. I went the untraditional route and I've been making the same chili recipe since. I have some 'secret' ingredients that some might balk at, turn up their nose to, or stare at me wide eyed, while others wonder in amazement that it actual tastes decent. In my tastebuds' view, it's fabulous! Smokey in flavor, bold in taste and very rich to the palette. Very NOT typical chili. It's now a staple come fall and winter time and I like to relish in its nonconformist-ness. I adapted this recipe from a recipe found on allrecipes but I've made it all my own by adding a few things that I feel has made it great.

Chelle's Chili

3- 28 oz cans peeled and diced tomatoes
2- 29 oz cans tomato sauce
2 c diced onion
1 T italian seasoning
1 lb sausage, browned
2 lbs lean ground beef, browned
1 lb, bacon, cooked, drained and crumbled
1- bottle bold n spicy bbq sauce
2 pkts McCormick's chili seasoning
3 T semi sweet chocolate chips
2-4 cans kidney/chili beans
1 T Sheila's Spice

In large stock pot, combine all ingredients. Simmer 2-3 hours on low. Long and slow is the secret and like most comfort foods, the leftovers and next day-ers and even more yummy! Spoons up!

Dig me some happy

So this year, because I was 9 months preggo before spring really hit, I didn't plan or work to have my annual vegetable garden. It's been a tough summer without my, somewhat aimless, wondering among leaves and the few weeds that have been brave enough to show their faces, in my ever so much appreciated garden. I've missed it and have vowed this summer to NEVER go another summer without one. There's so much I can do with fresh stuff that it never gets old or stagnant. I've mentioned previously how much I enjoy summer and picnic fare. But since I've gone without my garden, it doesn't seem the same. That being said, I still appreciate and tinker around in the garden I do have, when I have the time. So I was thrilled to DEATH when Chris' grandpa made these as a little fun to-do project that Chris' mom thought of for me. I took a picture and these are just as cute in person as in the picture and the first thought....I've got to put these on my blog. So here they are for you to see and maybe inspire a little bit. Everyone needs to be sprinkled with happiness to here you go...shake, shake!

Plink Plink Plink

This was the oh, so satisfying sound that graced my dining room this afternoon after I fulfilled my dream of making and canning my own homemade salsa. I made two different kinds, tomatillo and hatch green chile and then I made a more traditional salsa with corn and black beans. Yummy yummy yummy! My dad and family have been making salsa for as long as I can remember. I can recall many Septembers where the family got together and crowded around someones kitchen and made salsa. All day. These were the days of lightning bugs and hide-n-seek in the dark. Thanks to chiggers and the ever rampant seasonal allergies those days are fewer and farther apart but I still enjoy some deck time every now and again but the salsa-making days are still going strong. I'd say that salsa making runs through my family and salsa is definitely in our blood. The more it makes you sweat, the better. I've finally picked up the craft and I'm proud of my first batch. I'll be making more and experimenting along the way just like my fam has. So here's to the first of many! Getcha some chips folks and maybe a drink or two...you may need it.



Tomatillo & Hatch Green Chile Salsa

3 c roma tomatoes, peeled

1/2 red onion

1 lbs. Hatch green chiles, roasted

1-1 1/2 lbs. fresh Hatch green chiles, halved & seeded

1/2 bunch cilantro

6 serrano peppers, halved and seeded

6 limes, squeezed

black pepper to taste

1 1/2 T salt

I processed everything in a food processor and then cooked on medium-low heat for 30 minutes until simmering. Then I canned in a water bath for 15 minutes. This has medium heat.

Traditional Salsa

3-5 lbs tomatoes, peeled

1 1/2 T pickling salt

1/4 c vinegar

1 red onion

4 t minced garlic

1/2 bag mini carrots

3 medium potatoes

1/2-1 lbs Hatch green chiles, halved and seeded
1 poblano, halved and seeded

5 jalapenos

6 Serranos, both halved and seeded

6 T Mrs. Wages salsa seasoning

Process everything in a food processor. Cook over medium-low heat until simmering for about 20 minutes. Can in water bath for 15 minutes. Voila!

Salads

I am loving me some salads right now. I've tried two this past week and both were a pleasant surprise and created profound happiness in my mouth for one, and happiness in my heart to know that it was something healthy that I made up for the Foster fam. The first one is a colorful, super kid friendly salad with edamame and corn along with some other friends and the second was a spring mix salad that was tart, sweet, and so DELICIOUS that I had to have a second plate (all without feeling the slightest bit guilty) because it's healthy. Surprisingly, both were filling and I left the table feeling quite full and didn't feel the need to sneak a snack later on, a good thing for me right now. I'm the snacker and I'm going on two months without my super snacking frenzies that I'm very capable of not avoiding. So here you go, some super yummy rabbit food for you and the fam to guiltlessly devour. Eat up and have some seconds!

Spring Mix & Pear Salad

1 pkg Spring mix

2/3 c pecan halves

1/4 c balsamic vinegar, divided

dash cayenne pepper

dash cinnamon

3 T sugar divided

1/4 c olive oil

1 t dijon mustard

1/8 t salt

2 medium pears thinly sliced

1/4 c parmesan cheese

In skillet, cook pecan halves with 2 T vinegar, cayenne & cinnamon over medium heat. Sprinkle with 1 T sugar and cook until sugar is melted, 2-4 minutes. Spread on foil to cool.

Put spring mix in bowl and top with sliced pear.

Whisk oil, mustard, remaining vinegar and salt. I added a pinch of sugar. Drizzle over salad and top with nuts. The nuts in this salad are killer! Would be a great snack too.

Corn & Edamame Salad

3 ears corn

2 T olive oil

1 1/2 c edamame, cooked and drained

1 tomato, seeded and chopped

1/2 green bell pepper, slivered

2 T red wine vinegar

1 clove garlic, minced

salt and pepper to taste

Boil corn for 10-12 minutes. Cut corn off cob and put into bowl. Add edamame, tomato and bell pepper. Whisk together olive oil, vinegar, salt, garlic and s & p. Pour over corn mixture. Serve immediately. This will keep up to 3 days in fridge. Yummy and colorful!