White Chili

For a while now,I've been wanting to try a "white chili" since I can't eat tomatoes. I found one over the weekend and decided to give it a try. I based my version on THIS recipe. And as usual,I changed it up a bit.

Turkey Chili

1 can of green chilies
2 pounds of ground turkey (or chicken)
3 cans of cannellini beans (or your fave white bean)
1 large onion diced
salt/pepper/chili seasoning to your taste
1 bag of spinach
1 TSP canola oil (or olive oil)
3 TBS of flour (or cornstarch or your fave thickener)
handful of corn kernels
1 large box of chicken stock (4-6cups)


in a TBS of oil,brown the onion-add in the meat and cook until it is done-drain well-return to the pot and add in the chicken stock--rinse the beans and add into pot--add in the can of green chilies--bring up to a boil--in a separate cup dissolve the flour in about 1/3 cup of warm water--pour it into the pot--add in the bag of spinach and corn kernels--bring back up to a boil--let boil for a few mins--reduce and let simmer on stove for about 20 more minutes.

New Rings.........

After the husband dropped his wedding ring down the toilet a few months ago, I have been debating whether or not to get him a new one or to just pull the fancy one out of the safety-deposit box at the bank. He said that he didn't really want to wear it to work because it could get beat up. Makes sense. So I decided that I would find him something that he could wear without worrying about whether or not it takes a battering. I found some cool stainless steel bands on Amazon.com and then after a little more searching, I found these. I decided to get us matching ones. I think the tribal/swirly pattern on it kind of looks like a tattoo. And since I married "mr tattoo dude"-it's just perfect. I love it. Now I can wear this when I don't want to wear my fancier rings.

A New Year

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! I hope that 2012 is a great one for us all-despite what the Mayans warn us about come December.


We rang in the new year the same way we always have--at home. I had a very chilled bottle of Proseco that I planned to finally pop the cork on-I had bought it about 2 years ago and it's been waiting in the fridge for me. Let's just say I don't like Proseco anymore than any other "adult" beverages that I've tried. I was very disappointed. The kiddo asked to stay up till midnight and he made it until about 11:30pm. By the time the fireworks went off I think he was sound asleep. The fireworks and gun shots drove poor Tinkie crazy. I am surprised she can even bark today. I got to sleep in for a change,so this has been a great laid back morning. For our late afternoon/early evening meal, I have a glazed ham in the oven and black eyed peas and collard greens to go with it. It smells divine! I'm not hungry yet,but hubby can't wait to dive into things. Down South,we eat black eyed peas and greens for prosperity in the new year. I used this glaze for our Christmas ham also.


Glaze For Baked Ham

a few giant heaping spoons of citrus marmalade
a few giant scoops of dijon mustard
about 1 cup of apple juice
about 1 cup of brown sugar

**I used 3 citrus marmalade and pineapple preserves today
**I don't measure when I make this glaze-I just add and taste as I go along.....

a birthday cake

Today is a special day for me--it's my nephew's birthday. I remember the day he was born like it was yesterday. I had a big hand is raising him for the first half of his life. I tell everyone he was my first baby.My sister had undiagnosed PPD after he was born,so I kind of stepped in and took alot of the pressure off her during his first months-and that turned into years LOL. I worked nights,so his mom didn't have to put him in daycare-I took care of him. One time,he had to be hospitalized with an eye infection and of course,I took care of him so his mom wouldn't have to miss any work. His dad came up to visit him one afternoon and was taking him down to the snack machine in the waiting area and all the nurses followed him thinking that he was snatching my baby! I still think that was funny. My "little" baby is now 6'4" and is 22 years old today. Last year the cake that they got for his birthday wasn't so good--they found a worm in it! Can we say EWWWWWW!? I can't imagine. YUCK! So this year,his brother asked if I would make him a cake. I baked it last night and decorated it this morning. I thought about playing a prank on him and planting a gummy worm in the middle but I didn't have gummy candy. HAPPY BIRTHDAY,Aaron!!! Like I always tell Zach-no matter how old/big you are,you'll still be my baby. Love ya,Kiddo....



Birthday Cake
3 eggs
1 box of cheesecake pudding mix
1 cup of water
1/4 cup oil
dash of vanilla

**oven at 350*F for about 30-40mins
Mix well and pour into a baking pan--bake until done. Let cake cool completely and decorate.

**I doubled the recipe to make the cake in the above pics.

Christmas Dinner...............

I need to make a final grocery shopping list--I hope to be able to say I won't need to step foot in the stores again until after Christmas. I plan on running errands Friday-the husband will be off and I can put him to work helping me with the groceries. Instead of the usual holiday turkey,this year the husband wants to do a ham. I picked that up today. I'm not sure if I'm going to use the glaze that came with it,or see if I can find a recipe online. Last week,I picked up a jar of citrus marmalade and had thought about using that on the ham. I've also been thinking about doing the "dr pepper" ham glaze. As far as the rest of the menu,I'm making more of the same pumpkin cheesecakes I made at Thanksgiving. I found some rolls at the store I want to get. The husband wants sweet potato casserole with brown sugar and marshmallows. We need something GREEN,so it'll either be fancy french green beans or brussel sprouts--OR BOTH! I'm thinking we need something else to round things out,but am not sure what else to make. I thought about making a homemade apple pie,but am not sure if I have the energy.

Cookies-Cookies Everywhere!!!

I had hoped the kiddo would help me make cookies tonight,but his idea of HELPING is tasting after they are done to see if they are good. He watched DOLPHIN TALE while I "slaved" away in the kitchen.I made peanut butter cookies and peppermint sugar cookies--yes,I did use ready made dough,but they still came out nice and got a THUMBS UP from the kiddo.

a little less sugar

Chocolate Bundt Cake





mini loaf snack cake





There are 3 diabetics in our household,so we are always looking for ways to watch our sugar intake. Recently,I was happily surprised to find that certain cake mix brands were coming out with mixes using splenda. I have seen ones before that use Sweet-N-Low,but I'm a little wary of that sweetener.I like baking from scratch,but these come in handy when I'm stretched for time,or just too tired. Tonight,I made a bundt,2 regular size loaves,and several mini loaves using these lower sugar mixes.I plan on stashing most of them in the freezer for when we get the munchies and need just a little bite of something sweet.Basicly,you can add in whatever you wish,even nuts--but here's what I did.

CHOCOLATE POUND CAKE

1 chocolate cake mix (low sugar)
1 package sugar free chocolate pudding mix
4 eggs
1/4 cup oil
1 cup water
dash of cinnamon
1 cup of mini chocolate chips

***oven at 350*F
mix all ingredients without over-mixing---pour into prepared pan and bake until done.



Golden Raisin Pound Cake
1 yellow cake mix (low sugar)
1 package sugar free vanilla pudding mix
4 eggs
1/4 cup oil
1 cup water
dash of apple pie spice
1/2 package of golden raisins

****same instructions as above.
****I also make this recipe using regular raisins,dates,or dried cherries or cranberries-whatever I have the taste for.