I love to cook, and especially to bake. I really wish I would have paid attention to my Mom and Dad all those years they told me to pay attention in the kitchen because I'd know so much more, including family recipes and techniques. I'm lucky that I'm still able to learn them from my parents when I'm with them. This stubbornness (ie "I can read. All I have to do is read the recipe." What a little jerk I was! And foolish, too.) lead me to leave home with very little kitchen expertise and a sadly lacking imagination for menu planning. I still struggle with figuring out a menu for my family that is consistently satisfying to them yet varied enough for me and isn't boring to prepare.
One of the first recipes I came up with was what would later be known as my Sweet Chili. I've given it out to a few people, usually after they've eaten it and been convinced that chili can be sweet, not just savory or spicy. Lately, I've taken to sharing it online or giving it out on a nice recipe card in swaps. I've been really honored to have gotten some very kind and enthusiastic feedback on my chili and I love to share. So, I thought I'd share the recipe here, too.
Jeannie’s Sweet Chili.
1 bottle of V8 (I use the medium-sized bottle, and I usually get one fortified with calcium or antioxidants)
1 can each of mild chili beans, light kidney beans, dark kidney beans, great northern beans, black beans
1.5 pounds of hamburger or ground turkey (they both taste GREAT!) Or soy crumbles.
1 family-sized boil-in-bag brown rice
Chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, season salt, sugar
Brown the meat with a few dashes of garlic and onion powders, just to make the kitchen smell fantastic and get you in the mood to cook. While that is cooking, open all cans of beans. Once meat is cooked through, drain thoroughly (I even wipe out the pan to remove as much residual fat as possible), return to pot and heat.
Add V8.
Empty all beans EXCEPT the chili beans, into a colander and rinse with cool water until it runs clear. Add all beans to the pot. Marvel at how pretty all those beans look together.
Cook boil-in-bag rice per manufacturer’s directions (I cook mine in the microwave for ten minutes in a micro-safe bowl, covered in water).
Bringing the chili to a simmer, add enough chili powder to cover the surface of the chili in a dry layer (you want enough chili powder to make it taste like chili and not tomato soup). Stir. Add garlic and onion powders to taste. If you feel it needs more salt, use season salt so you get less sodium and more flavor. Stir in about a 3/4 cup sugar until it is dissolved. Taste often to be sure it’s just how you like it.
Stir in hot cooked rice, heat to steaming and serve.
My family gets two meals and leftovers out of this recipe, so I’d estimate that it would serve 8 comfortably.
Notes: I make this chili because my family loves it and my husband just recently started eating veggies. So, with the V8 and a glass of milk, I could be sure he was getting a complete meal in a bowl, with lots of fiber and protein to boot. However, I’d make this a bit differently if I were making it exactly how I like it: I’d add a can of crushed tomatoes, saute a large onion and a few mild peppers with the meat, and serve it with a dollop of sour cream and grated cheese on top with a slice of wheat bread smeared with peanut butter. Everyone thinks I’m crazy to suggest peanut butter bread with chili, but I promise that if you try it, you’ll love it! Just dip it in the chili, and give it a shot; you’ll be amazed at how yummy it is!
If you don’t want to add the rice directly to the pot, it makes a nice presentation to allow the rice to sit in a bowl to cool for a few minutes and become a bit sticky. Then, use an ice cream scoop to place a rice ball in the middle of each bowl of chili. If you like a spicier chili, get hot chili beans, and add more chili powder or a few spicy peppers to the browning meat.
Yum!! I hope you enjoy it! I just wish I could make it for you!
BB!
~Jeannie
Please note, I'm sharing this because I love giving. So please, if you make this and someone asks for the recipe, it would be very cool of you to call it "Jeannie's Sweet Chili." It took years for me to get this consistent and yummy, and I'm very proud of my little recipe, so giving me credit or directing curious recipe-seekers here would be kind, cool, and appreciated. :)
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Something Xay said today that I want to preserve....
This morning, while driving to school, Xay and I noticed a flock of small black birds flying over the trees. They weren't in formation, and it seemed like they had just been spooked and flew up in a cloud.
Xay said, "Hey, did you see that?"
I told him I had.
He then said, "They looked like a thumbprint."
It was a singularly poetic statement, and for a moment, I was speechless. He's an amazing child.
Xay said, "Hey, did you see that?"
I told him I had.
He then said, "They looked like a thumbprint."
It was a singularly poetic statement, and for a moment, I was speechless. He's an amazing child.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Who Alchemy is hosting in 2010
Alchemy is very excited to be hosting four amazing artists in workshop next year! Save the dates:
March 20: Aziza Nawal!
Have you met Aziza Nawal? Alchemy calls her "The Chuck Norris of Bellydance"! Incredible precision and a playful attitude combine to make her dynamite on stage! Her drum solos are killer.
June 26: Amberetta!
With grace and poise, Amberetta makes every movement onstage look effortless. Known for her flawless double swords, she infuses a strength into every piece and works tirelessly to inspire her students and fellows dancers.
Third Quarter: Ariellah and the Sideshow Tour!
The Sideshow Tour will not only feature the incomparable Ariellah, but also the evocative Frederique, and couture clothier Black Lotus who helps Ariellah fashion her signature looks.
Here is a look at Ariellah, spellbinding the audience with her dark themes, intense emotion, and impeccable technique.
And, here find Frederique, with a vintage feminine beauty that defies categorization.
Ariellah is currently out of the country, but when she returns, we will announce a firm date for this amazing tour! Alchemy is so excited to be bringing Ariellah to the CSRA for the first time. Not only do we greatly admire her and her work, but we know she is a real favorite in our community.
December 4: Amani Jabril!
Amani is a highly educated dancer who has immersed herself in world dance. As an artist, she combines a high standard of technique with a deep knowledge of cultural nuance and a smoldering sensuality. She's fun and her love of dance creates an atmosphere where learning is easy and the student comes away with more than just a few new moves.
Questions? Comments? Concerns? Feel free to leave comments here! As always, you can also check out Alchemy for up-to-the-minute info! We have a website, Twitter, Facebook (see the sidebar to the right) and tribe!
BB! And here's to an exciting 2010!!
~Jeannie
March 20: Aziza Nawal!
Have you met Aziza Nawal? Alchemy calls her "The Chuck Norris of Bellydance"! Incredible precision and a playful attitude combine to make her dynamite on stage! Her drum solos are killer.
June 26: Amberetta!
With grace and poise, Amberetta makes every movement onstage look effortless. Known for her flawless double swords, she infuses a strength into every piece and works tirelessly to inspire her students and fellows dancers.
Third Quarter: Ariellah and the Sideshow Tour!
The Sideshow Tour will not only feature the incomparable Ariellah, but also the evocative Frederique, and couture clothier Black Lotus who helps Ariellah fashion her signature looks.
Here is a look at Ariellah, spellbinding the audience with her dark themes, intense emotion, and impeccable technique.
And, here find Frederique, with a vintage feminine beauty that defies categorization.
Ariellah is currently out of the country, but when she returns, we will announce a firm date for this amazing tour! Alchemy is so excited to be bringing Ariellah to the CSRA for the first time. Not only do we greatly admire her and her work, but we know she is a real favorite in our community.
December 4: Amani Jabril!
Amani is a highly educated dancer who has immersed herself in world dance. As an artist, she combines a high standard of technique with a deep knowledge of cultural nuance and a smoldering sensuality. She's fun and her love of dance creates an atmosphere where learning is easy and the student comes away with more than just a few new moves.
Questions? Comments? Concerns? Feel free to leave comments here! As always, you can also check out Alchemy for up-to-the-minute info! We have a website, Twitter, Facebook (see the sidebar to the right) and tribe!
BB! And here's to an exciting 2010!!
~Jeannie
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Busy, busy!
Just a little update:
I've been making alot of "stuff" lately. I hate to use such a non-specific word, but there's such a wide variety that I can't be more specific without an exhaustive list. My costume for Southern Mirage this weekend is DONE! W00t!! I'll post pics when I can.
I've also completed all the projects for this month's HPKCHC assignments that I wanted to hand in. Yay!
Also, Alchemy got some AMAZING news recently regarding an artist we will be hosting in 2010. We are so excited, but we want to hold the announcement until this weekend when we will have a big reveal at the show. I'm overjoyed that we are hosting this artist because I've admired their work for a very long time and to be a part of bringing them to the CSRA for the first time is an amazing opportunity that I feel so grateful to be a part of.
I've got to share a wonderful video about one amazing dancer:
And, no, that's not a hint about the paragraph above! lol Ok, that's all for now. :)
I've been making alot of "stuff" lately. I hate to use such a non-specific word, but there's such a wide variety that I can't be more specific without an exhaustive list. My costume for Southern Mirage this weekend is DONE! W00t!! I'll post pics when I can.
I've also completed all the projects for this month's HPKCHC assignments that I wanted to hand in. Yay!
Also, Alchemy got some AMAZING news recently regarding an artist we will be hosting in 2010. We are so excited, but we want to hold the announcement until this weekend when we will have a big reveal at the show. I'm overjoyed that we are hosting this artist because I've admired their work for a very long time and to be a part of bringing them to the CSRA for the first time is an amazing opportunity that I feel so grateful to be a part of.
I've got to share a wonderful video about one amazing dancer:
And, no, that's not a hint about the paragraph above! lol Ok, that's all for now. :)
Thursday, September 24, 2009
On my mind
So, we've been working hard in our house to be healthier. Part of that, for me, means I'm back to the water-almost-exclusively plan. For two weeks I drink nothing but water, with milk for cereal, and then after two weeks I will occasionally have something else to drink, if I want it. I do this for a couple of reasons: No one in the world needs all the extra calories we take in when we drink sodas, sweet tea or even juices everyday. You also get nutrients from tea and juices, but the sugar gain outweighs the benefits and most of us don't drink just a serving (1/2 cup). Juice packs alot of calories, but you don't get the benefit of the fiber you get when you have a the whole fruit or vegetable. I'm not saying juice is evil, I just prefer to eat a whole fruit/veg and have a glass of water with it. Plus, I'm fuller, longer, and with good stuff. Another reason I, in particular, need to drink as much water as I can is that I am a kidney stone breeder. It's been years (knock wood!!!) since I've passed a stone, and even longer since it's landed me in the hospital, but I can tell you that it is, by far, the worst pain I've ever felt, and I've had two babies. Naturally. I'd rather have a baby than pass a kidney stone. And, since no one knows what my stones are made of, I don't know what to avoid. Better safe than sorry. After two weeks, I'll add hot teas, especially green, back into the mix because I tend to put less sugar in hot tea than cold, sweet tea, and I'm always happy with one cup, whereas I can drink gallons of sweet tea in a day. I've done it.
During these two weeks, I'm not going to change anything else in my diet. I don't like to break my neck and try to change everything at once. I feel that it sets me up for failure. So, I do steps, changing habits and thought patterns gradually, one at a time, building on success and gaining momentum.
Another change I've been working on for a while now is eating fish. Note, that doesn't say eating MORE fish, just eating fish. I've never enjoyed fish, but I want to learn to if nothing else for the health benefits. I started eating some non-vegetarian sushi a couple of years ago, but I hardly count that as it's a very small amount of fish. Recently, I tried some tilapia while out with friends, and I was blown away with how wonderful it was. Mari loves fish and spent some time as a pescetarian , so she's always encouraging me to give fish another shot. I decided that it was time for me to be a grown up and give fish a chance. So far, I've ordered fish twice while out to eat, and I've made fish twice here at home this week. Once it was for dinner and once for lunch. Granted, none of these small forays are perfect, but I've enjoyed every single occasion. Today, I had a Lean Cuisine Parmesan-crusted fish meal for lunch, and I finished it wishing I had a freezer packed with it. It was just amazingly tasty, and the flavor of the fish wasn't drowned out by something else! I actually liked the fish!!! I've got more fish in the freezer, and I'm so encouraged that I may have a tilapia filet for lunch tomorrow.
So, we're eating healthier (lots and lots of veggies! very lean meat! no added oils or fats! FISH! water, water, water!) and we're exercising more. All in all, it's a good thing and I love that Jason is on the bandwagon, too. It's so much easier to make these changes when you're not the only person in the house making them or when you don't have to make a meal for them and meal for yourself.
Now, I don't know if this is related, and if it is, I don't know how, but along with this is an urge to travel. One of my life goals is to live in another country before I die, and maybe even live my life out in another country. I love my country, please don't mistake me, but I also love my world and I've seen far to little of it. Though I feel I have an open and accepting mind, I know there are ideas, people, places out there that I cannot even imagine, and I want to experience that. I want to be immersed in other languages and be forced to learn them in order to survive. I want to live in a bustling Japanese city, a sedate and beautiful Austrian town, on a deep green hillside in Ireland, on the edge of a vast rainforest, within sight of the Egyptian desert, in the Outback, Morocco to Moscow, Paris to the Pacific Northwest, Tehran to Tahiti... I want to live anywhere I can because I want to be a citizen of the world. I think when I work toward making my body healthier, my view is always on the whole and how the systems work with each other, so perhaps it's natural that my thoughts and view would turn outward to see how our world is a reflection of my body. As above, so below, ya know?
So, I sit here and my feet are eager to be off. I want to travel, and I want my children to travel. I want them to see the world, to love it and want to protect it. I hope they will learn to value people (including themselves) for what they are: fallible, imperfect, ultimately lovable, full of grace and worthy of redemption. I hope they will see that different ideas, ideologies, religions, viewpoints, voices, are not only ok, but absolutely necessary. Most of all, I want them to see nature, and feel the full force of Nature, to feel small next to a redwood, and huge when an ant crawls up their shoe, to know they are nothing special, but everything that is amazing. I want them to be filled with pride and humility, and I know that traveling can give that to you. It's a subtle mix, to be sure.
During these two weeks, I'm not going to change anything else in my diet. I don't like to break my neck and try to change everything at once. I feel that it sets me up for failure. So, I do steps, changing habits and thought patterns gradually, one at a time, building on success and gaining momentum.
Another change I've been working on for a while now is eating fish. Note, that doesn't say eating MORE fish, just eating fish. I've never enjoyed fish, but I want to learn to if nothing else for the health benefits. I started eating some non-vegetarian sushi a couple of years ago, but I hardly count that as it's a very small amount of fish. Recently, I tried some tilapia while out with friends, and I was blown away with how wonderful it was. Mari loves fish and spent some time as a pescetarian , so she's always encouraging me to give fish another shot. I decided that it was time for me to be a grown up and give fish a chance. So far, I've ordered fish twice while out to eat, and I've made fish twice here at home this week. Once it was for dinner and once for lunch. Granted, none of these small forays are perfect, but I've enjoyed every single occasion. Today, I had a Lean Cuisine Parmesan-crusted fish meal for lunch, and I finished it wishing I had a freezer packed with it. It was just amazingly tasty, and the flavor of the fish wasn't drowned out by something else! I actually liked the fish!!! I've got more fish in the freezer, and I'm so encouraged that I may have a tilapia filet for lunch tomorrow.
So, we're eating healthier (lots and lots of veggies! very lean meat! no added oils or fats! FISH! water, water, water!) and we're exercising more. All in all, it's a good thing and I love that Jason is on the bandwagon, too. It's so much easier to make these changes when you're not the only person in the house making them or when you don't have to make a meal for them and meal for yourself.
Now, I don't know if this is related, and if it is, I don't know how, but along with this is an urge to travel. One of my life goals is to live in another country before I die, and maybe even live my life out in another country. I love my country, please don't mistake me, but I also love my world and I've seen far to little of it. Though I feel I have an open and accepting mind, I know there are ideas, people, places out there that I cannot even imagine, and I want to experience that. I want to be immersed in other languages and be forced to learn them in order to survive. I want to live in a bustling Japanese city, a sedate and beautiful Austrian town, on a deep green hillside in Ireland, on the edge of a vast rainforest, within sight of the Egyptian desert, in the Outback, Morocco to Moscow, Paris to the Pacific Northwest, Tehran to Tahiti... I want to live anywhere I can because I want to be a citizen of the world. I think when I work toward making my body healthier, my view is always on the whole and how the systems work with each other, so perhaps it's natural that my thoughts and view would turn outward to see how our world is a reflection of my body. As above, so below, ya know?
So, I sit here and my feet are eager to be off. I want to travel, and I want my children to travel. I want them to see the world, to love it and want to protect it. I hope they will learn to value people (including themselves) for what they are: fallible, imperfect, ultimately lovable, full of grace and worthy of redemption. I hope they will see that different ideas, ideologies, religions, viewpoints, voices, are not only ok, but absolutely necessary. Most of all, I want them to see nature, and feel the full force of Nature, to feel small next to a redwood, and huge when an ant crawls up their shoe, to know they are nothing special, but everything that is amazing. I want them to be filled with pride and humility, and I know that traveling can give that to you. It's a subtle mix, to be sure.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Swap, swap, swap.
It's no secret, I love swapping. I love giving, and receiving ain't too bad, either. I like to blog about the packages I send out so that I can later tell my partner what my thought process was. This is my latest package sent out for the Reducio Sock Swap (Round 7), and the theme was "Aboard the Hogwart's Express!" I decided I wanted to do a traveling/back-to-school slant to this, so I collected items to that end. Here's the whole shebang!:
On the travel side, I sent travel playing cards in a case, travel stickers, travel-themed stitch-markers (which I made), a magic towel (no traveler, or hitch-hiker should be without one!), suckers and a luggage tag in the shape of a frog, which is one animal students are allowed to bring to Hogwart's.
On the back-to-school side, I sent hand sanitizer, recycled pencils, a highlighter, a Sharpie, a calendar, a pencil case, tic-tacs (the her House colors, and no one should go to school with bad breath!), feet-shaped paper clips (good for the travel theme, too), and a few patterns, because we are always looking to learn somethign new. :)
Of course, we always include two hand-made fiber items. This time I sent this little knit bag that I improvised from my Virtue Bookmark pattern:
The back, plain stockinette:
The front. See that tiny cable?!? I could die! :D :
After I made thi bag, I showed it to Xay and his response was, "That looks great! You must be Reducioing again!" LOL I love that he has been drawn into my fandom. :D
And, this little, tiny sock, which is all stripey! I love tiny stitched things!
I sent the package off with a note from my spoilee's Aunt Clara, the Pretty Witch. I gave no other clue as to who I am, but I figure that's a pretty big one considering my Rav name is pretywtch. :) I really hope she enjoys it because I was VERY lucky to get one of my fave Rav people as my partner! I can't wait to see what she thinks! :D
BB!
~Jeannie
On the travel side, I sent travel playing cards in a case, travel stickers, travel-themed stitch-markers (which I made), a magic towel (no traveler, or hitch-hiker should be without one!), suckers and a luggage tag in the shape of a frog, which is one animal students are allowed to bring to Hogwart's.
On the back-to-school side, I sent hand sanitizer, recycled pencils, a highlighter, a Sharpie, a calendar, a pencil case, tic-tacs (the her House colors, and no one should go to school with bad breath!), feet-shaped paper clips (good for the travel theme, too), and a few patterns, because we are always looking to learn somethign new. :)
Of course, we always include two hand-made fiber items. This time I sent this little knit bag that I improvised from my Virtue Bookmark pattern:
The back, plain stockinette:
The front. See that tiny cable?!? I could die! :D :
After I made thi bag, I showed it to Xay and his response was, "That looks great! You must be Reducioing again!" LOL I love that he has been drawn into my fandom. :D
And, this little, tiny sock, which is all stripey! I love tiny stitched things!
I sent the package off with a note from my spoilee's Aunt Clara, the Pretty Witch. I gave no other clue as to who I am, but I figure that's a pretty big one considering my Rav name is pretywtch. :) I really hope she enjoys it because I was VERY lucky to get one of my fave Rav people as my partner! I can't wait to see what she thinks! :D
BB!
~Jeannie
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
