When you think you're on fire...

you'll go out in flames. Apparently I am living life a little too fast lately. This is the result of a lil soul searching and a little folk music this evening. Burnt wood pendant, fashioned from balsa wood, on found gold chain.

for the inner hypocrite

I needed a little simplicity for the endcap to my crazy day. Just me, Jenny and The Charging Sky. ( copper wire, antique glass beads)

It's a Chili Night

What better way is there to ward off the February chill than with a hot bowl of homemade chili and corn muffins?

Chili ( again, the grocery store and I have a love hate relationship. I can't wait until it's farmers market season again.):
1 lb dried red beans
cook these in a large pot with 3 times as much water as beans. It's ok if you didn't have time to soak, just cook on low for 2+ hours. Then add the following ingredients after you have mouth tested the beans and they feel done.
1 can vegetarian refried beans, gives it that thickness that's oh so good.
1 can crushed tomatos
1 can corn - drain
2 onions, dice and sauté in veg oil
1 jalapeño, dice and toss into pot
3 garlic cloves, crush/dice, into the pot they go

1 tbs salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp adobo Penzy's spice blend
1/2 tsp celery powder
1 1/2 tbs chili powder
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1-2 tbs sugar, depending on how sweet you like it
1 tsp vinegar

Corn Muffins:
1 1/2 c flour
1 1/4 c corn meal
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/3 c sugar
4 eggs
1/3 c milk
3/4 c butter, softened, save the reserve from the dish you softened it in to grease your muffin tins
Mix the dry, mix the wet, fold the dry into the wet.

1 c shredded cheddar cheese - to crumble on top of muffins before baking. Trust me. This = Awesome

12 medium size muffin tins.
Dole out the batter into the greased tins and pile on the cheese!

bake at approx 350 for 15-22 min. Or until you do the poke test and it holler's done at ya. ( By this I mean insert a toothpick or spaghetti stick into the center of the muffin and if it comes out clean, it's ready for eating. Let cool of course. Hot cheese = 3rd degree burn.)

Enjoy together and don't forget the toppings for the chili, avocado, scallion, sour cream and of course, more cheese.

A Viewing

After a glimpse into somewhere I felt a bit bashful admitting that I have seen into, I needed a palet cleanser. Tonights piece brought to you by someone else's misery and my inability to help. Best of luck love. You will need it to win the war.

Necklace -
found keyhole
found glass beads
copper wire and chain
purchased key charm

This Porridge is Just Right

Good morning happy campers. Time to rise and shine. Why not start the day of with a healthy kick in the teeth. hot breakfast to get you going.

Oat Bran Porridge:
3 tbs oat bran, I believe the kind I used was Hodgestone Mill??
1/2 c dried cranberries
cook oat baran according to package instructions
add cranberries at the last minute for quick heating
you can spice it up with orange zest and cinnamon, if you have time.

serve with healthy piece of breakfast fruit and hot beverage of choice, mine is tea.

Enjoy the rest of your day, you are off to a great start now that you have a belly full of warm goodness.
Happy Friday.

Ladies Night in the Studio

This girls night, the action was in the studio. Making earrings for long lost friends to be seen tomorrow! Vintage silver ear wire, glass beads, love and friendship.

What Beautiful Autumn Weather We're Having

In February!?! Yeah, it's strange, but much enjoyed. It really doesn't go with the dinner I had planned, which is late winter fare, but we'll go with it. After a long neighborhood walk, Spencer and I came home famished so I whipped up this hardy and yummy meal.

Mashed Potatoes:
2 lbs red potatoes, diced up and boiled until tender
strain and dump bak in the pot
mash in:
3/4 stick of butter, don't hate, you know you like it
1 tsp salt
1 tsp Penzy's Fox Point
pepper to taste
3/4 c milk

Quick Roasted Beets:
sliced beets, I like yellow
large skillet with lid or same sized pan to cover cook on medium high heat until browned nicely on both sides
touch of slat

Brussels:
I halved mine and steamed them over the cooking potatoes

after they are mostly done cooking, 5-7 min, quick fry them with the remainder of the butter ( I don't wanna hear it about the butter, this is enough food for 6 people) in that large skillet
salt and pepper

Cooking's done. Enjoy it alfresco!
Or, in front of a movie with a cat, who's also a fan of the butter content. ;-)