So Much To Do

And apparently plenty of time to do it in! *laugh*

With Bastian in school I've had time to do a few of the things I had wanted to do but never had time for. I rearranged my bedroom today and am very happy with it. It looks like we won't be moving for awhile after all, but I'm making the best of it. Can't say things are all happy here, still life goes on. I'm going to do all I can to make my future turn out the way I want. If that takes a few more years ... well, then it takes a few more years. I may never own ten acres, but I can make the most of what I do have! *grin*

Some changes are descending on our tiny family. Despite the fact that not all of the changes are happy or joyous, certainly not all are reasons to celebrate ... I mean come on... I'm turning 30 in 18 days! *laugh* Well, ok that may be a reason to celebrate a little.... still.... Some changes won't be as amusing. I will manage to get through them with grace and dignity. I'm a strong person and no matter what life throws at me I can stand tall and push through.

Quesadilla

Around here we say it like it is spelled: K-sa-dill-ah. but no matter how you pronounce it, it's still a tasty meal, or handy snack. Sometimes vegetarian, sometimes loaded with chicken, always heavy on the cheese.


Ingredients:
Tortillas (2 per planned quesadilla) - corn or flour your choice
cheese
shredded chicken (cooked) - optional
refried beans - optional
butter
salsa, sour cream or guacamole for dipping



Place a frying pan on medium heat. Add some butter. Make your quesadilla to order however you like it. Layer the beans then chicken then cheese on a tortilla, placing another tortilla on top like a sandwich. Any of these ingredients can be omitted or added to (except the cheese, it has to have cheese to be a quesadilla!) Butter the top tortilla and then place in the frying pan. Wait until the bottom tortilla is lightly browned then flip it over. Brown again and remove to a serving plate. Cut into wedges for dipping in your favorite salsa or guacamole! Yay.


Not very hard to do, and very quick. The mess is generally minimal as well. I sometimes use canned chicken, though usually I use leftovers. It really just depends on what I have lying around the house. You could also experiment with goat cheese and herbs, or spinach and mozarella or who knows what else!!

Tomorrow is Monday

I have been lax in my posting. That's ok, it's only because life around here has been a little hectic lately. I'll get it together. Tomorrow is Monday and that means Barnhop Day! I don't know what recipe I want to share though. Maybe quesadillas. I made a bunch of quick ones the other day, I think they would be rather fancy with some goat cheese instead of Colby jack... though my husband would never eat them! I don't know why he has such an irrational hatred of goat cheese considering he refuses to even try it. *scoff*

I finished another scarf this week and also knocked out about 5 more granny squares for that blanket. I've gotten the granny squares down now, pretty much. It takes me about 20 or 30 minutes to make one, which is pretty good considering that they are more intricate than the basic granny which you can whip out in about 15. They are great for making while watching tv.

Crochet Crazy

Well, in between working on my granny squares for that evil, evil blanket I have been experimenting with different stitches. I am completely self taught at this crochet business and I'm pretty proud of myself for branching out like this. So my newest learned stitch I call the pinwheel stitch. I'm not sure if it has another name. I found it on YouTube and there was no name in the video for the stitch, just a tutorial on how to make a scarf. So I tried it and it was much easier than I had feared! Here's a picture of it so far:

I'm happy with it. I think the gradients in the yarn color look nice, but they kind of throw the eye off the pattern. My next project after this will be a box stitch scarf, I think. Scarfs are easy to make and great practice for stitches since you have to repeat them over and over. That way you learn them by heart!

A Scarf

It takes about two days to crochet a scarf. Well, for me anyway. It probably would take me longer if I hadn't just sat down and pushed it out. I made this scarf for a friend of mine who specifically requested it. It's a Slytherin Scarf from Harry Potter. Or it's supposed to be. It was my first scarf so it didn't come out perfect. I probably could have made it longer. I like the tassels though. They were pretty tricky at first.

Now to get back to that evil blanket and the granny squares! Also today - cleaning the house, a trip to Hobby Lobby for some yarn intended for Christmas Present use and perhaps a nap as well. *grin*

Ham and Corn Chowder

It's Monday again. Barnhop Day! I love sharing recipes on Mondays, so today I thought I'd share one for ham and corn chowder. It's made in a slow cooker, so you can set it and forget it about 6 hours before you need to serve it up. I love slow cookers, they make my life so much easier.

This recipe is one I always use a day or two after we have a ham. I just use the leftover ham in it. You don't have to do that though, you can just get a small ham and chop it up to get the same results. I did not make up this recipe, though I alter it on occasion. I don't remember where I found it, but I do know it was on the internet somewhere. Maybe All Recipes.com?

(Picture copyright Cyber Kitchen)

Ingredients:

• 2 cans condensed potato soup
• 1 can condensed celery soup
• 2 cups ham (chunked up)
• 1 cup onion
• 1 or 2 cups corn, depending on how much you like it, or if you need to add some bulk
• 1 cup chicken broth
• black pepper
• 1 cup milk, or light cream if you want it thicker and don't care about calories! *grin*

Combine everything EXCEPT the milk/cream in a slow cooker, mix up into a soupy consistency and then cover and cook on low for about 6 hours. Then you can add your milk or cream, mix in gently, let cook an additional 30 minutes (or until hot) and serve it up. I love it with fresh cornbread and a salad. Makes a pretty hearty meal.

You could probably add cubed potato and chopped celery fresh as well. I sometimes throw in a potato because I find the condensed soup doesn't have enough chunks. My family likes chunky soup.