Wednesday, September 21, 2011

The Last of the Iced Tea

Summer has come to a close and the other day was my last glass of Iced Tea. The kids were starting to get sniffley from the change of weather so I made green tea. With a sprig of mint from my garden, it was ready to cool me off on the last warm day of the season.


Homemade Pickles!!!

I finally found a beautiful cucumber in my garden!!! Unfortunately, it also had a yellow friend that I didn't catch in time. :( I still kept it in the picture in remembrance of what could have been. So, what to do with one lone cucumber?














                                                                                                                      Make pickles, of course!!!

I used my most favorite Red Wine Vinegar made by Rozendal. You have to order it online, but it's my one "must have" treat to myself that I get each year. 

I had some dill drying above my stove and some fresh garlic lying around. A pinch of sugar and some sea salt and voila! Of course, my son ate about 3/4 of them...but what I had was delicious!!!

Procrastinating

I'm supposed to be studying Chemistry and working on homework in my other classes, but instead, I picked my first watermelon. I don't know if I picked it too soon or not, but I had to get it out of my garden since some critter decided to munch on it.

I can't cut it yet, though...I promised my daughter I would wait and cut it with her. 
I guess I just work on my school work for now. Ugh...


Tuesday, September 20, 2011

My Favorite Season of Cooking is Coming!!!

The weather has cooled substantially, and quickly and I am FULLY EMBRACING IT! Fall is my most favorite season. When I lived in Arizona we got Fall weather for maybe three weeks. Growing up in Wyoming prior to that, I had my fair share of season changes and felt like something was always missing. Now, being in NJ, I'm able to experience the warm days and cool nights.

So, how am I embracing it you ask? I broke out the Evergreen Candle. The fragrance smells like the holidays (I know...I'm a sick person - who wants the holidays to come so soon???) and makes me want to COOK!!!! 



Right now, I have a few windows open and I've got an artichoke dip baking in the oven. It smells delicious! Next, I'm running to the store to get some free range boneless/skinless chicken breasts and I'm going to crock pot it up tonight! I got this recipe from a good friend of mine and tweaked it to make it my own. It's SO DELICIOUS!













                                                                                                                        All done!!! 



Before:

                             Waiting for food

After:                                                           Ta Daaaa!!!

Southwestern Chicken in a Crock Pot


8-10 Boneless Skinless chicken thighs or 4-6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
(3) 8-oz cans black beans (you can also add in a can of pinto beans as well)
(2) 8-oz cans corn
(1) 16-oz can diced tomatoes w/ green chiles
1/2 Jar Salsa Verde 
(1) 16-oz can Hominy
½ Cup Spicy Hot V8 juice
1 Tbls Cumin
1 Tbls Chili Powder
***(you can also substitute the chili powder & cumin with a packet of Taco seasoning)
2 Garlic cloves
1 Cup Chopped onion
Salt & Pepper to taste

***Add all ingredients into crock-pot and cook on high for 4 hrs, then medium low to low for another 2-4 hrs