What's Cooking Wednesday!

What's Cooking Wednesday did not get off to a good start this weeks...if you actually checked on Wednesday, you will know what I mean since I am not actually posting this until Friday. But I wanted to share a 100% favorite of mine.

Southwest Chicken Chili

Let me give you a few reasons to make this:

1. It's SO YUMMY!!!

2. It's one of those meals that you can make on the weekend and then put in the freezer for 3 months and eat as you need a quick dinner. Me, personally, I put single servings in tupperware containers so if I have plans and need to something for E to have for dinner, he won't eat everything in the container just because it's there. (But then again, I have a large, fairly empty freezer)

3. You can use whatever leftover meat you have. We make roast turkey sandwiches for our lunches and always have alot left. So sometimes we will use shredded turkey, ground beef or chicken or turkey, cut up chicken breast, whatever you have left.

4. It makes like 100 servings. Seriously, depending on how much meat I end up putting in there, I can get anywhere from 6-8 servings. That gives me alot of quick meals waiting in the freezer to put over some chips and top with sour cream and cheddar.

Back in the Saddle

While I exercise regularly, the cold is killing my good habits. There is nothing inticing about running 5K on the treadmill at the mall...yes, you all heard me right, we have a free membership to the YMCA at the mall. So while you are shopping, stop by and give me a little encouragement.






















Speaking of encouragement, I needed something to work towards instead of running because it is good for me. So...does anyone want to join me for the Spring Fever 5K walk/run in the Woodlands on March 1st?

I could use some team members...Register here!

Maybe you can Teach an Old Dog...

Not that I consider myself an old dog by any means, but there are some days that just make you feel like you are in rut! I visit alot of blogs and websites (as I have nothing else to do at work) and see so many beautiful things that so many people are making and all of the good ideas they have. Knitting, Printmaking, painting, illustrating, graphics, web, cooking, there is just so many things out there for people to turn into hobbies. On this note, I stumbled on a website this week that feeds off of this part of the human spirit, "To learn new and amazing things, to be creative and wonderful!" Why not learn how to do something you have always yearned to do. Kate Spade's company is realizing this with their new campaign "I've always wanted to..." (click on "I've always wanted to...")

This quarter focuses on things like learning to knit, learning to play a musical instrument, learning to bird watch, and a few others. They have lots of interesting ideas and items to get the brain working. If it inspires you, I am thinking about learning to knit and bird watch.

By the way, KS's website is all flash so I couldn't copy the bird watching image I wanted, but I was able to copy the cakes, and they look, oh, so yummy.

Getting to know you...

Since I am stressed out majorly working on a report for work, I haven't had time to work on a blog these past few days. So I got this email and I haven't done one of these in a while (and I could always use an end of the day wind down exercise). Enjoy and send it back if you want.

1. What time did you get up this morning? 5am
2. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds
3. What was the last film you saw at the movies? Juno

4. What is your favorite TV show? Lost

5. What did you eat for breakfast? Bagel w/ peanut butter and honey
6. What is your middle name? Dinai
7. What food do you dislike? fried food
8. What is your favorite CD at the moment? no favorites, however, I am addicted to the Snow Patrol station on Pandora
9. What kind of car do you drive? 4-Runner
10. Favorite sandwich? spinach panini with pine nuts from Jason's Deli
11. Favorite item of clothing? any shirt I got from a 5K race in KW
12. If you could go anywhere in the world for a vacation, where would you go? Australia
13. What color is your bathroom? Blue
14. Favorite brand of clothing? I love Limited and have a sad "Life is Good" addiction
15. Where would you retire? Maybe Key West, maybe the Carribean, maybe I could be a snowbird

16. Where did you meet your spouse? first day of school at UAH
17. Furthest place you are sending this? depends on who checks my blog, probably Cherrye in Italy though.
18. Favorite saying? "Holy Cow"
19. When is your birthday? April 10th
20. Are you a morning person or a night person? Morning
21. What is your shoe size? 9.5
22. Favorite food for Dinner? Southwest Chicken Chili
23. What did you want to be when you were little? Judge
24. What are you doing today? Someone else's work
25. What is your favorite candy? Gobstoppers
26. What is your favorite flower? tulips
27. What day are you looking forward to most on your calendar? My mom is coming to visit in March
28. What church do you attend? Calvary Baptist
29. What are you listening to right now? Reliant K
30. What was the last thing you ate? Blueberry yogurt smoothie
31. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Green
32. What is your pet peeve? People that make up words and use them like they are legitimate (irregardless; supposibly)
33. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Emerson, Beth and Grant
34. Favorite soft drink? Sprite
35. Favorite restaurant? Square Grouper in KW
36. Siblings? 2 sisters - Blake, Britanie
37. Chocolate or vanilla? vanilla
38. What is under your bed? Plenty of Maggie's toys and fur
37. Who is the friend you've had longest? Ashley Kelley since 3rd grade
38. What did you do last night? Made a Greek dinner and watched "The Ghost in the Darkness"
39. Favorite smell? cookies
40. What are you afraid of? snakes, the unknown, where the military will send us next, birthing children, (is 4 answers enough? I have way more)
41. How many keys on your key ring? too many to count
42. How many years at your current job? 7 months too long
43. Favorite city to visit? I love going to Houston (IKEA) or Gulf Shores
44. Favorite dessert? apple dumpling, anything from the Cheesecake factory
45. Do you have a special talent? I can cook, I can pop my rib like some people pop their knuckles (Is that really a talent though?)

Hope you enjoy!

Being a Grownup...

Well, Maggie has reached that point where it was time to make a decision whether or not she was going to have babies or not. Me and E have been debating whether or not to breed her or not. She's not a gorgeous dog but she's is very loving, playful, smart and obediant, and one seriously faithful companion. In the end, we made the decision not to breed her.

I made an appointment with the Vet a week in advance and stressed about my decision for the whole week. I know she's only a dog, but she's my dog! Eric has been making jokes with Maggie and me all week like this one directed at Maggie "If you don't eat all of your dinner, Mommie is going to take you to the Dr. to have your reproductive organs taken out." Break my heart, why don't you! I know he's only kidding and he's trying to make light of the situation, but come on! After about 5 of those zingers a day for a week, I was feeling pretty guilty about elective surgery. Just the thought of her not eating for the day, a new Vet she doesn't know, her waking up from surgery in pain and not knowing what just happened, having to spend the night in the kennel without us or her bed, and then of course..the big what if...I was getting a little teary eyed. (like it actually takes much effort these days)














I told E the night before her appointment that he was going to have to drop her off because I was going to be a basketcase if I had to be the one...So he was gracious enough to relieve me of my duties and drop her off yesterday. Since she had to spend the night, he sent her favorite toy (Duckie) along for the night. He even offered to take today off to pick her up as soon as she could come home and keep an eye on her. He redeemed himself from all of the pre-appt hazing with those 3 things in my book. But if it's this hard with my dog, I had to admit that I am going to need some help when I take our kids to get vaccines and checkups, etc. Whew! I have been a mess.

Maggie's home and all is well. She is a few stitches and a shaved belly. She is back to her old self already. Just a little more tired than usual today.

What's Cooking Wednesday

Well, I spent all weekend cooking. Go figure...I realize that's what you are all thinking. But I am on a mission to have a neighborly relationship with those that live around us. Me and E both think that since we all have fenced in backyards now, no one sits on the front porch and gets to know their community as they walk by.

















It was also depressing when we moved here 8 months ago and no one came by to see us. So I am an agent of change for the next few weekends. E has been more resistant to the bold social change, but if I only do one neighbor a weekend, he is not as hesitant. So I baked Apple Pie cupcakes to take across the street to the neighbors who just moved in. We took Irish Cream Chocolate Pound Cake to 2 other neighbors last weekend. 3 neighbors down...too many more to go.

















They turned out PERFECT! So good. However, if you don't have much of a sweet tooth, leave off the icing and maybe dust the tops with a little bit of cinnamon and sugar. Me and E, well, we aren't really sweet tooth people, so I think that next time I will use my ramikins instead of cupcakes and more apples cooked in brown sugar instead of granulated sugar.

Muddy Muddy Magpie

We had one of the RAINIEST weekends ever. With cloudy days and cold temperatures for the past 2 weeks, and nothing but rain as far as the forecasters can see, Maggie was getting cabin fever. So finally, I just let her loose and told E I would give her a bath later.

It was probably more entertaining for us to watch her play in the rain and mud than it was for her to roll around the backyard. As I look at this picture, I am reminded of a book title called "I used to me a good Mom until I had kids," and I think to myself, I used to have a descent backyard until I got a dog!! My garden now has a deep hole right in the middle of it, my yard has a hole right in the middle of the walk path, and the back yard now has a section about 5x5 feet in the back that Maggie has completely demolished. Exhibit A...

All Locked Up Inside

After a cold, wet weekend, we finally got some dry weather on Monday allowing us to leave the house for a while. So E started a fire for us all and me, E and Maggie roasted marshmallows and made S'mores around the firepit. (Maggie really didn't do much roasting. She pretty much just kept stealing the skewers and chewing them to pieces.) They were so yummy!