Saturday, November 28, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving!
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Cheap Gifts for Starving Students
I am a starving college student this year, as I was last year. Maybe even the year before. Having been in school now for awhile, I know what it means when the Christmas season rolls around and it is time to choose between buying the little brother a gift or buying milk.
Decisions, Decisions. I still see no reason why college students cannot give great gifts, though. I say, why not share the love with everyone this year? Just because you are a poor student trying hard to get by, does not mean that you cannot come up with some killer gifts for the fam or your beautiful, wonderful, oh-so-worth-it girlfriend, right?
Here are some great gifts that can be purchased for under $10
1. Bottle of Sparkling Cider. This can be purchased just about anywhere. Just make sure you complete the item with a tied red ribbon.
2. $5 Movies. If you are not yet aware of what I am talking about, then shame on you! Go check out any Walmart, Target, K-Mart or even grocery store and they will be there.
3. Magnets. Do you have a lot of gifts you need to give to the family for Christmas? Please, go find your best photo and put it on a magnet. Google photo magnets and see what happens.
4. Candy. You can buy candy. You can make candy. You can sell candy. Personally, I will be making white-chocolate dipped peppermint sticks this year. Yum.
5. Hand-made Cards. If you are a handy, dandy crafter, you might already have the scrap-book supplies to make these. All it really requires is a little bit of creative thought, some great paper, pens and pretty handwriting. Create-away! (You can also buy $4 packages of gift cards at Ross)
6. Magazines. Either buy someone a subscription or visit the closest thrift store and find some old magazines and wrap them up in a pretty ribbon. No one hates the gift of knowledge.
7. T-shirt. Three words: Walmart Photo Center. Check it out. (Maybe your younger brother’s secret wish is to have a t-shirt with your face on it)
8. Family Photos. Its always great to get everyone together and take a family photo. Being the one to initiate the event (call the photographer, make an appointment, pick the outfits) is a gift in and of itself.
9. Frankencense and Myrrh. If you are feeling traditional, wanting to remind people that Jesus is the reason for the season, Frankincense and Myrrh can be found at organic grocery stores. But please! Make sure you burn incense at least in a bowl, away from a fire extinguisher – it can get messy and smoky, though it makes a great satchel for someone.
10. Ross. One word: Ross. Check them out. They have aisles upon aisles of marked-down, home accessories from department stores. You can find almost anything, and it is likely to be a name brand like Calvin Klein too.
Happy Gift Buying! I hope you steal some deals on Black Friday! Rest assured, I will probably be nestled in my apartment writing papers instead of racing to get a toaster oven first.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Ida: A Picture Story
Saturday, November 7, 2009
I Won't Even Charge 25 Cents...
I made it late on Thursday night and it simmered until Friday morning. All the white beans, chicken, cilantro, cloves, green chilis and cumin rubbed off on each other all night long. Then only a few hours before dropping my chili off at the table with the twelve other chilis, I added a heaping 4 oz. of jalapenos and the result was a biting heat that hit your tongue a few seconds after a a tiny spoonful of the green chili goodness.
My chili at Regent’s 2009 Chili Cook-Off did not win any prizes, but in my opinion it was it was good, downright delicious. I did get a few compliments too. I even had a request that I post the recipe on my blog. So here is my not-so-winning, aromatic and innovative green chili recipe. I won't even charge you 25 cents for it like the last year's winners were charging for their recipes. Beware though, I did have one chili-taster tell me that he could not finish his sample because it was too spicy. Luckily, it was a one time comment. Otherwise the response to my recipe was quite positive.
The initial recipe for this white chili came from simplyrecipes.com. Just to put my own edge on the chili and make it a little personal, I had to improvise the recipe a little. Give it my own western, Tex-Mex touch. Green chili is nothing new to my family and now it does not have to be new to yours. Enjoy.
Hot Green Chili
6 cups chicken broth
1 can great northern beans
1 can cannelloni beans
1 can pinto beans
1 can navy beans
1 lb. chicken breast or boneless thigh meat
1/4 stick of butter
1 garlic clove, minced
2 medium onions, chopped (divided)
2 4-ounce cans chopped green chilies
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1 can diced tomatoes
1 4-oz. can of diced jalapenos
1 bunch of fresh cilantro
3 cups grated Monterey Jack cheese
1. Dice chicken into dime-sized pieces. Believe me, this will take a little while. Peel garlic clove, crush and mince into small pieces. Then sauté the chicken in a non-stick saucepan with ¼ stick of butter and minced garlic. Dice both onions and add to the chicken and sauté. After about five minutes add both cans of green chilis to the chicken mixture, then add cumin, oregano, cloves and pepper. Mix thorough and cover. Allow to simmer for 30-45 minutes.
2. In a large crock pot combine chicken broth and beans on high and allow to boil. Add chicken mixture from the skillet and allow to simmer overnight. Allowing the chili to simmer overnight will soften the beans and thicken the broth. In the morning the whole mixture should look more like chili than stew. Add the can of tomatoes and jalapenos and salt to taste. If necessary add more red pepper flakes, cloves or oregano.
Add the cheese and any remaining cilantro. Both items will enhance the taste as you eat the chili! Enjoy! You will have lots of chili!