this and that...time to catch up, continued

As promised I'm working on posting some pics and happenings that I'm very late in blogging about:

Kitchen Happenings
Back in April, I think, I was cooking dinner for me and Jess one night. When I glanced in the oven where I had chicken baking, I noticed a shadow in the middle of the pan, but didn't think anything about it really...until I took a second look, that is. Here's what I found:

From Pampered Chef Stone

Note: this large bar pan is a stone from Pampered Chef and is generally under warrenty, but of course, I've had the pan longer than the warrenty covers... :( I did end up ordering another one since I've been lost in my kitchen without it! I used it for everything!!


More to come!

in boxes and such

Just a few things I like and a few things I've read lately...

• This blog post about having a physical InBox feeds my inner-organizer. I'm not even sure how I stumbled on this blog, but he's also got interesting things to say here about not checking email all day long. I'm not totally cured yet, but I like the idea and think it will help with my productivity. So for now, I'm just working on checking it less.
• This lazy guy has some investing info that is food for thought about his recent investment reality. I've learned a little about saving money and other stuff from him. You should add him to your Google Reader.
• For the first time I did my own taxes this year. I learned a little and enjoyed it a lot.
• Due to my recent interest in taxes and such, this guy at No Debt Plan has some more thoughts on saving money.
• I wish I could make bread like this lady. I've really only tried once, or maybe twice, to make yeast bread without a bread machine. It wasn't pretty so, of course, I gave up. (I can't wait to try some, warm oatmeal bread that should be done in about 2 hrs and 47 min!).

Hope you enjoyed these links! Now, what are you reading these days?

what's cookin': hearty [7]-can chili

Today feels like fall so why not make a batch of chili? This is a large amount for a 2-person house, so some of it will end up in the freezer for another fall day, yeah!

The original recipe, Hearty Six-Can Chili, is from Pampered Chef (when I bought their smooth edge can opener). I always change how many cans and what's in the cans, but here's what I put in the crock pot today:

2 cans of Roast Beef from Trader Joe's*
2 cans chili beans in sauce, undrained
2 cans crushed tomatoes
1 can condensed cream of celery soup
1 teaspoon chili powder

Cook in crockpot all day. Serve with shredded cheese & oyster crackers.



*I recently discovered canned beef from my dear friend, Danna. Thanks, D-dear, it's a nice little time saver! Oh, and by the way, I want to post your beef, potato, & carrot dish sometime if that's ok...but I have to try it out with the coconut oil first. My first attempt was without the coconut oil and while it was good, it wasn't quite the same as yours! :)

what's cookin': easy potato soup

Thanks for the recipe, Mom!

2 Tbls Butter
1 Diced Onion*
1 Large Can of Chicken Broth*
Same Amount of Water as Chicken Broth
3-4 Large Cubed Baking Potatoes
1 Large Diced Carrot (optional)
Pieces of Diced Ham (if you don't have leftover ham from Sunday dinner, use bacon!)
Milk or cream to taste

In a large pan melt butter and brown onion. Don't burn! Add remaining ingredients. Bring to boil. Cook for 25 min. Add milk or cream to individual bowls of delicious soup!


I really wanted to make this one day, but lacked what my mom calls a key ingredient: onions! Here's what I substituted:

*not shown in picture