finding ways to stay warm

Cold weather warrants a warm meal and a new scarf!


Tonight Chef Lucky treated us to dinner including arepas and picadillo. The aroma brings back memories of childhood and the food fills your belly with goodness. There were big helpings and plenty of left overs. The recipes for both are very "shit-it-in" and not exact, with creativity being rewarded in flavor. Inquiring minds should...ask Lucky!

Also on tonight's agenda was the finishing of a new scarf. Morgan suggested that I play with color more. Using various yarns and fun colors, I was inspired to change the pattern of so many other scarves in my closet. The result was this fun new garment that could be perfect for staying warm in the Andes or strolling down the Pride parade. Either way, the colors are fun and it will be sure to keep me warm this spring!

Pattern:

• This is a basic ribbed pattern: knit 2, purl 2, knit 2, purl, continuing on for 360 stitches. This will create the length of the scarf.
• Begin with one color, using the basic ribbed pattern, continue for 10 rows.
• Begin new color, leaving a little extra of first color to be sewn in later.
• Add as many colors as you want, in this case I chose 4.
• After you are done, be sure to weave in the extra length of each color. Doing this will prevent you from having to make unsightly knots and will prevent the scarf from unraveling later. It will also make friends like Kelli happy that I learned and listened!

Momma knows best...and how to cook chili!

Momma surprised me with a visit to DC for the holidays! Hooray! Unfortunately, she had to return home, but before she did she made a batch of chili for all.

Ingredients:

• 2 cans (16 oz. each) of dark red beans


• 2 cans (16 oz. each) of light red beans


• 2 cans (16 oz. each) of diced tomatoes (mix and match on your preferred additional flavors)


• 1 pound ground chicken


• 1 large white onion, diced


• 1/2 tsp of garlic


• 1/2 tsp of ground cumin


• salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Cook meat in a skillet.


2. Combine meat, beans, tomatoes (drain 1 can before adding to mix), onion, garlic, cumin, salt, and pepper into the crockpot.


3. Turn crockpot onto high for 6 hours.

Serving:

Add shredded cheddar cheese on top of a served bowl of this chili. Can also be paired with tortilla chips for a chicken tortilla chili!