Speedy Southwestern Chicken Chili

Here is a GREAT fast recipe that was on Good Things Utah. 

I made it last night for dinner and we decided it was a keeper.

I really do like this show.  It has 'good things', just like the title.

If you can open a can, you can make this speedy chili!

Southwestern Chicken Chili by Penny Worthen

4-6 chicken breasts cooked and shredded or 1 rotisserie chicken boned
2 cans diced tomatoes (garlic and onion)
1 small jar salsa (I used my homemade/canned pint size)
1 can kernal corn (or 2 cups frozen, which is what I used because it was what I had and my family doesn't care for canned corn)
2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1-2 cans diced green chilies (I used 2)
1 pkg. dry Ranch dressing mix
1 pkg. dry Taco seasoning mix
1/2 bunch chopped cilantro (optional)
Chicken broth/stock (optional.  I used it to thin out the chili because we don't like it quite so thick.)

Put it all in a crock pot, stir together, and let simmer until warmed through on low for 4 hours.  If you use raw chicken, double the cooking time and then remove and shred it and add back.

OR:  Add all ingredients to a large pot, stir, and bring to a simmer and warm through.  Maybe 15-20 minutes.

Serve with:  tortilla strips/chips, grated cheese, a lime wedge if you like, and a drizzle of Cafe Rio dressing, which I wouldn't have thought of, but really adds a nice flavor. SERIOUSLY, this is really good!

Hangers

When I am in Utah I like to watch their morning show, Good Things Utah.  My family rolls their eyes and thinks it's the hokiest program and I will agree with that only on the point of their opening dialogues.  Once a segment was about caffeine energy drinks and which one was the best to drink to give you energy in the afternoon.  Those kinds of beverages are not good for anybody anytime and perhaps I am very naive but I really hope people don't drink them. What's the difference between that and a cup of coffee if the reason you are drinking it is for the energy that comes from the caffeine?

Anyway--but I think the show is awesome at showcasing local groups, individuals, events, and their cooking and crafting segments.  One day last week they had a guest giving tips on home organizing.  I'm always interested in new ideas for that.  She covered lots of areas and then came to the closet.  It was all about the hangers.  Did you know:

 You should NEVER have these or the tubular plastic ones in your closet.

As soon as you get something home from the dry cleaners they should come off of these and onto a different one.

 

 You are to only use wooden...

...or flocked.

Did you know any of this?

Am I the only one who has an inappropriate closet?  Am I just out of the loop?

I looked up these hangers online and they are expensive.

So my question is:

What kind of hangers do you use?

Just Because I Want To Have It In My Book, Someday!

This post is a total copycat.

I've taken all the pictures from Meredith's blog because they are such great ones and capture the joy of the moment at the Midway outdoor ice rink with the younger cousins ( Elizabeth, Abby, Jacob, Josh, William, and James) and at the tubing hill at Soldier Hollow with Kristen, Brent and Logan.

And one day when I put this blog into a book, I'd like to have them to remember.

 In front of the cabin.

Two days before the big storm.

Ice Skating at the outdoor rink in the town center square.

Now on to the tubing hill at Soldier Hollow.

 Kristen, Logan, and Brent.

Meredith's sister from Texas who was visiting her inlaws for the holidays.

Christine having a big laugh.

She Did It!

Christine got her Driver's License this morning!

SHE PASSED!

Her appointment was at 8am in San Clemente.  Duff took her.  I just couldn't.  I think I might have been more nervous than she was.  Sometimes being a mom is just hard, ya know?  I took Josh and Shaun.  He has taken Mike, Natalie, and now Chris.  Fair right? Almost half and half.

The only thing the tester advised her was to look over her shoulder a little more while backing up instead of relying too much on her mirrors.  Other than that a perfect score.

They stopped at A's on the way home for breakfast burritos to celebrate.

CONGRATS, CHRISSY GIRL!

The newest California driver.

(Now we have something good to associate this day with.  Today is the 30 year anniversary of Duff's dad's death in a car accident on the same day that his grandmother passed also.  She died, and John Leon was driving to Price to meet with his sisters to plan the service.  Fell asleep at the wheel at Soldier Summit and drove off the road.)

Post Holiday

It still looks like Christmas here and I'm not in a hurry yet to take it down.  Well,  the garland on the stairs is kind of bugging me, but otherwise I want to emjoy it a few more days.  It was sooo nice to come home and not have to worry about the tree being brittle, dry, and dead.  Thank you for an artificial tree.  This is our second year and I like it even better than last year.  I found a good pine candle at BBWorks that smells like the real deal.

More rain but it is gentle.  We have received 11 inches of water in the month of December which is more than we usually get in a year.  And winter is just starting.  The news last night said that we will be out of our 3 year drought by the end of the rainy season.  Hallelujah.

Back to carpool, laundry, and all things housewifely.  I am feeling a bit of the holiday let-down.  Maybe that's why I want to leave some of the decorations up a little bit longer.  I decided I will do one thing every other day until it's all down.  No rush, right?  Unless by the end of the week I'm tired of it finally.

I'm really enjoying eating those darling Clementine tangerines.  I love them every year at this time.

Begins and Ends with Snow

We left Midway and the temp was -13.  And it felt it.  But gloriously beautiful.

We made good time and didn't even get stuck in the holiday traffic out of Las Vegas. 

We all were feeling pretty smug about our good timing.

And THEN IT HAPPENED.

 We came to a standstill in Victorville and couldn't figure out why.

It was cloudy and in the 30's.

All of a sudden Meredith said, "Is that snow falling?!"

Yessiree, it was.

And here is Cajon Pass in all it's winter glory.

So we began and ended our drive with snow.

It was just rain though by the time we got home.

And the hill in front of our house was still there and things were cleaned up pretty well.

School starts tomorrow and we are back to a routine.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011!

We are looking forward to you.

2010 was quite the mixture of ups and downs all the way to the bitter end.  There were many times I thought I would rather wish it away, but I have learned a lot and grown yet again.  It pushed us to our limits sometimes and then we found that our capacities could be enlarged.  It taught us to dig deep and focus on the things that really matter.  That the journey is as important as the arrival and that is where the real lessons are learned.

 Meredith made eggs benedict for our New Years breakfast.

It was really delicious.

 And it wouldn't be a trip to the cabin without Ticket To Ride.

 Our footwear.

And we couldn't live without a humidifier in the winter.

We are used to moisture in the air and this helps a lot in the bedrooms.

We made homemade chinese food.  Egg rolls and fried rice.  Yay for traditions.

Got everything packed up and ready to leave bright and early in the morning to beat the Vegas holiday traffic.

Welcome 2011 with all your new lessons.