Major life changes

So you may be asking where did I go? Did I drop off the planet? Probably for you 2 followers and family/friends that read my posts it's not a big deal.  I have many photos ready to blog about in the past couple weeks but life has thrown me a curve ball.

The diagnosis isn't official yet but I am waiting on the results of a skin biopsy that will tell me what myself and my dermatologist suspect...that I have a skin disorder called Dermatitis Herpetiformis (DH) which is an EXTREMELY, oh my goodness you can't even imagine, itchy rash with blisters. Now on top of that about 80-90% of the people with DH also have Celiac's disease which means Gluten is now my worst enemy.

I am in the process of de-contaminating my house. 95% of my kitchen utensils/bakeware/cookware will need to be replaced due to possibly contamination.

Last night I spent my "family craft night" purging out my pantry...it's quite empty compared to what it used to be. I have a tub of cooking things that are currently gluten free all sealed so that I can eat without problems.

That's just the kitchen...Gluten can be found in shampoo, conditioner, lotions, soaps, lipstick, lip gloss, chapstick, envelopes, stamps, playdoh, toothpastes, diaper cream, wipes....


It's going to be a long process...

My New Go To Chili Recipe

Holy Cannoli Batman!  I've been itching to make chili now for more than 2 weeks. It just sounds good. Maybe I am feeling sympathy for all my friends and family in the Midwest where the temperatures are negative. (Did I mention how happy I am to be out in the Pacific Northwest!)

Anywho, So tonight I decided to actually get off my butt and make it for dinner. I had previously looked at recipes the last two days for one that I liked but I came up with things that just looked ok, but not "Oh my heavens, I HAVE to make that."

sort of like this little beauty...that is currently on my list of things to drool over everyday until I make it. If I just made your mouth water...here is the link for the recipe:
Triple-Chocolate Mousse Cake

Seriously...when I have a stressful day I'd like a couple of these puppies to make things so much better, wouldn't you?

So anyway...my Husband and I ate this chili for dinner, The seasonings were all eyeballed so the following recipe was the best guess. The Rotel tomatoes and green chiles do have a heat to them (in case you need to cut out all spice).  The review from the husband was: "zomg that's good." He gobbled the entire bowl up. He also attempted to downplay how good it was so he could have more (to save others from having to have a bowl).

 My Chili

2 packages of sirloin tip steaks, chopped into bite size pieces

1.25 lbs ground beef

2 green peppers

10 mini sweet peppers (or 1-2 red, yellow, or orange peppers), diced

1 medium onion, diced

4-5 cloves garlic, minced

2 cans Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies

1 can tomato sauce

1 can butter beans (could use two) drained & rinsed

1 can tri-blend beans (kidney, black, and pinto) drained & rinsed

1 can sweet corn, drained

1 can of water

Chili powder

Cumin

Oregano

Salt and pepper

Garlic powder

Onion powder

1 can of Guinness beer

1-2 Tbsp Olive Oil

Cornstarch

1 scallion, chopped (greens only)

In a large stock pot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add steak pieces (do two batches if you need to) Brown pieces, season with salt and pepper and set aside. Meanwhile in a second pan, brown beef, season lightly with chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Set aside.

Once steak pieces are cooked, sauté onions in stock pot with a splash of oil. Add green peppers and sweet peppers and garlic, deglaze with the beer. Add tomato sauce, 1 can of water, add both beans, add corn, and both meats. Stir to combine.  Add 1 ½ palmfuls of chili powder, 2-3 tsp of cumin, 1 tsp garlic powder and onion powder,  1-2 Tbsp oregano. Sprinkle with a dash of salt and pepper.  Stir to combine spices. To thicken. Take ¼ to ½ cup of just the liquid part of the chili into a bowl or cup. Add generous sprinkle of cornstarch (maybe 3-4 Tbsp) and whisk until combine. Add back to chili. (I did this twice).  Cook for 15 minutes on stove top to meld flavors.  Serve with shredded Pepper Jack Cheese, garnish with chopped scallions and tortilla chips on the side.


And in case you don't like my recipe and are still searching for your favorite chili recipe Check out this one:


 

WIP Wednesday - Too many projects, not enough time.

Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday:

I have way to many hobbies and with each of these hobbies I have projects I have started and/or would like to do.  So I decided to post a list that maybe I can refer back to...if I don't get distracted by new projects on places like pinterest or craftgawker.

1. EPIC PROJECT OF 2013
      People I know you are going to think me crazy but I'm going to make a quilt like the one under this link: Click here for epic quilt!
I am doing this in 1 1/4 inch squares. Suffice to say I will have lots of cutting and sewing ahead of me. I've done the drawing, math and color selection part already...I just need to actually purchase the fabric and delve in before I figure out I'm insane for wanting to do this.

Where am I in this project:  I have all the patterns gridded out and all the fabric measurements added up. I need to pull the trigger on buying the fabric.

2. Sewing kits from Straight Stitch Society

Are they cute? I have enough fabric and notions for a Red apple, a Green apple, and an Orange. I have the Green apple partly cut out and hope to continue working on it this week.

Where am I in this project: I made the Green apple one, see previous blog post here. I still have two more I want to make.

3. Quiet book for the Little Man. During my many days of browsing Pinterest for felt quiet book pattern Ideas I stumbled upon Stephanie and her amazing blog Imagine Our Life. I am hoping to make several of her pages.

Where am I with this project:
1. solar system - half sewn, all cut out. I could finish this one pretty quick if I sat down to it.
2. sand castle - pieces are cut, just need to sew it
3. monkeys jumping on the bed - pattern printed
4. snowman - pattern printed
others...not printed or cut.

I guess that is the big works in progress for now. I know I have many more I'd like to do...


WIP: too many to count
WIP finished: 1 (green apple sew kit)
Epic Quilt 2013 - BUY FABRIC ALREADY!

Review of Chicken and Rice Wrap w/ Peanut Sauce

For the record here is my husband's review of the wrap I blogged about last night:

"You aren't suppose to be a chef. You are suppose to be a wife. I'm suppose to choke down your food, not crave more of it. (um ok...) It's delicious and awesome. The peanut sauce was very unique but the most I could say was it was fresh with the spinach and the burst of sweetness from the clementine."

So there you have...It's a winner.

and...He liked it so much that he had one for dinner too. I guess I'll be keeping it in mind for future lunches.

Chicken & Rice Wrap with Peanut Dip

Tonight I tried a new recipe to "get me out of lunch time rut" from a book I picked up last weekend called:

The Lunch Box: Packed with fun, healthy meals that keep them smiling.

<~~~~~~~~ Here is the cover of the book
The book itself covers sandwiches, wraps, salads, snacks, smoothies, dips, and soups/warm meals. It's very clever and has ideas for using leftover food from dinner in a new and exciting way.

Tonight I used things I had in my fridge/or shelf to make 4 wraps for my husbands future lunches. I used Rice, tortillas, 2 cutie clementines (the original recipe calls for canned mandarin oranges), 3 mini red peppers, 1 left over rotisserie chicken breast, and chopped baby spinach. I also used staples from my pantry to create a peanut dipping sauce. If you don't like oranges you could just use the peppers, if you don't want meat you could canned, drained chickpeas or cooked tofu, and if you can't do nuts (like at my toddler school) you could do hummus or Asian sesame dressing.

The peanut sauce itself is peanut butter, soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, and water. Interestingly enough if you asked my parents if these things would be in my cabinet as an adult they would probably not hesitate to say an emphatic NO (except the peanut butter and water). But I have grown and learned to really enjoy cooking with the other items in Asian cooking.

Here it is all prepped: Chicken, red pepper, spinach chopped, Rice - cooked and cooled, oranges peels, and way in the back peanut sauce mixed and ready.

I laid a piece of foil down, then put the tortilla in the center (could probably work 2/3rd down from the top too.) I added a dollop of peanut sauce across the middle horizontally. Then piled on the rice, peppers, chicken, spinach, and oranges. Then I folded the wrap in thirds from the top and bottom. While holding them in place I folded over the left and right sides of the foil. Then rolled the bottom over the wrap and the top over that. In retrospect my tortilla was way too small, but I made do because it's what we had on hand.

This is where I have to end my post as I was preparing these for tomorrow. I will attempt to heat these tomorrow morning at 400 degrees for about 8 minutes (enough to heat it through). The book talks about putting it in a insulated container to keep it warm. I might just leave it un-heated, depends on what time I wake up and how long it takes my oven to heat up to 400.

I will post what my hubby thought of the wrap as soon as I know...He did have a small taste of the peanut dip...he said it tastes good at first bite but after the initial taste it's very peanut butter-y then the aftertaste is as good as the first bite.  I hope he likes it...crosses my fingers!

Book Review #3 of 2013

I was Jane Austen's Best Friend
By: Cora Harrison

Synopsis: Amason's blurb:

When shy Jenny Cooper goes to stay with her cousin Jane Austen, she knows nothing of the world of beautiful dresses, dances, secrets, gossip, and romance that Jane inhabits. At fifteen, Jane is already a sharp observer of the customs of courtship. So when Jenny falls utterly in love with Captain Thomas Williams, who better than Jane to help her win the heart of this dashing man?

But is that even possible? After all, Jenny’s been harboring a most desperate secret. Should it become known, it would bring scandal not only to her, but also to the wonderful Austen family. What’s a poor orphan girl to do?

In this delicious dance between truth and fiction, Cora Harrison has crafted Jenny’s secret diary by reading everything Jane Austen wrote as a child and an adult, and by researching biographies, critical studies, and family letters. Jenny’s diary makes the past spring vividly to life and provides insight into the entire Austen family—especially the beloved Jane.

 

Readability: It is very easy to read as it's told from a teenage girls journal. It was quick and flowed well.

Predictability :  I don't think I had the upper hand on this book. I was very excited to find a couple points in the book that caught me off guard.
Couldn't Put it Down Factor: This was such a unique way to hear more about Jane Austen's world. The author did much to make you feel as if you were right there in the late eighteenth century with Jane.
Recommend it?: I would definitely recommend it.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5. Just be warn that it is written from the view point of a teenager...so it might not be everyone's cup of tea.

side note - Apparently in Feb 2012 Ms. Harrison wrote a second book called "Jane Austen Stole My Boyfriend" Hmmm...would like to read it to see more of the history she pulls in but we'll see.

Book Review #2 of 2013

 

Old Friends & New Fancies: An Imaginary Sequel to the Novels of Jane Austen

By: Sybil G. Brinton

Synopsis: This book pulls in characters from all of Jane Austen's famous novels and weaves a tail of friendship and love. It's a continuation of the beloved characters that many of Austen's fans would devour.

Readability: It is easy to read and seamlessly picks up the stories of all those wonderful characters as if you just turned the page in the original novels.

Predictability :  I was able to predict one of the two love matches, but I didn't see the second one until it was right there in print.
Couldn't Put it Down Factor: I love the idea that all the characters from Austen's novels would have interacted. Many of them mention the same parts of the country and it would make sense that the circles of people would be small in society.
Recommend it?: I would recommend it. It was a nice revisit to "old friends"

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5. Great book, But not one I was bursting to tell people about as I read it (hence the minus one star).

Virtual craft night

First Craft project of 2013 completed:

I have a blog post in draft status talking about my to-do list for crafts this year...luckily I as able to have a weekend away from home to relax and craft and this was one of the projects I worked on:







It's such a cute design and I'm excited to try making the orange version. But first:

Here is the completed Green Apple Sewing Kit - one side is a pin cushion, the other is a pocket to hold your thimble, measuring tape, thread, and other notions. In the middle is a pad to hold your sewing needles:

Here is what it looks like from the inside with the pocket unzipped:

and here is the side view showing the needle pad: