Chilly Summer? Think about this Chili Recipe

Made this Friday nite, it was so good with a dollop of Sour Cream on it too!  here's the recipe... 

INGREDIENTS

• 4 teaspoons olive oil
• 2 pounds ground chicken
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 clove garlic, crushed with a press
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
• Two 15 to 19-ounce cans whitekidney beans (cannellini), rinsed and drained
• One 16-ounce jar mild salsa verde
• One 14 to 14 1/2-ounce can reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves, for garnish

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DIRECTIONS

In a 6-quart Dutch oven, heat 1 teaspoon oil on medium-high until very hot. Sprinkle the chicken with 1 teaspoon salt. Add the chicken to the Dutch oven in two batches, and cook until the chicken is no longer pink, stirring occasionally, about 6 minutes per batch, and adding 1 teaspoon more oil for the second batch. With a slotted spoon, transfer the chicken to a medium bowl once it is done. 

After all the chicken is cooked, add the remaining 2 teaspoons oil with the garlic and onions to the Dutch oven, and cook on medium heat until browned, stirring occasionally, 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in thecumin, oregano, cinnamon and cayenne pepper, and cook 1 minute. Add the beans, salsa verde, broth and browned chicken, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium, cover and cook the chili for 15 minutes to blend the flavors. To serve, garnish with cilantro. 

Each serving: calories 370, total fat 18g, saturated fat --, cholesterol --, sodium 815mg, total carbohydrate 25g, dietary fiber --, sugars --, protein 25g, calcium --

be careful in the sun

I currently have two of these beauties on my chest, 6 stitches each Basal Cell Carcinoma. (I will spare you the pictures of the stitches you might think that I am related to Frankenstein. Yuck, but I got the call today that they are both clear.  Thank you God!!!  I had one on the back of my knee that was also clear and in July I go for two on my back.  So I will wait to see what they say about that.

I was never a true sun lover as a kid but I did like to "lay out" and get color.  My friends would get tan and I would burn, but I would always say that's' how I tan, I have to burn first.  Now I'm 50ish and the doctors at Advanced Dermatology are finding problems. It's important to take of ourselves in all aspects and do what we have to do, dont wait!

Do you know just one indoor tanning session... 

increases the risk of melanoma by 20%

increases the risk of basal cell carcinoma by 29%

increases the risk for squamous cell carcinoma  67%

IN all more than 170,000 cases of non-melanoma skin cancer in the US each year are linked to indoor tanning.

I failed to mention that I used to do that too, especially to get that "Base Tan"  which I would still burn as soon as I set foot on the the Florida beaches.

Older and wiser I suppose.

Did I mention that I chair the pool committee in the development in which I live? I have become the sunscreen patrol now, how ironic!

Be safe and dont forget the sunscreen

Ciao for Now!

knitting is not just for the elderly

But then again, those of us that are into it already know that!
Many of you know that I love to watch cooking shows and read cook books as much as I love to knit and research knitting.  I was watching the show The Kitchen on the Food Network and Wendy Williams, the talk show host was on as a special guest.  Wendy discussed that she was turning 50 and she had a "Bucket List".  Do you know what was the first thing she mentioned?  Yes, knitting.  She said that she wanted to learn to knit and that it was not just for old folks.  Universities all over the world have students knitting.  So "How you doin?" :)

It' cool to knit and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
As I always say *Peace, Love, Knit* repeat and pass it on!

Ciao for now

this past Sunday was Father's Day

Since I wrote about my mom, I felt that it was appropriate to give my dad equal billing.  My dad sure did not inspire me to craft, but since he was a baker he did inspire me to take the journey into acquire baking knowledge.  My dad past away 6 years ago of a brain tumor.  Curious, since he was always feeding his brain.  He was not a Baker by choice, but rather out of necessity.  In Germany, at that time, WWII had just ended and he was a hungry 14 year old boy looking for food and warmth.  He had heard Since I wrote about my mom, I felt that I had to give my dad equal billing.  My dad sure did not inspire me to craft, but since he was a baker he did inspire me to take the journey into acquire baking knowledge.  My dad past away 6 years ago of a brain tumor.  Curious, since he was always feeding his brain.  He was not a Baker by choice, but rather out of necessity.  In Germany, at that time, WWII had just ended and he was a hungry 14 year old boy looking for food and warmth.  He had heard through the streets that there was a baker looking for apprentices and would provide food and shelter for their labor.  My dad thought that sounded like the thing to do.  Never having completed his education past 6th grade, he had little oportunities. After years of training he got a paying job in his trade. And not long after that he met up with a guy, who happened to be my uncle and they would hang out.  My uncle had a sister, my mom…and then rest is history.  My parents sold everything they had to move to the United States.  My dad opened a Bakery in Chicago. With the efforts of my mom they made a nice life for us.

For my dad’s funeral I had co-written the eulogy, and in it I wanted to make sure that it was said “ Richard was an interesting man, because he was interested”

He wanted to learn the English language as soon as he arrived in this country. Good with numbers he did his own accounting and book keeping. He wanted to learn about the Stock Market and take classes to invest.  He was always interested in people and learning about them and what made them who they were.  Richard may have only been a Baker, but he was proud of his accomplishments and his thirst for knowledge.  I am proud to be his daughter and sharing with me an entrepreneurial spirit.

 the streets that there was a baker looking for apprentices and would provide food and shelter for their labor.  My dad thought that sounded like the thing to do.  Never having completed his education past 6^th grade, he had little opportunities. After years of training he got a paying job in his trade. And not long after that he met up with a guy, who happened to be my uncle and they would hang out.  My uncle had a sister, my mom…and then rest is history.  My parents sold everything they had to move to the United States.  My dad opened a Bakery in Chicago. With the efforts of my mom they made a nice life for us.

For my dad’s funeral I had co-written the eulogy, and in it I wanted to make sure that it was said “ Richard was an interesting man, because he was interested”

He wanted to learn the English language as soon as he arrived in this country. Good with numbers he did his own accounting and book keeping. He wanted to learn about the Stock Market and take classes to invest.  He was always interested in people and learning about them and what made them who they were.  Richard may have only been a Baker, but he was proud of his accomplishments and his thirst for knowledge.  I am proud to be his daughter and sharing with me an entrepreneurial spirit.

ciao for now, see you at knit happens

eggs for breakfast

Have you tried this? Remember make Toad in a Hole? Well this is similar but you slice a pepper.  I happened to have a yellow pepper.  Place it in a pan with some butter.  Drop a whole egg in a there you have it.  I like a little sirracha on my eggs so that is what the red stuff is.

Yummy, and I am going to make these often.

Ciao for Now.

who said not wearing makeup was ok?  Especially for a photo shoot? :)

Oh well?  I'm secure in the woman that I am! hahahahah

Anyway....the store is named knit happens and I always say I don't crochet but I have been trying some small projects lately.  This Beanie is something I saw the Crochet Dude do on Tv so I thought I would try it out. Super simple triple crochet. I used scrap yarn I had left over from our yarn tasting.  I took the little bit extra of the colored yarn and did an crochet over stitch swirl for an extra embellishment, you know I am all over that!!

If you are interested in HOW TO let me know.

Ciao for Now

Lizzi and her groomer Kelly at the new Dog Barber II 

We like to say she is spending the morning at "the Spa"!

The new location is 157 W. Dundee in Buffalo Grove, IL.

847-342-0551

ask for Christine!

I just noticed how lady like she is with her legs crossed.

coyotes, friend or foe?

This past Tuesday morning my dog Lizzi woke me up as she always does around 7:00am and wants to go outside.  My routine is to step out of bed and open the window blinds that face the front of the building.  Mind you 7:00 am, the Sun is shining brightly and to my surprise, no to my horror, 8’ from me is a large coyote.  He must have been sleeping peacefully on the beautiful stepping stones nestled between lush green plantings.  As I opened the blinds it stood up, my mouth dropped open, it looked around prior to it prancing over onto the driveway.  It stopped again to look around, and it continued to prance down the street towards the paths and onto the back of Queens to then lay down.  At this point I told myself to breath.  I have news for you, had Lizzi and I walked out the front door and experienced this lost creature I would have woken up the whole development and the entire surrounding areas with my scream.  The poor squirrels wouldn’t stop sketching from the Crabtree as if to warn everyone around that there was a predator in our midst.  My intent in sharing the story in so much as to say, as much as we need to be considerate of our human neighbors, we need to respect our prolific wildlife neighbors sharing our community for better and for worse.  The same morning I experienced the coyote, I had to stop the car on my street to allow a Goose family to cross with 7 goslings in tow.  I thought “Come on …really?)

discontinued and lost little lambs

 A table full of yarns that just might be what you have been looking for and they are all 50% off.  New yarns being added every day! From now until the Chicago Yarn Crawl beginning August 2nd.

Ciao for Now