Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Illinois

Mikey and I flew in to Illinois on Monday, probably the easiest traveling experience I have EVER had. No line for the ticketing counter, the ticketing lady gave us better seats, quick line through security, friendly folk smiling and enjoying themselves, and our flights were seamless. Also, O'Hare was surprisingly easy. I could not believe that! O'Hare, really?!

Now we're in Illinois enjoying wearing our pajamas until 3PM or even later. I didn't pack pajamas because I have a whole closet full of Iowa apparel to reacquaint myself with. And I am.

I've started making small dents on the desserts and have taught my parents a new card game Mikey and I love. They're hooked!!

So why am I posting? It's actually the only thing not cool about Illinois right now. The weather! It's RAINING!?!?! Raining is the worst because I could be enjoying rain from my own apartment. I came to the midwest for the big show! The snow, the snowmen, the snowballs... etc. Not for the rain!

Ugh!

So Illinois, if you're listening, please PLEASE please drop your temperatures and give me some snow! See, I promised my husband a wonderland for Christmas and you're coming up short. Please give us some snow to enjoy for Christmas.
Love,
Me!

Wednesday, December 09, 2009

Skippy Dippy Dango

Oh me, oh my! What is this delicious looking dish?
Last night I digged into my family/friends recipe book that I received for a wedding gift and found this little nugget of a menu item.
Two Bean Tamale Pie
try saying that five times fast!
Two Bean Tamale Pie two bean tamale pie, two bean mamaleee... oh grrr!
As I was saying... Two Bean Tamale Pie hails from the kitchen of cooking extraordinare Mrs Jonah Schupbach, as they'd say in the 50's or Becca Schupbach (my sister-in-law although more like a SFR)... anyway!

This pie changed my life. It's the unique blend of salty and sweet with a hint of hot!! I'm in love!
Here's the recipe; I added tabasco sauce at the end and nixed the sour cream
Eat! Enjoy! And just trrrry not devouring it in one sitting! Seriously yummy!


1 C chopped green sweet pepper (1 large)
1/2 C chopped onion (1 medium)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 T cooking oil
1 15oz. can pinto beans, rinsed, drained and slightly mashed
1 15oz. can kidney beans, rinsed, drained and slightly mashed
1 6oz. can (or 2/3cup) vegetable juice (Becca uses low sodium)
1 4oz can diced green peppers, undrained
1 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1 8 1/2oz. package corn muffin mix (I used jiffy)
1/2C shredded cheddar cheese (2 ounces)
1/4C snipped fresh cilantro or parsley

**Grease a 2-quart square baking dish or 10-inch quiche dish; set aside. Preheat oven 400 degrees. In a medium skillet cook sweet pepper, onion and garlic in hot oil until tender. Stir in kidney beans, pinto beans, vegetable juice, chile peppers, chili powder and cumin; heat through. Spoon bean mixture into prepared dish. Prepare corn muffin mix according to package directions; add cheese and cilantro, stirring just until combined. Spoon cornbread mixture evenly over the top of the bean mixture. Bake, uncovered, about 25 minutes or until golden. Serve with salsa, sour cream or if you are me, tabasco!**
Eat! Enjoy! And know that if you were to die, you'd have a smile on your face....
well, let's be real. This isn't a fulfillment of anything but satisfying your hunger. I may have embellished how good this pie is by saying that.....

oh it's so yummy....
i just might have to sneak in the kitchen for my tasty leftovers...
ohhhh soooo delic!

Tuesday, December 01, 2009

some days

Some days I am on top of the world. I am singing out loud and the world is my audience. The audience always loves me, always cheers me on, and always asks for an encore *which I am always happy to give*!
Some days the sky is richly blue, the leaves are deep green and the sun is warm in its colors and its rays. My laughter penetrates the air and tumbles out from the depths of my belly. I am full of life and life has so much to offer me.
Some days, though, I am shaken by something I cannot express or understand. The sky is still blue, the leaves still green and the sun is warm, yet, I cannot see or feel both. My head is down and my shoulders are heavy with a burden too large to carry.
Most days I am quick to give my burden to the Lord but its lingering affects chill my heart. A child with cancer, the death of a loved one, sickness, poverty, homelessness, loneliness, isolation, despair, fears, and unresolved issues between people...
Most days, I do not carry the burden and yet, I am not able to shake the reality of its continued existence off of me.
Some days are better than others. I am richly blessed and I feel it with joy.
Some days are different than others. I am deeply loved yet I am aware that others are not so loved obviously.
Some days I am convicted and it saddens my heart to see people.
Some days I am oblivious to the world and all around me, I am aware of myself only.

Every day I pray that God would open the eyes of my heart, to be filled with compassion, to realize that I cannot fix everyone but I can love everyone.
Every day I can make a difference if only I would...