Black Bean Chili

This is a light sort of chili … if you can call chili ‘light’ … let’s just say it’s more like a soup.  Anyway, the recipe was originally my sister’s, which is in the family cookbook I published; however, I’ve changed it to my style.  The difference is slight as Jackie’s recipe calls for 1 (12-oz) pkg Meatless Burger Crumbles and 2 (14.5 oz) cans Petite Diced Tomatoes with Jalapenos.

Black Bean Chili

3 (15-oz) cans Bush’s Black Beans

1 lrg Sweet Onion, chopped

1 lb Organic Ground Beef or Turkey

2 Tbsp Olive Oil

4 tsp Chili Powder

1 tsp Ground Cumin

½ tsp Pepper

¼ tsp Salt

1 (14 oz) can Chicken Broth
2 cans Rotel Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilis

Toppings:  Sour Cream, Shredded Cheddar Cheese, Lime Wedges, Sliced Jalapeno Peppers, Chopped Fresh Cilantro, Chopped Tomatoes, Corn Chips

Rinse and drain 2 cans Black Beans.  (Do not drain 3^rd can)  Saute chopped Onion and Ground Beef in hot oil over medium heat until browned (drain if necessary ~ I buy lean beef so I rarely have to drain it).  Stir in Chili Powder and next 3 ingredients; sauté 1 minute.  Stir in drained and undrained Black Beans, Chicken Broth, and Diced Tomatoes.  Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 10 minutes.  Serve Chili with desired toppings.

Not These Lemons for my Lemonade

Lemons from Costco

I got a little concerned while cutting up a lemon purchased at Costco (course we didn’t just buy ‘a’ lemon at Costco … we bought a bag of ‘em) … so I’m thinking “why are these lemons so hard to cut through?”  Sure they’re some super large lemons and they are very pretty BUT the thing is … the SKIN is so thick it’s very difficult to cut through with a very sharp knife.  There is no way you could peel it with your bare hands!!!  So then I started paying attention to other things about these lemons and ya know what?  The SEEDS are not round as found normally in citrus fruit but instead they are sort of flat … emaciated looking.  And the PULP?  Hmmmm … not very juicy … it would take a whole lot of ‘em to make a pitcher of lemonade!  You know how when you cut into citrus it squirts all over?  The more it squirts the juicier they are?  Well … these don’t squirt at all!  And then I thought … SMELL … well normally when you cut into citrus of any kind the smell is enough to fill the room with their delicious aroma … NOPE … not this lemons!!!  All these things combined made me wonder … WTH is up with these lemons?!?

Notice the seeds!

See how thick skin is?

See how much you have to cut off to even get to pulp?

So I go look at the bag they came in and there it is for all to see and somehow I didn’t (Scott didn’t) catch it … the code is #83345 … the 8 meaning … you guessed it GM (Genetically Modified).  See http://www.snopes.com/food/prepare/produce.asp for more understanding of this code system.

See the PLU Code on bag?

Now I don’t know how ya’ll feel about GM fruits and veggies BUT me …. I don’t like it at all.  I’ve done my research and gathered my information (and continue to read everything I can about it) … it’s enough to concern me that I don’t want it in my body!!!  I’m not going to list all the arguments against it … you do your own research and start educating yourself.  But basically … to me … if it ain’t natural I do not want it!  Messing with nature is frankly … unnatural!  The thought of combining the genetics of two very different plants or worse yet … the combining of animal and plant genetics is not only frightening … its sickening.

Well there goes that saying … “When Life Gives You Lemons” blah blah blah … well I don’t want that kind of lemonade!

NOTE: I only mention that I purchased these particular lemons at Costco so that ya'll who do shop Costco can be aware ... I do not mean to set any derogatory tone against Costco as we always shop there and LOVE Costco!!!

Baby Crib Refinished

My babies are all grown up but all three of them used this crib … its 27 years old!

It wasn’t my choice of crib (I love dark wood) but we didn’t have a whole lot of money and couldn’t be picky since Scott’s Grandmother offered to buy us one.

When my second baby was born, my oldest was 13½ months old 

(too young for a youth bed), so my Mama bought me a second hand (dark wood)

baby crib for him along with a matching changing table.  Yes, I had two in cribs at once!

It was actually much nicer than this crib but I decided to hold on to this one since

Scott’s Grandmother bought it … sort of for sentimental reasons.

But anyway … this was what we got.

I wish I’d thought of painting it way back when … it looks sooooo much better now. 

My Kids Crib BEFORE Refinishing

Oh and I bet you’re wondering … why did I refinish it?

Well I’m hoping our gbabies (we only have one as of now) will come visit

and I’m making a gbabies bedroom!!!!

Here’s what I did:  (1) I didn’t sand it … that would have taken forever so thank goodness for spray on Primer cause that’s what I used … it took a bunch of cans … I believe at least 6-8 cans (sorry I didn’t keep count).  (2) I spray painted it a creamy Ivory which also took about 6-8 cans.  I primed and painted with the crib put together because it had been in the attic for some almost 20 years and was very difficult to put together so we didn’t dare take it back apart!!!  (3) After priming and painting … I then sanded where there would be normal wear from use.  Now I was going to finish it up with some stain over where I sanded but it looked too fake so I decided to leave it as is.  I’m still undecided as to whether I want to leave it this way or try some coffee/tea staining to give it a little more aging but that’s an easy do later … if I decide that’s what I want. 

Crib AFTER ~ Ready for the Gbabies

Oh and I can’t forget to mention this ~ the chunk that my baby boy took out of it

while teething … its still there!

Those are the kind of things that give furniture character!!!

Crib AFTER in a little better lighting!

I think it turned out pretty great … 

Scott won’t let me purchase a mattress for it UNTIL we know a gbaby is coming to visit

 … so hopefully my Sebastian will come visit soon!

Now to refinish the boys’ old bunk beds!!