Some Like it "Hot" Some like it "Cold"

I don't know about you but I love the cold weather. A couple weeks ago here in Southern CA we were blessed with some amazing days of cold and wet weather. This is such a treat for us very spoiled CA dwellers as we have mostly sunshine and warm weather year round. I can not get enough of these cold rainy days. I have always told my husband I could live in the rain every day. 

This amazing weather prompted me to want to enjoy in some much needed hearty chili.

Of course standing in the rain for three hours selling Girl Scout cookies further fueled this fire. 

Lets take a moment to talk about these said cookie sales. As this was my first year with my daughter in Girl Scouts, I did not know what to expect, boy were we in for a ride.

It first starts off with the girls setting a goal of how many cookies they would like to sell. Of course the girls mostly base this off the prize sheet they are given. My daughter chose to try to sell 500 boxes as it would earn her a set of roller skates, her new found love. 

So we set off on our journey, personal sales plus booths.

Personal sales went great, except for one walk about, mommy and daddy helped with the majority of the sales. Now lets talk about the these booths. They are set up to teach the girls great business skills and to be independent. Yes I think they teach the kids both of these but, our booths happened to land on all the cold rainy days and nights. My daughter and I did 4 booths and by the end of that we were both over them. At the end of our last booth we were both crying lol.  We were both cold, tired and wet.  I think it taught my daughter to stick it out even when it gets tough but I was also sad for her to stand in the cold rain. My husband helped by picking up my daughter and taking her to a movie while I relaxed with friends for the rest of the evening. Then I planned a nice warm meal to heat our souls. 

In the end she sold 380 boxes total, still a great accomplishment, but not her goal.  She earned a lot of very cool prizes and mommy and daddy will be surprising her with new skates for all of her hard work. Cookie sales may have not been our strong point but I did love what it taught her. Girl Scouts is a wonderful organization teaching our girls great morals and preparing them for the future, hopefully next year we will get the rainy weather on the days we want to cuddle and watch a movie instead of selling lol. 

With all of that being said I encourage all the mothers out there to teach your girls to be independent, be strong and love themselves for their accomplishments. Even if they don't reach there "Goal" they can always set new ones and keep trying.  This is the greatest lesson my Mother taught me in life. It is amazing to have a partner walk beside you but please know how to stand on your own. 

So the next time you find yourself cold, tired and wet try cuddling up with a good movie and some hot chili. 

Hearty Chili

You will need a crock pot and a skillet for this meal. 

Serves 6-8 

Prep time is 30 mins

Cook time 3 to 6 hours depending on your preference see recipe

NOTE: My kids like spicy food if you do not want it to be so spicy please eliminate the chipotle peppers in adobe sauce. This will take the smoke flavor out but still good

Ingredients:

2lbs turkey meat

1 medium onion diced

4 cloves of garlic minced

1 28oz can of crushed tomatoes

2 14oz cans of diced tomatoes with chili's

2 15oz cans of dark kidney beans drained and rinsed 

2 15oz cans of light kidney beans drained and rinsed

1 tbs of cumin

2 tbs of chili powder 

1 tsp salt

1 7oz can green chilis

1 7oz can chipotle peppers in adobe sauce 

1 cup dark beer

1 tbs of olive oil

1 cup of cheddar cheese

1 cup sour cream

Instructions:

In a large skillet brown turkey meat with tbs of olive oil. Once browned add garlic and onion

In a crock pot add the browned turkey meat, garlic and onion.

Next add the crushed tomatoes and diced tomatoes with chilis.

Then add cumin, chili powder and salt

Mix through

Add can of green chilis and chipotle peppers in adobe sauce

Mix through

Then add the light and dark kidney beans and mix through

Last add 1 cup of your favorite dark beer and mix through.

Let cook for at least 3 hours on high or 6 hours on low. 

Top with cheddar cheese and sour cream or any of your favorite chili toppings and dig in. 

Super-Epic-Friendamily Time

            For as long as I can remember Football has been a part of my life. There are three events that stick in my mind the most.

I remember as a young child watching football games with my Father and my Uncle Mark. Sitting around the TV as my dad rooted for the Miami Dolphins and my uncle for the Seattle Seahawks. My uncle enjoyed them so much that he had notebooks upon notebooks full of stats and information. They would scream, whoop and sometimes cry for their teams. Most of all I remember we were always enjoying it together.

Then as a teenager I remember attending Friday night football games to watch my cousins play on the Serrano Diamond Backs.  It brought the whole community together to root for their team. We would cuddle under blankets to keep warm and my aunt would be screaming for her boys while she filmed the game from the back of the stands. This is probably my favorite memory.

My husband brought me to love the San Diego Chargers in 2003. Every weekend we would get together with his family to cheer on our Chargers. Although they mostly lost they had a lot of cute players :). After I got pregnant in 2006 these Sundays gave me a great excuse to take a nap during the game :).  I will always remember the excitement of just coming together and enjoying each other’s company.

This year I threw my own football party for the Super Bowl. I rooted for the Seahawks in honor of my late uncle. It did not matter that they lost the game at the very end due to a bad call by the coach. The kids and I enjoyed the Katie Perry half time show and the commercials, like always were epic. It was all enjoyed with our best friends that we consider family. It also gave me a reason to come up with a new game day recipe.

I hope that whether it is football or something else; you make it a point or a tradition to gather those closest to you. Remember that having each other and creating memories is important, not just for you but for your kids too.

Remember to hold those dearest to your heart close, no one really knows what tomorrow will bring, but for today you can make memories and EAT GREAT FOOD!

“The next best thing to being wise oneself is to live in a circle of those who are.”  - C.S. Lewis

Chicken Cordon Bleu Panini's with Garlic Basil Carrot Fries

Carrot Fries: 10min prep 25min cooking time

Panini's: 25min prep 10min cooking time

Makes about 6-8 servings

Ingredients:

Carrot Fries:

2-3 small bags of carrots depending on how many you are serving (or want as leftovers, seriously these are addicting)

4 cloves of garlic minced

1/4 cup of olive oil

1/2 tsp of sea salt

1/4 tsp of pepper

1/2 tsp of dried basil

hand full of fresh basil julienned 

Dipping sauce for fries:

1 cup sour cream

1/2 lemon zest and its juice

1/4 tsp sea salt

Chicken Cordon Bleu Panini

1 1/2 tsp McCormicks sweet basil and oregano season packet

1 cup shredded mozzarella

12-15 slices of swiss cheese

1 roasted chicken breast (follow instructions below) or buy one at the store

Jennie O Turkey ham, sliced thin about 12 slices, or you can buy pre-sliced

Bacon bits of your choice

1/2 cup sliced scallions

1 cup Pre-made Alfredo sauce, I used Classico brand

Sliced sour dough bread

Olive oil for spreading on bread

Instructions:

Preheat Oven to 425

If you are roasting your own chicken breast, place on a foil lined cookie sheet, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with some of the McCormicks sweet basil and oregano seasoning and place in oven at same time as carrots, cook until internal temp reaches 165.

Wash carrots but leave skin on, this is where most of the nutrients are. Then cut in half and make finger size cuts. See pic below

Mince Garlic

Julienne Basil

In a separate bowl combine olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic and dried basil. 

Add carrots and toss until evenly coated

Lay out on a foil lined cookie sheet and cook in oven for 25mins or until desired doneness is reached. I prefer mine to still have a bit of a crunch, easier for dipping. Pull out of oven and sprinkle fresh basil over the top and set aside. 

While carrots are roasting you can prepare ingredients for the panini's

Slice Jennie O Turkey Ham thin.

Then place on a foil lined cookie sheet and place in oven still at 425 and cook for 10min

After chicken is done roasting, or with your store bought one; slice thin and set aside

Next in a mixing bowl add the Alfredo sauce and McCormick seasoning till blended.

Lay sour dough bread on a foil lined cookie sheet, brush one side of each with olive oil then turn over.

You can then begin assembling

Spread Alfredo sauce on each slice of bread

Lay down a layer of cooked ham then a layer of mozzarella cheese

Next add a layer of sliced chicken

Then add slices of swiss cheese until all chicken is covered

Sprinkle bacon bits and scallions over the top

Top with another slice of sough dough that has already been spread with the Alfredo sauce

Repeat until all sandwiches are assembled

There are several ways you can achieve a panini. I actually grilled mine on my bbq by spraying with non stick spray and after placing on bbq I used a metal spatula to press down to create the pressed panini. Cooking on the grill your flame should be very low and it will take about 5mins per side to allow for the cheese to melt. Closing the cover of your bbq will help the cheese melt as well. You could also use cookie sheet you assembled on and place in the oven on broil opening after 5mins to press down on sandwich. Now if you have a panini press well then more power to you. 

After sandwiches are cooked I let rest for 5mins before cutting, during this time you can whip up the dipping sauce for the carrots.

In a bowl combine sour cream, the zest and juice of 1/2 lemon and add salt.

Slice sandwiches and serve!