Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Greetings!

Good morning from a very wet Ellis Co. We have had so much glorious rain - it's standing everywhere and people's tanks are filling back up. Wonderful!!!! I hope all of Texas is benefiting from this very slow moving rain that is just saturating the ground.

Today is Muffin's birthday. Yes, one half of the Hump Brothers team turned two today. He was spoiled this morning with dedicated belly rubs and lots of kisses :) His daddy let him dig in the mud last night and that was sort of an early birthday present. We love you Waylon!!!! Our lives are so much more joyful with you in it!

Chipotle powder. I did not get on the Chipotle bandwagon when it became real popular a few years back. Remember restaurants were making chipotle everything. I'm around it so much now and I really love the aroma and flavor of it. I've been wanting to use some at home and hadn't had a good opportunity until last night. We had steak for dinner last night and I topped it with a Chipotle Lime Butter. It was pretty damn good! It would also be great on corn, too. Below is the recipe for Mild Bill's Chipotle Lime Butter

4 Tbsp Softened Butter (I used salted)
1/4 tsp Mild Bill's Chipotle Powder (I used a HEAPING 1/4 teaspoon)
Juice of one Lime

Mix the above ingredients together and keep chilled until ready to use. Top steaks, corn, fish or chicken with a dollop of Chipotle Lime Butter and serve :)

I'm also obsessed with Smoked Spanish Paprika right now. I could just sniff that stuff all day - as opposed to the Green Jalapeno Powder that sets my nasal and sinus passages on fire. That shit is HOT!!!!!! Do not "eff" with the green jalapeno powder. It will "eff" you up!!!!!

I had a really good conversation recently with a chili cook asking about the differences in color and flavor in New Mexico Mild Chili Powder. He mentioned that sometimes it's a brighter red, while other times it seems to be darker. I wanted to take this time to have a little "Chili Pepper 101" for anyone who's ever wondered the same thing.

Ground Chili Pepper Powders labeled as "New Mexico" or "California" are not specific peppers ground and used to make those chili powders. The chili peppers used to make up those ground chili powders are generic, hybrid chili peppers grown in the flavor, heat and appearance model of peppers that do grow in both of those states. Many times peppers grown in New Mexico will be used for California Mild (or Hot) chili powder and vice versa. Thus the inconsistency between batches. The peppers used in both of these chili powders are the peppers that have survived the crop and best reflect a New Mexico or California chili pepper profile. So, what does all of that mean? Well, it means that you are always going to get a ground chili pepper powder that fits the flavor and aroma "style" of New Mexico or California chili powder, but it's always going to be a little bit different each time. The only way to get a consistent ground chili pepper powder is to use a ground chili pepper powder that is grown and processed in a specific region - think Chimayo and Hatch. And Dixon....aaahhh...delicious Dixon :) Chimayo, Hatch, Dixon, Santa Cruz, De Arbol, and Santa Fe are specific chili peppers grown in their respective regions each year. There is little change from batch to batch. I can personally attest to the consistency of these ground chili pepper powders - there is rarely any discernible difference between batches. You always know what you are getting every time you use it. Now, do not take what I've said as a diss towards New Mexico or California Chili Pepper Powders. I happen to love California Mild - it has a nice medium grind and a very mild, pleasant taste. It's not overpowering and I think it really adds great flavor to chili. I have always preferred New Mexico Hot to New Mexico Mild. It seems to have a finer grind and I like to cook with heat....which explains my love for Dixon :)

Have a great day everyone - enjoy this rain!

Kelly

Monday, January 23, 2012

Cadillac Cowgirl Chicken Pot Pie




It was as good as it looked!!!

CC Chicken Pot Pie

1 Rotisserie Chicken, shredded
2 9 inch Pie Crusts (I used the Pillsbury brand that come two to a box)
1/3 Cup plus 2 Tbsp Butter, divided
1 Cup Frozen Peas
1 Cup Baby Carrots, diced
2 Cups Diced Potatoes (I cheated and used the frozen cubed potatoes - with the french fries and hashbrowns in the freezer section)
1 Cup Onion, diced
1 8 oz Package Sliced Mushrooms
1 1/3 Cup Milk
1 1/3 Cup Chicken Broth
1/3 Cup Flour
2 tsp Mild Bill's Cajun Seasoning
1/8 tsp Kosher Salt
1/8 tsp Telicherry Pepper

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a well greased 10 inch cast iron skillet (or comparable sized casserole dish - like an 8x8 or 9x9), lay the bottom pie crust and push it up the sides as far as it will go without breaking apart; set aside. In a large saucepan, melt the 1/3 cup of butter and add the flour to it. Whisk it for about a minute or until it's completely mixed together; add the milk and chicken broth and continue to whisk over medium heat until it has thickened up - about 5-6 minutes. Add the Cajun seasoning, salt and pepper and set aside. Using a large skillet, add the 2 tbsp of butter and saute the onions and mushrooms for about 5 minutes. Then add the chicken, carrots, peas, potatoes and cream mixture. Stir to combine and allow it to heat through for a few minutes. Remove the mixture from the heat and spoon it into the dish with the pie crust. Spread it evenly and then lay the remaining pie crust over the top. You can brush the top with melted butter or an egg wash to help it brown on top. Cut slits in the top to allow steam to escape. Bake uncovered for an hour. Remove it from the oven and allow it to cool for a few minutes before cutting. Serve to your happy family and enjoy!!

Keepin it real in Ellis County one clean pair of panties at a time.....

K

Friday, January 20, 2012

Clean Underwear is a Relative Term......

As soon as we got home last night, I put Paige in the shower. I forgot to ask her if she put on clean undies after she got out, so I asked her this morning......

Me: Paige, do you have on clean underwear?
Paige: Yes, I put them on after my shower last night.
Me: Yes, but were they clean when you put them on.
Paige: Yes. They were clean when I put them on after I got out of the shower Wednesday.
Me: Paige - you can't wear the same panties over and over. You have to put clean ones on after you've taken a bath or shower.
Paige: But I was clean when I put them on. And they were clean when I put them on. So how are they not clean panties?
Me: Oh Paige....you have to change your undies every day. Each time we take a shower, we put on a clean set of panties. Not the same pair from the day before.
Paige: This is why I like to take a break from wearing them. I get really confused.

And there ya have it.

Hey - they were clean when she put them on two days ago, people.

Keepin it real in Ellis County.....

Kelly

Thursday, January 19, 2012

I'm So Ashamed......

I love that line. SJP says it towards the end of "The Family Stone", when she fesses up about spending the night with Luke Wilson's character. She says it in such a Carrie Bradshaw way...I just love it. I am an unabashed SATC fan. I love it. I love how it impacted my life 14 years ago and the way it still makes me smile and laugh and cry 14 years later....even when I've seen every episode at least 50 times. You cannot fake chemistry and the spark between SJP and Chris Noth was so real...they just worked...

Did I mention that I'm a really big SATC/SJP homer?

But that's not why I quoted that line. Can you people believe I have left my holiday background on my blog and it's almost February? Jesus....how embarrassing. I'm going to change it as soon as I finish this post.

Cadillac Cowgirl Jalapeno Chicken Enchiladas....because necessity is the mother of all invention. Courtney and I (prior to the Saints loss last Saturday and prior to the ass kicking those people gave to the GB Packers) were trying to figure out what we wanted for dinner. We originally wanted sushi, but couldn't commit, so we decided on enchiladas. The cool thing - I had all of the ingredients in my house! I didn't have any corn tortillas, but I had a package of flour and said to hell with it. They turned out delicious - make them! Soon!!

3-4 Chicken breasts, cooked and chopped
3 Tbsp butter
1 8 oz package of cream cheese, softened
1 onion, chopped
3 Tbsp Mild Bill's Jalapeno Relish
2 tsp Mild Bill's Cumin
12 flour tortillas
Hatch Green Chile Enchilada Sauce
2 cups grated cheese, divided

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large skillet, melt the butter and add the chopped onion. Saute over medium low heat until tender. Add the softened cream cheese, chicken, jalapeno relish and cumin; reduce heat to low and stir to combine. Heat through until cream cheese is melted. Fill each flour tortilla with the chicken mixture and a tablespoon or so of grated cheese. Roll up and move on to the next one. (I'm assuming everyone reading sorta kinda knows how to roll enchiladas???) Continue until all of the flour tortillas have been filled and rolled. Pour the green chile sauce over the enchiladas, top with the remaining cheese and bake uncovered for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve with rice and beans. Delicioso!!

I had another recipe to share, but I cannot remember what it was!!! Isn't that sad? My poor memory...it just isn't what it was before I fell and hit my head...on concrete....in the pouring rain....just in time for an old couple to narrowly miss running over me in their car in an attempt to get to all you can eat catfish at Acapulco's that evening. And then later, when Gary and Paige came to the hospital and Paige was dressed in her boots and cowgirl hat...and in jeans that were too short for her boots. It's those classic moments that I remember - yet I can't remember what I made for dinner last week. I suck.

Oh US Postal Service, why do you forsake me? Why do you say things like:

"It's not my job to take your mail."

Why do you tell me:

"We're doing you a favor by picking up your mail."

And my personal favorite:

"You've already brought a ton of boxes today. Why do you keep bringing all of this mail?"

If it weren't for my KICKASS Postmaster, I'd have gone batshit crazy on the post office by now. I sorta did on Tuesday when the postal worker got visibly irritated at my desire to use the services of the only monopoly in the US with the (dubious) honor of going bankrupt. I stole that from Jeannie. The nerve of me to bring all but a handful of packages to the USPS. Don't I know what an inconvenience it is for me to utilize a branch of our government/civil service that my tax dollars pay for? What was I thinking wanting to support my local post office, fellow Ennis citizens and economy by sending mail through that post office. WHAT a MORON!!! I should be tarred and feathered for such insane actions.

Are you kidding me??? Seriously!!!

The only time I use UPS is if I have shipments over 20 lbs - the post office is WAY expensive. Or for the occasional overnight delivery. (see previous assertion). No joke - I send 99.999% of my shipments through the US Post Office. It just boggles my mind that a postal employee (who is part of a union, mind you - that was brought up twice when she was telling me what a pain I was) would get pissed at me for bringing my mail!!!

Again, I am SO APPRECIATIVE of my fantabulous postmaster. He comes to pick up my mail and is working his butt off to change the culture of the post office in the city in which I live and work. I wish him all the luck in the world. I don't know if he knows what he's up against. I mean, this is the post office that returned my mail to the Ellis Co. Appraisal District with the note "no such address" placed on it.

Yes people, my post office told the appraisal district that my address did not exist. The same post office that VERIFIED to the appraisal district that it was a valid address. The SAME post office that VERIFIED to the county sheriff and EMS for 911 purposes that this was, in fact, a valid address. The same post office that had to verify my address to the lender prior to funding my mortgage two years ago!!!!!

Yes...that post office. I am going to say extra prayers for my postmaster. He's going to need them.

Paige has a new guinea pig. Her name is Lollipop. She is not in the same cage as Gilbert, but they have met and gotten "acquainted" for lack of a better term. Their second meeting went something like this:

Paige: And I turned back around Mommy and Gilbert was on her making noises that no one in the world has ever heard before!!

Me: Did you get him off of her?

Paige: Yes, but he was grunting really loud when I did it. I don't think he was very happy about it.

And then there is the Eddie factor. He can smell a female and he's out of control. He hasn't slept in three days - neither have we. He's kept us up every night trying to break into Zoe's room and "lurv" Lollipop. We are so redneck. We could be the first people with a Guinea Weenie hybrid......

Time for me to go to bed...I've got a big day tomorrow. I'm taking lunch and a special dessert to my Juicy of Love and Deliciousness at school :)

Keep it spicy!!

Spreading my own special brand of joy, kindness and the unmistakable aroma of cumin....

K

Friday, January 13, 2012

I Need to Blog I Need to Blog I Need to Blog I Need to Blog

And yet again, here I am...telling all of you that I SUCK!!! I'm just so busy....and, I can't really go off anymore....so I sometimes wonder what to say!!!! I do have some recipes I need to post. And I have lots of conversations with Paige to share as well. My most recent favorite:

Me: (telling Tyler) Mirror mirror on the wall I am my daddy after all. (I like to say that to him when he's acting just. like. Gary.)
Paige: Mommy, I have a version that I like to say. Want to hear it?
Me: Why of course....
Paige: Mirror mirror on the wall there's another daddy after all!!!
Me: PAIGE!!!!! That's not true. You cannot say that. Your daddy is your daddy. There is not another daddy in the picture. Jesus Christ!!!!
Paige: I know. I just think it's funny......

Oh My God....where does she come up with this shit??????????????

Mild Bill's had a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony with the Ennis Chamber of Commerce last night. It was very nice and well attended by the Chamber members. Gary and I are super appreciative of all the support we've received since taking over Mild Bill's. To say that I love what I do now is a huge understatement. I'm loving this new adventure and am so blessed to be able to love what I do. It sure beats the hell out of you know where....

Which I had to visit last week. And, guess what? As soon as I got to Singleton and Loop 12, the chest pains started. Once I'd been in that office for 3 minutes, the headache, shortness of breath and racing pulse started, too. Let's just remember (for those that randomly read my blog and have a short memory) I endured all of that for 4 years and never shied away from running that business. I went to that office every day, good or bad, money or no money and I did what I had to do so that T&B continued to operate. There. I said my peace. For now....

Good luck to those of you cooking chili tomorrow. We are going to Terlingua at the end of the month. Blu Daniels - call me!!! Then we're going to hit Minden and take a few weeks off before our Waxahachie CCO. My need to nest these days is overwhelming....much more so than the need to cook chili.

Have a spicy weekend everyone....and remember to spread your own special brand of joy and kindness in all that you do.....

Keepin it real,

The Cadillac Cowgirl

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

New Years Resolutions: 0 Kelly: 1

I'm not counting being 5 minutes late to my hair appointment, or late to meet my sister, because those things happened December 31st :)! Nor am I going to count being on time to dinner reservations on that same day! It was just practice for the new year! We were on time for our movie yesterday. We were on time for school this morning.

We were hauling ass in the Expedition on both occasions.......

I still haven't gotten the knack of planning well and planning ahead. I've got my umpteenth planner and this evening I made notes in it. I've got to get my desk in order at the store. It is such a nightmare!! I wish I could wave a magic wand and clean it in mere seconds!

I made cabbage New Years Day. I used a ham steak instead of bacon and I liked it better. I also used Mild Bill's Jalapeno Relish. Delicious!!

Cadillac Cowgirl Spicy Cabbage

1 Bone in Ham Steak
2 Small/Medium Heads Cabbage, cored and quartered
1 Yellow Onion, chopped
1 Red Onion, chopped
1 Heaping Tablespoon Mild Bill's Jalapeno Relish
2 Tablespoons Butter
1 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
1 Teaspoon Telicherry Pepper

In a large covered skillet or dutch oven, melt the butter. Once melted, add the chopped onions. Saute over medium heat. Once the onion starts to turn translucent, add the ham steak. Allow it to cook for about five minutes and start adding the cabbage until the skillet or dutch oven is full; cover and allow to cook over medium heat so that the cabbage will wilt. After about 10 minutes the cabbage will have wilted - add the remaining cabbage, jalapeno relish and salt and pepper. Stir the cabbage so that it all becomes coated with the melted butter, ham juices, relish and salt and pepper. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until cabbage is heated through and tender. Adjust for seasonings if necessary. You can serve it without the ham or you can remove the ham, shred it and return it to the cabbage and serve it all together. Enjoy on New Years Day with black eyed peas or any time of the year for a little extra luck!

I better go to bed...I'm worn out! Early morning for me....we are NOT going to be rushing around tomorrow morning!!!

Spreading kindness, joy and the unmistakable aroma of cumin.....

Kelly