Diaries of a Determined Cook!

After the birth of my daughter, 12 years ago, I was completely turned off to meat. You see, I was a woman who liked my beef with a side of beef so this was very strange. I ate vegetarian for about 6 months and shed almost all 60 pounds I had gained. I felt great, my skin looked incredible, but after a while I missed, and my family, meat. And trust me, they complained about it!

My husband was never too thrilled with some of the recipes I made during my veggie days, however, here we are over a decade later and he's asking for some of those 'meatless meals'. That's what he announces, "Mom's making a meatless meal! RUN!" LOL At least they all know I'm only trying to make them healthier, not kill them--I attempt that with other meals I make and burn. Heeheehee.

Here's a healthy spicy slowcooker favorite that even my vegetarian friend Sera Rivers loves.


SOUTHWEST BEAN STEW
Prep: 20 min
Cook: 4 1/2 or 8 1/2 hr
Makes 4 servings
 
1 15oz can red kidney beans
1 15oz can black beans
1 14 1/2oz can Mexican style stewed tomatoes, undrained and cut up (I can never find these at our grocery stores so I use spicy diced tomatoes with chiles)

1 14oz can vegetable or chicken broth (I prefer the vegetable because I like the taste)

1 10oz pkg. frozen whole kernel corn

2 medium carrots, thinly sliced

1 large onion, chopped

1/2 cup water

1 4oz can diced green chile peppers, undrained 

2-3 tsp. chili powder

1 tsp. bottled mince garlic (Forgot this last time and it made all the difference!)

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup yellow cornmeal 

1 tsp. baking powder

1 egg white

2 Tbsp. milk

1 Tbsp. cooking oil

1) rinse and drain kidney and black beans. In slow cooker, combine beans, tomatoes, broth, corn, carrots, onion, the water, chile peppers, chili powder, and garlic.

2) Cover an cook on low-heat setting for 8-10 hours or on high-heat setting for 4-5 hours.

3) for dumplings: In medium bowl, combine flour, cornmeal, baking powder, dash salt, and dash ground black pepper. In small bowl, combine egg white, milk, and oil. Add egg white mixture to flour mixture; stir just until combined. (Truthfully, I don't do this. I've screwed up dumplings enough in my years of trying to learn how to cook that it's not worth the frustration and bad mood it puts me in)

4) If using low-heat setting, turn to high-heat setting. Drop dumpling dough from rounded teaspoon it eight mounds on top of stew. Cover and cook for 30 minutes more (do not lift lid while dumplings cook). 

To accompany the stew, serve a purchased dip with fresh veggies, pineapple slices, and cookies.

Hope your all enjoy this and have a Sparkling Day!
Rebecca Rose 

Talkin Tuesday Ramblings!

Aaggggg! *pulling hair out* "I love my children, I love their friends" I repeat this to myself because it's true and I don't want to lose track of the fact most children don't want to spend time with their parents (let alone talk to them). Not our cretins. "Hey mom, can we go for a hike" "Hey, can we go to the mall...Game Stop...Doug's house...Amber's house...ice skating, ect?"

Mark and Leah the pre-teen. :)

I'm looking around my home (and its only Tuesday of Winter Vacation) and I see the future. In four month my 16 yr old, 12 yr old, 8 yr old, will be on summer vacation. There will be dishes in the sink, dirt on the floor, shoes and clothes spewed everywhere, extra kids running around and NOISE. How can anyone get work done in this environment? Have I mentioned attitude yet? LOL "Mom, why do you always have to work?"  Well, my dear sweet children, because I keep getting interrupted so a half-an-hour of work has turned into 3 hours. Of course, I'd never say that. I want them to come to me when they need/want something. It keeps the communication open. Why else would our 16 yr year old son, Isaac, want to 'just hang out' with us? Personally, I don't think Mark and I are that cool nor fun. After 18 yrs of marriage, you tend to lean more toward the couch or bed then the party going on at a friends house. Sleep is a beautiful thing! But, back to the cretins and vacation...

Jack, the child my mom wished on me

Yesterday I came to the reality that I shouldn't push myself and be disappointed when I only get half to nothing done when they are home. For the most part, I can tell them that I need an hour of alone time so I can get a few things done and not kill them. For the most part this works. But, I've also learned to be careful with what I say.

EXAMPLE: I was finishing up edits on my last novel. The kids were restless because I'd been putting in long days. As with most families, the youngest tends to be the guinea pig and the most clueless to what's going on. I told the fighting, screaming, complaining children, they needed to give me an hour or I was taking out the duct tape. When they continued to let me know how unfair life is, (the two older ones) I said, "Go dig a ditch or something. I really don't care!"
They left quietly, which should have been an indication that something was up. An hour later, the two older ones come bounding and laughing down the stairs and into my office.
 "Mom! Come look at what we did!"
I looked at the dirt smeared on their faces and clothes with a questioning brow. "Do I want to know?"
They grabbed me by the hand and pulled.
"Where's your little brother?"
"Don't worry," Isaac announced. "he's okay."
YIKES!
I followed them out to where the tire swing hangs from the old maple tree. The day was beautifully clear and made me wish to be out there with them...especially after I heard Jack.
"Hi, Mom!"
Down in the 5 foot hole stood our youngest waving and completely happy to be apart of something his older siblings where doing.
I began to laugh uncontrollably. What else could I do? After all, they'd done exactly what I told them, which they reminded me of when I said, "A 5 foot hole under a swing really isn't the smartest place to it." They proceeded to compare it to the video came Pit Fall (Yes, they know that ancient game). I reminded them that playing the game doesn't include broken legs when the man falls. LOL
I laid on my belly and pulled Jack out. He was so happy and filthy.

*Over the next few months, this hole was filled in and re-dug numerous times.

Isaac telling a story at Ben's Christmas party

So, the lesson I learned on that school vacation...Never, ever, no matter what, tell your cretins to do anything that you really don't want done!

I guess in the grand scheme of things I really can't complain too much. They're great kids who do find things to occupy themselves. I'm just missing my quiet time.

Have a Sparkling Day!
Rebecca Rose