Smokey Beef Chilli with Black Beans

Cooking Up The Pantry

This is my all time favourite chilli dish, it can be made ahead of time at each stage, freezes well and feeds a crowd!

It is also surprisingly quick to make up before it goes in the oven for a long slow cook. I don’t brown the meat and instead leave the meat in the onion, garlic and spices overnight before throwing in the tomatoes and water, bringing it up to the boil and popping it in the oven.

I buy jarred peeled capsicums, lazy I know, I just check for seeds and then dice them, much easier than peeling fresh and saves time too!

I like my chilli quite thick so I often cook it uncovered for 90mins for the final stage but 60mins gives you a bit more liquid if that’s how you like it.

I serve it with rice, sour cream and a simple non spiced guacamole…

View original post 260 more words

Sticky Chicken Wings with Whole Grain Mustard and lots of Garlic.

Cooking Up The Pantry

Chicken wings are massively popular in our house with my boys and their friends!

Ingredients

12 large chicken wings, tips removed

250mls tomato ketchup

4 teaspoons whole grain mustard

4 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, gluten free

5 clove garlic, crushed

1 tablespoon salt

Method

Combine all of the ingredients in a large plastic bag and marinade for 4-24 hours.

Preheat the oven to 200degrees Centigrade or the barbecue to medium high.

Place the chicken on a baking sheet for the oven or directly on the plate of the barbecue until cooked. Around 40-50mins in the oven and a little quicker on the barbecue.

View original post

Calling Uncle Bob

http://dailypost.wordpress.com

Have you ever faced a difficult situation when you had to choose between sorting it out yourself, or asking someone else for an easy fix? What did you choose — and would you make the same choice today?

I am not one who usually talks about issues I am having in a personal way. I really don’t want others to worry about me or to feel pity towards me. I do have a close friend that I can whine to and cry and jump for joy with. I also have my daughter that I turn to but only as last resort. I just don’t want to cause worry.

I will dig into places and try new ideas to make things work for me when I am in a pickle. If I can’t figure it out or I end up spending more time watching TV than sleeping; this is when I end up reaching out to others.

When I decided to move to Kentucky from Indiana it was a real tough decision. I have two sons and their families. Along with knowing how to get around everywhere helps, which stores have what. I guess a lot of familiarity goes into our living in the same area for some time.

There were the issues of walking a way from my home. I didn’t mind leaving the snow, this is for sure. Making this decision was nerve-wracking, so many questions with no real answers. I finally had to write it down on paper, the pros and cons.

My friend didn’t want me to leave and my daughter wouldn’t really come out and say what she felt so that I would make my own decision and not blame her some time later. My car drives terrible in the winter snows since it is rear wheel drive.

My stability is not good with my Parkinson’s disease either. I was afraid of what the future held for me. I wanted to make the final choice before I got to the point I couldn’t get around that well.

I am glad in the end that I did leave. I got away from the frigid temperatures. I left the long-term ice behind. I still get to go home and see my family. I now live in a small area but I learned my way pretty good for where I need to go. Of course there are lots of roads I don’t know where they lead to, but hey, time is on my side with exploring.

Since I have been here I am much more unsteady on my feet. I have some tremors, and I have more days where I don’t feel that good anymore. I worry about things, but I did that back home too.

It was a tough decision but I believe that I did what was best as far as my health goes and the tough winters back home. As long as I can see my kids I am good, and glad that hard choice was made. My way of making this decision? Walk in faith and follow my gut feelings.

QUOTES

QUOTES.

Can You Identify This Spider?

I guess since I live more south and it doesn’t get that cold; insects still thrive. I went to the store today and on the way out to the car, I started to reach for the door handle to open and put my sacks in, when I saw this.

I am glad I saw it as it was so near the door handle I may have been bitten. I jumped back and up in the air. I guess this means I am scared of spiders? You bet ya, I sure am.

In fact, I don’t care much for any insects. Even ants are not welcome in my home. After I came to my senses I  hurried and took a photo of him. Here is what scared me.

Anyone know anything about him?