Thursday, January 31, 2013

Texas Beer Beans

It's Thursday Peeps....I'm just telling you because sometimes I'm not entirely sure what day it is.

 I wasn't really sure what to call these beans because the inspiration recipe actually had a specific "spirit" name in it but I don't normally have that brand in my refrigerator so I just gave them a new name.   Eh, sometimes a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do.

Did you know that it's really hard to take a good picture of a bowl of beans?
If you have any tips I'd greatly appreciate them.
Moving on, let's make some beans!

If you like to start things out with the printable well then here you go!


Take 2 cups of Canary Beans
(you can find these with the Mexican specialty foods)

Put these beans in a big pot and cover with enough water to cover by an inch.
Bring to a boil, simmer 2-3 minutes, remove from heat and let rest for 1 hour.
(or you can remember to soak your beans overnight)
After an hour, drain and rinse the beans.
Return to pot and cover with water/chicken broth to cover plus an inch.
(I used a half/half mixture on the broth and water)


You will need these other items too:
onion, garlic, jalapeño, bay leaves, 12 oz. amber beer, Chipotle chilis in adobe sauce, apple cider vinegar and cilantro.
(Coke Zero optional-for you, not the beans)



Add the onions, garlic, jalapeño and bay leaves.
Bring this to a boil, lower the heat and simmer partially covered for an hour.
Stir occasionally.
(that means every once in awhile run in the kitchen and give them a stir)


Remove the bay leaves and stir in the beer, chipotle chili's, vinegar and cilantro.
Cook for at least another hour until beans are creamy and tender.
They are beans so of course the longer you can let them cook the better they will be.

Before serving the beans I grabbed my handy dandy immersion blender and gave them a couple of quick juhzes.  (that's a word you know or it is my word).
It gives the beans a creamier texture.


Serve them up for dinner



We had us some Zesty Shredded Pork with our beans.
The pork was hanging out in the crockpot all day.


There was also some cilantro lime rice on the side.

I love these beans, the Abogg liked the beans, the Husbster.....not so much.
Which is peculiar since I've made these before and he liked them.
hmmmmmm, an odd thing around here indeed.

Here is the printable one more time



In other exciting news...Sir Winston got his cone off today.
As evidenced by the photo above, it's obvious that he's up to a bit of mischief already.
The pot on the bottom left corner is where the dirt came from, he tumped it over.

Also evident...the dog is getting a bit on the pudgy side...32.7 pounds at 16 weeks people!!!
He gained 4 pounds in a week with that crazy cone on his head.  Obviously it didn't slow down his eating.  The vet found it a bit amusing yesterday, his amusement was quickly removed when it was time to remove the drain from his tushy!  My sweet boy went all crazy nutso on that one.
Can't say as I blame him much!

Happy 16 week birthday Winston Churchill- you chubby puppy you!

What exciting things are going on at your house?  Cooking anything amazing?
Tell me, I'd love to hear and please share!



Peace, Love & Yummies!!

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Tuesday Tumblings

Hi dee ho my peeps!!
It's Tuesday and that means it is time for Tuesday Tumblings!!
Or more aptly named....Michelle's weekly phone dump  :-)

We went to the Ft Worth Stock Show this past Saturday so that's pretty much what you're getting today.  I'm letting the pictures do most of the talking.

He looks so very very soft!!!
I think he was an Angora.



One day when we buy our land and I can have chickens, I gonna have a little ferris wheel to feed the baby chicks.  It's tooo cute!!

This guy was petting the baby but what you can't see is the mama who wouldn't let him touch her but let him touch the baby.  It was kind of sweet.



Where else are you gonna see such cute piggie butts??!!!


Hey Hey it's cold out people, why the heck did you shave off my coat?



It's so humid I just can't do a thing with my hair!!


Well at least your hair doesn't look like you have Rod Stewarts 80's hairstylist!!



You know, things with big horns just creep me out.



little pig little pig...let me come in




Here come the horses, they stop for the National Anthem.
It's pretty cool to watch!


This poor little girl....she was fighting for that sandwich the whole time.


We left the barns for awhile and let these two ride a few rides on the Midway
and if you are wondering...no she NEVER looks bad in a picture.



I FINALLY got my Cowboy Burrito.  Good golly other than the cows this is why I love going to the stock show!!!   These things are so amazing!!!

Oh and where are the cow pictures you may ask?  Darn camera battery died, humpf!!



So we went to do a little shopping in the exhibit halls.
Seriously if this thing hadn't have been 5 grand I'd have bought it for her.
My mama did NOT want to leave this chair!!!
She may or may not have fallen asleep.



Since we were plum tuckered out after a long day at the Stock Show we decided to grab us some dinner on the way home.   We waited over 2 hours for a stinking table!!!  Might not have been so bad but they told us it would be an hour tops!!!   Maybe the hostesses need a lesson in how to tell time.
I bet if JR Ewing had been with us we'd have gotten a table right away!!




This is my dinner, the picture is bad but then again who cares when you are starving like Marvin and have waited 2 hours to eat!!

We also bought a new mattress at the Stock Show.
Yeah, we like to shop in very unusual places.
It was delivered last night and it is deeeevine I tell ya!!!

So what did you guys do this weekend?
Anything involving livestock?  

I'm off to figure out dinner for tonight then maybe take a shower 'cause you know it's like 10:30 and all.

Peace, Love & Livestock!!




Saturday, January 26, 2013

Cafe Escapes House Party

Good Morning Peeps

A couple of weekends ago I had the wonderful privilege of hosting another amazing House Party. This time it was for Cafe Escapes and I must say this party was super fun to decorate for and the goody bags were outstanding!!

I'm gonna tell you all about it through LOTS and LOTS of photos.  But hey you know what they say, a picture is worth a thousand words!!



I received this cute banner to hang up.  It made a nice backdrop for the party.



Yeah, look at all those free K-cups!!  Cafe Escapes & House Party outdid themselves.
(I tried them all!)



Such cute napkins.  The Cafe Escapes were part of the prize pack and the polka dots I picked up because sometimes I'm messy.

All the goody bags were lined up and waiting for the guests.
I might add...the NIGHT BEFORE PEOPLE.
I'm never that prepared, I'm lucky if I'm dressed when everyone arrives.



Each guest took home a swanky little goody bag. 
Sleep mask, vanilla lip balm, bookmark, an amazing coupon!



I received a set of mugs as host for the party but I decided to share my wealth and package those up for a cute little door prize.



There was also a pair of warm fuzzy socks that made it to the door prize list.



A bucket of plates and flatware waiting too.



We're all set up and ready for the party. 
The paper cups had either mug or socks on the bottom of three of them.
That's how the door prizes went.



One last item to do for the night, get this sign made.  People this cost me like $1.18 to have printed. 
(sorry, the frame was a clearance purchase at the Hob Lob for like $5 months ago)
Go right over to this cute site.  She has the free template to download.



There was also a cute little chalkboard mug in the party pack.



I got my kitchen chalkboard ready for the party too.



It's party day so here is the greeting at the front door.



Cocoa Bar ready!



Toppings, Toppings & more Toppings!



Keurig machine moved to the kitchen table and is ready to brew.



Oh my, look at all those choices.



Everyone got a goody bag.



Fabulous door prizes are ready.


There's nothing but happiness in a big bowl of marshmallows.



These marshmallows were mint with dark chocolate drizzle. 
They were especially good in the dark chocolate cocoa.



Peppermint snowflake pretzels to snack on.



It's not a party without m&m's.



Tiny chocolate chips.


Peppermint stick swizzle sticks, extra chocolate syrup and a few hot cocoa goldfish.



Best swizzle sticks ever....rock candy!



What goes great with chocolate? More chocolate!!!  
Brownies were made for the day.



Cookies from the party pack.



And a few shortbread cookies and oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.



The Dark Chocolate was the days favorite flavor, followed closely by vanilla and caramel.




We're making cocoa and having fun.



Quite frankly this is the sweetest photo of the day!
I mean that marshmallow is as big as he is!!



Writing down a favorite book.



party fun leftovers



A big group photo so hopefully we'll win more parties!!


And we had a few stragglers that made it a little late to the party....but they made it!



Everyone had a book choice on the board because nothing is better than a good book and a mug of warm cocoa!!

I really really loved this party!!  I cannot thank Cafe Escapes and House Party enough.
Go to the House Party website and sign up to be a host.  You can't win one if you don't try!
Some of the parties are fabulous and you can pick and choose which ones you want to try and win.
They have parties for all ages and all kinds of products!


If you are in the area, shoot me your email and I'll make sure to add you to my future party list!!

Now if you'll excuse me I'm off to my favorite event of the year....The Fort Worth Stock Show!
yeehaw cowboys!

Peace, Love & Warm Yummies!

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