Wednesday, July 16, 2014

It's a Walk!

Glass half full or half empty?  Long woods walk or short road walk?  The glass is half full and I'll take the short road walk for starters.  Today is the 3rd road walk which is about 320 yards round trip.  It is tough on rough ground so I'm sticking to smooth surface.  Twelve weeks ago I thought I would be running, jumping and skipping on this date.  Reality hit when the  doctors, PA's and PT explained the extent of damage to soft tissue, ligaments and tendons.  This is a challenge considering I thought once the bones were healed I was good to go.  Every step I take I am saying, relax, heal, toe and let the toes roll.  This is key to getting my gate back.  Plus giving in to the hurt and changing the gate could do harm to the knee and hip, that is not good.  I'm doing
good managing the pain which was little to none until I started walking and exercising.  Motrin 3 times a day and ice is a must. After exercises my movement is "almost" perfect ;)  so doing them is a joy time!  I still hope to walk to the head of Kirk's beautiful valley September 1st.  I guess for once it pays to have the "Gross" stubbornness flowing through my veins.

Ok done with the whining without the wine!  I need to get busy and plan some supper.  First I have the smoked Hatch Chiles left from yesterdays salsa.  What to do?Yes, I already know.  I'm making Green Chile stew for my neighbor boys.  Dick and I can't eat it as hot as I will make it for them.  They like it hot!  We will have left over split pea and ham soup I made Monday.  What I have to decide on is corn bread or homemade dinner rolls?  The day is certainly cool enough for the oven to be on, maybe both.  Left overs are always good to have.  They give another day of free food and free time to do something else.  The recipes and pictures will be at the bottom of the page

Today we woke up to a surprise, the sun was out.  Seems like a long time but forecast is rain moving in by 3:30 pm.  I did get the lawn mowed but had to mow around the little ponds.  I don't think I have ever seen the lawn pool water this bad.

Here's supper!  I have posted the cornbread recipe before but since it is so good, fail safe and easy to make I just have to "Pass it On" again.  The Hatch Green Chili Stew is a quick fix plus you can use any hot chile peppers you want and any type meat.  I used chicken today because it's what I had.
Buttermilk cornbread with fresh home churned Amish butter
and Green Chile Stew.  The cool day made for a perfect
stew with heat.

All divided up and ready for the Costello men to pickup.
♡Cooking for family and friends ♡

The first picking of blueberries from our bushes.
I think blueberry granola for breakfast.
Buttermilk Cornbread "best ever":
In  large cast iron fry pan or oven safe fry pan melt 1/2 cup of butter (real butter), remove from heat and stir in 3/4 cup of sugar, when well mixed stir in 2 beaten eggs then add 1 cup of flour, 1 cup of cornmeal, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt and 1 cup of buttermilk.  Stir until incorporated. put in oven at 375 degrees until center is done.  *NOTE: no mixing bowl everything is done in the fry pan ;)

Hatch Green Chile Stew:  In a large pot add 4 TBSP butter and 2 TBSP olive oil, saute 1 cup of onion sliced (I used green onions from the garden) and one whole chicken breast or 1 lb of pork or beef cut in chunks. Add 1 TBS CUMIN, 1 tsp paprika, 2 cloves chopped garlic, 1tsp salt, 1 tsp black pepper, 3 cups diced potatoes and 2 qts of chicken broth.  Now this is where I add the roasted chiles, you can roast peppers in the oven put them hot in a dish with a cover, when cooled they will be easy to  peel,  add as much heat as you like.  Simmer until potatoes are done.

Off to be with my stick ladies tonight.............yarn and chat!