SortaCrunchy

Warming Hearts and Filling Tummies: Tex-Mex Chili and Pioneer Woman's Tres Leches Cake

2009-12-08T08:52:59-06:00

Okay, I have to admit it. If there is one redeeming aspect of the cold, it's the chance to prepare, serve, and enjoy the comfiest of comfort foods.

Saturday night, we invited friends over for dinner. Because we are all still trying to acclimate to shivering, I thought chili would be appropriate. Because I had run my first ever 5K Saturday morning (and I did it! I ran jogged the entire course!), I decided Ree's Tres Leches cake was necessary for celebrating.

Because if after running 3.1 miles, you can't celebrate with cake, then may I ask, what is the point?

I pulled out my trusty Tex-Mex chili recipe, given to me by a fellow coach's wife when we lived south of Austin. Once Kyle had tasted the chili she brought to the coaches' office, he could never settle for less. Thankfully, like all chili recipes, it's easy, warming, and comforting. And filling.

Kim's Tex-Mex Chili
2lbs ground beef
chopped onion, bell pepper, whatever else you like to add
salt and pepper to taste
8 oz can of tomato sauce
14.5 can diced tomatoes
3 potatoes (more if you use more ground beef)
beans, if desired
Toppings of your choice
Brown ground beef with onion, bell pepper, salt and pepper.
Drain grease, then I add a can of tomato sauce, about 3 cans of water (I use the tomato can), 1 can of diced tomatoes and Fiesta Brand Quick Chili Mix spice. (NOTE: I've only ever been able to find this at HEB in Texas. I can't get it up here, so I have to settle for Williams brand Tex-Mex chili seasoning.)
Simmer this for at least 30 – 45 min.
Then add diced potatoes (I've found 3 to be a good number. Adjust according to size of chili batch you are making) (Note from Kim: I know that sounds weird but once you try it, it is hard not to have potatoes in it. I grew up on chili this way. My mom usually would always put a can of beans in hers, but we are not big fans of beans so mine did not have it in there.) (Note from Megan: we don't put beans in ours, either.)
Simmer until the potatoes are tender - usually 20 - 30 more minutes. You might have to add more water because the potatoes absorb the water. Sometimes I add ketchup for more flavor or picante sauce. It is all a trial and error. And whatever else you like to throw in chili - just add it in!

The longer you cook it the better it is. Honestly, the next day it is even better after the potatoes have absorbed up the juice. I serve it over Fritos and put cheese on top. Sometimes we might add chopped onion and jalapeños. Really - just whatever.

NOW, I have to tell you we happened upon a new-to-us topping that Kyle and I both loved. After we had fixed up bowls of frito chili pie on Saturday night, our friend J asked, "I know this sounds weird, but do you have any mustard?" Like, regular yellow mustard? Sure. Our friends J and M topped their chili with mustard and a skeptical Kyle and I tried it, too. OHMYGOODNESS. Yum. It makes complete sense if you've ever had a chili cheese coney with mustard on the hot dog. It had just never occurred to me how well that would translate to frito chili pie.

Seriously. Yum.

Okay, so on to the cake.

Recently my friend Jaime essentially dared me to try The Pioneer Woman's Tres Leches cake.

Have you ever had Tres Leches?

It's on the dessert menu of any respectable Tex-Mex eatery in Texas - especially Austin and southwards. We've eaten it many times, but I had never attempted to make my own. Ree's recipe looked easy enough, and tasty too, of course. I figured serving it to four adults and four little girls who love some cake gave me the perfect excuse to try.

You can read the recipe at PW, but I'll share some insights I gleaned:

The cake browned up almost immediately. I thought there was no way it would make it the entire 25 minutes of baking time without spontaneously combusting. I worried quite a bit over that, and in fact turned the oven off and let the cake sit for the last 10 minutes of baking time. What I discovered when the timer rang is that when the cake is truly finished baking, it will have pulled away from the sides of the pan (as you can see in Ree's pictures of her finished cake).
I read through the comments (which I am now not seeing? head-scratcher) and noted that it's easier to pour the milks over the cake if you leave the cake in the pan for that part rather than when it is turned out onto the platter. Considering the fact that I don't have a rimmed platter, this worked out nicely for me. In fact, it allowed me to make sure I got those edges good and soaked.
Ree suggests serving from the middle of the cake and perhaps trimming off the edges entirely. I trimmed the edges before serving. Approximately ninety minutes after I served the first piece of cake, this is all that was left:

Now, let me me tell what I did with that. I piled up those edges on a plate, and it formed a sorta sloppy trifle. It sat in the fridge over night and made a most excellent dessert, shared in secret the next day by Kyle and I. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

What was lovely about the Tres Leches is that it served as the perfect foil to the chili. The heat from the chili balanced perfectly with the cool milkiness of the cake. It was, if I do say so myself, a perfect winter meal to share with beloved friends.

So, potatoes in chili? Topped with mustard? Cake with milk poured on top? Do you think I am weirder than ever?

The Heart of Our Father

2009-12-07T09:31:46-06:00

Something stood out to me in my teacher's material from yesterday's Sunday School lesson that I can't help but to share today . . .

This passage from the material was actually only loosely connected to what the lesson was about (expectantly waiting for God's promises to be fulfilled), but this little paragraph had far more impact on my heart than the lesson itself.

The writer of the teacher's material wrote of the Parable of the Prodigal Son:

The parable's focus is not so much on the lost son - actually, the two lost sons - as it is on the loving father. The parable's key well may Jesus' statement that the waiting father - symbolic of God - saw his returning son in the distance and was "filled with compassion" (Luke 15:20). In my prayers, I repeatedly thank God for Jesus' revelation that at heart, the Father is deeply compassionate.

In the amplified version, verse 20 reads

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity and tenderness for him; and he ran and embraced him and kissed him fervently.

I mean, what kind of crazy love is this?

When I've been off squandering my inheritance and serving the Kingdom of Megan rather than the Kingdom of God, when I come to my senses and realize I've been starving myself of the Bread of Life, when I put my foot on the road back to my Father's presence, I sometimes believe the lie that my Father awaits my return with pursed lips and disappointment.

Or worse yet, with a turned shoulder and The Silent Treatment.

Oh, but this is not so.

In speaking of the heart of the Waiting Father, Jesus tells us that our Father God is filled with compassion, compelled by so much tender pity for His wayward child that He races down that road of redemption with shouts of celebration.

The second candle of Advent is lit that we might reflect on the Father's love. The empty places in my heart and mind seek to be quenched with this truth all week long.

God is love. God is love. God is love.

Unthinkable, unspeakable, magnificent, exuberant, ridiculous, staggering, confusing, consuming, pursuing, relentless love.

Comments closed.

Photo by Swami Stream

Various and Sundry (the BRRRRRR! edition)

2009-12-04T13:19:55-06:00

photo by Manu gomi

There are some fairly significant issues on which Kyle and I have to agree to disagree, but I'll tell you this much - one thing we are absolutely agree upon is that we simply must retire some place warm and tropical.

After a delightful autumn that was quite nearly Indian Summer, the bitter cold of the season has settled on us, and I am just barely functioning. I have gotten zero accomplished this week (although I was inspired by Wednesday's AMAZING discussion to actually put on some real clothes and make-up before 8 AM each morning!). While my body and mind have been fighting the urge to hibernate, I've spent (way too much) time puttering around online.

Here are some things worth mentioning:

1) May I invite you to become a fan of SortaCrunchy on Facebook? I'm not totally sure how I'll utilize the fan page, but I have some ideas for polls, giveaways, etc. Come on over and let's hang out.

2) We're sort of hobbling together a private celebration of Advent this year. I'm making a Jesse Tree. Consider how anti-talented I am when it comes to crafting, this could be interesting. I'll post pics next week.

In the meantime, make sure to read Ann Voskamp's 3 Simple Practices for a Peaceful Advent and Ann Kroeker's Something to Ask Ourselves (which reflects the same idea I had earlier this week at Simple Kids).

3) Baby Week may be over here, but I always enjoy all-things-baby. I LOVED this short piece at the API blog called "Bad Sleepers." Where was this kind of support in early 2005 as I had my own "bad sleeper"? Also, I am highly interested in this Baby Led Weaning approach to introducing solid food. In fact, it's pretty much exactly what I did when AJ transitioned to table food. I had no idea it's a movement.

4) The opportunities to give abound this time of year, don't they? Organizing Your Way and Deal Seeking Mom are joining forces to support Feeding America. Go over and check it out - you'll be amazed at what $5 can do!

5) Finally, have you signed up yet for ChristmasChange? Next week, I'll be sharing about the organization I'm supporting this year. Oh, and make sure to subscribe to the ChristmasChange blog. Lots of inspiring words from some of your favorite bloggers over there!

Babes in Toyland

2009-12-02T10:23:17-06:00

Something somewhat interesting happened to me yesterday.

AJ and I had to drive to The Next Town Over to run some errands and do a little shopping. As it just so happens, nearly every time I'm in The Next Town Over, I run into someone I know from high school or college. Bearing this in mind, I decided to leave the athletic pants and sweatshirt I've been living in in the wrinkled pile on the floor and opted instead to wear some nice pants and my black turtleneck, my black boots, and my favorite necklace. I even put on a full face of make-up.

Before we left town, I pulled through Old McDonald's (Micky D's to the non-toddler crowd) to grab some drinks for our tiny little road trip. I happened to be on the phone with Kyle as I was handed our drinks (so annoying, I know). Kyle asked me if I was going to bring AJ by the office on the way out of town to visit the holiday bear collection his office assistant had displayed.

"Can we possibly do that another day? I just don't think today will work." I answered.

As I started to pull away, the McDonald's employee smiled and said, "Have a great day and don't let 'em work you too hard!"

Hmmmmmmm, I thought as I pulled off. It's the middle of the morning, I've got a two-year old in my backseat, and I'm at McDonalds, and yet, he thinks I'm a career woman. Because I have on clothes that possibly could be described as an outfit? Is it the make-up or the clean hair? Did it sound like I was negotiating with a co-worker rather than my husband?

I thought back to Dina's post about her (stayathome) babe theory, particularly the part where she writes:

It's not that I'm actively seeking converts to my way of life or on an ambitious campaign trail to reform motherhood. It's just that I wonder if my own lackadaisical approach to my choice to be home is sabotaging the value of my example. If all stay at home mothers look stressed and constantly twitter and chat online to their virtual counterparts about how stressed they are, chances are other women will not be flocking to our cause that we say we feel so strongly about.
On the other hand, if my belief that the home truly does set the tone of our culture, maybe I should be working to reveal the hidden babe potential in my own image. Maybe by slipping on a vintage dress with coordinating apron and stilettos I can convince the world that the babes are in the home. That the front lines of society are working full time with their children and looking darn good doing so. (emphasis mine)

I felt convicted again over the way I present myself to my community, to my daughters, and to my husband. I mean, on the one hand, it does feel a bit ridiculous to dress up only to spend the day playing with and picking up toys, tending to laundry, and serving on KP duty.

And yet . . .

Do I have a responsibility to other moms-at-home to dress in a way that lends dignity and worth to the path I am so happy to have chosen?

Do I have a responsibility to model for my daughters that amongst the plethora of opportunities that await them in their grown-up years, choosing to be at-home is not a less-than choice?

Do I have a responsibility to my husband, the visual one, to be visually appealing on a somewhat regular basis?

Or am I just overthinking the whole thing, especially because as a mom-at-home, I have plenty of time to think and overthink.

As it just so happens, my friend Laura touched on this today when she shared her thoughts about stereotypes and the stay-at-home-mom. I wonder in what generation did the stereotype of the homemaking mother change from heels and pearls to pajama bottoms and flip-flops?

And shall I be content to celebrate the freedom from the picture-perfect home and self, grateful to be liberated from unrealistic expectations? Or would I be willing to quietly rebel against the unkempt connotation that stay-at-home-mom has taken on?

I don't know. I do know that it's after 10 AM, and I haven't showered yet today. So maybe I should get right on that.

*****
(psssst - fresh links up at megspots)

photo by Mark Berry

With so much thanksgiving

2009-11-30T17:23:12-06:00

I joyfully and intentionally spent most of Thanksgiving and the days that followed away from the computer. I've been craving reconnection with the flesh-and-blood-and-leaves-and-twigs world around me, and I admit to now feeling quite satiated.

This did mean, however, that I didn't quite get around to writing up The Thanksgiving Post.

Understatement alert: I have so much for which to be thankful. Our life is far from perfect, but the abundance of amazing in my life is staggering.

Blessings all mine with ten thousand beside. *

Absolutely.

One area of my life in which I don't think I could ever express my gratitude enough is to you all. It is with so much smiling disbelief that I step back and look at this year for SortaCrunchy.

When I first started using Feedburner back in April 2008, sixty-three (blessyourheart) readers subscribed to silly ol' SortaCrunchy.

This time last year? On this very last day of November? The approximate reader number was about 191.

Why on earth so many of you have seen fit to add me to your reader or invite me to your email inbox in 2009 is just beyond me. Why you would come forth with resounding support for the project that is so close to my heart . . . why you would turn out in full force to come alongside the Vega family . . . why you walk with me through the controversial and the mundane . . .

It's all just too much.

I know that your time is precious. That you would spend a few minutes with me on a (completely not daily) basis renders me as close to speechless as my loquaciousness-prone self can get.

Thank you.

Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou.

Times infinity.

* closing lyric from my life hymn - Great is Thy Faithfulness

picture from D Sharon Pruitt

SortaCrunchy's November Sponsors

2009-11-30T10:55:44-06:00

As November ends, I want to take one minute to say thank you to my sponsors for the month of November:

We received some samples from Boiron's Children's products line, and both Kyle and Dacey have found the Chestal cough remedy to be extremely helpful. One dose for each of them was enough to nip some pesky coughs in the bud. (Although the Chestal is technically for kids, Kyle really did find it to be quite effective.) We haven't had cause to use the ColdCalm or Oscillo yet (knock on wood), but it's so nice to have it on hand!

and

Moo Cow Momma and Love for Earth were AMAZING sponsors for my Ditch the Disposables challenge. Both women were incredibly helpful and friendly and just out-and-out lovely. These two shops are shining examples of why I love to shop handmade.

As the holidays approach, you might be looking for reusable gift bags as a non-disposable alternative to gift wrap. You can find reusable gift bags at both Moo Cow Momma and Love For Earth, as well tons of other items to support and encourage you on your journey towards waste-free living.

Again, so many thanks to these sponsors!

* * * * *

Would you be interested in running an ad on SortaCrunchy? I am offering a special reduced rate for the month of December. Email me at sortacrunchy at gmail dot com for details!

Baby Week: On Four-Month-Olds

2009-11-25T08:24:35-06:00

This will be brief. Thanksgiving preparation and all that.

As I mentioned earlier in the Baby Week series, I've so been enjoying reading the new baby chronicles at O My Family. Allison has been very open and honest about the rocky time they are going through right now with BabyO - particularly where sleep is concerned. It can be outrageously frustrating to go from having a baby who sleeps so soundly at night to having many wake-ups many times a night.

(I mean, not that I would know from from personal experience with my babies. Neither of my babies slept all the way through the night until they were well into toddlerhood, but AJ has been waking up quite a bit with teething pain recently, so I can completely empathize with Allison's sleep deprivation.)

So, AllisonO, you smart, pretty, lovely mama, you - this post is for you!

Here's the deal about four-month-olds - YIKES.

So, so many changes are happening at four months that even the most steady of mamas can go into meltdown mode. In the interest of brevity, I'm just going to point you towards what other mamas who are far, far wiser than I have said in other places:

ON SLEEP:

AskMoxie (whom I totally admire and totally want to be when I grow up) has written several times on the four-month-old sleep regression. Here is an extensive post explaining what is happening with four-month-olds and how it affects sleep.

Here is another post at AskMoxie where she just opened up the comments for people to share their four-month-old mama woes.

And one more link to an article at kellymom regarding whether or not wakeful four-month-olds need to eat at night. My pedi said no. Jan Barger, LC, disagrees.

ON NURSING:

Lots of mamas of four-month-olds get frustrated because this is the phase when once super-focused, efficient nursers will begin to unlatch and look around and fiddle around at the breast.

This is totally normal.

(And it ties into the sleep thing, too. Alert, healthy babies who are hurdling through cognitive development are so busy taking in the world during the day, they simply haven't the time to focus on filling tummies. Many will wake up to tank up at night.)

Finally, breastfed babies may experience some weight changes at four months. Here is a fantastically helpful article at Light and Momentary on breastfed four-month-olds.

Allison, I hope that in some small way this is encouraging to you - if for no other reason than knowing this is all completely normal and it will pass. I promise. The time Dacey was four to five months old was the height of my Dark Days as a new mama. Six months forward? OSoBlissfull. (sorry, couldn't resist)

(You would never know from the picture above that my Dacey Girl was such a handful at four months, would you?)

Any other words of advice or encouragement for those weathering the four-month-old days?