Is it Chili in Here?

Or is it me? I'm definitely feeling it. Three Bean Turkey Chili with Cilantro Pesto is a great recipe for these chilly days. No longer a prisoner in the pantry, my crock pot takes center stage on the kitchen counter. Our lives are so busy and hectic that it is comforting to arrive home after a day at the office to someone cooking in the kitchen, even if that someone is the crock pot. I love how colorful this chili is and the Cilantro Pesto adds a splash of garlic and lime. I have served this as a hearty dinner with a pan of cornbread or as an easy lunch with a small salad. Make a big batch and freeze half for another time. It's nice to know that a batch of chili is waiting for you in the freezer, just minutes away from a home cooked meal. I wish I could cook every night but at least I have my trusty crock pot during these cold winter months, that is until the weather begins to warm and back it must go, kicking and screaming into the dark pantry, only to be replaced by the BBQ. Until then it's the crock pot that is our family cook, creating warm and tasty meals for my over stressed family. Such a gem! If only I could get it to walk the dog!

Three Bean Turkey Chili with Cilantro Pesto

1 pound ground turkey

1 Tbsp. olive oil

1 large onion

2 cloves garlic, minced

5 stalks celery, chopped

3 large carrots, chopped

1 1/2 tsp. salt

32 oz. fat-free chicken stock

1-32 oz can diced tomatoes

1 tsp. each cumin, dried oregano, chipotle chili powder

1-15 oz. can of white beans, drained and rinsed

1-15 oz. can of pinto beans, drained and rinsed

1-15 oz. can of kidney beans, drained and rinsed

Coat large skillet with the olive oil. Cook turkey, onion, carrot, celery, and salt over medium-high heat until turkey is cooked though. Drain any fat. Add turkey mixture and remaining ingredients to a large crock pot. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours. Serve with a tsp of Cilantro Pesto stirred in for that extra kick!

Cilantro Pesto

2 cups or 1 bunch cilantro

2 cloves garlic

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp. lime zest

1 Tbsp. lime juice

1 -2 Tbsp. olive oil

Chop/mix all ingredients in food processor or blender until finely minced to a lovely pesto. Adjust salt and oil to taste. Keep in a covered container in the fridge to use as a topper for soups, chilis or as a dip for bread, yum, yum, yum!

Ginger Blossom Cottage Pillows

I love pillows. The more the merrier! These sweet Cottage Pillows are made from Sandi Henderson's Ginger Blossom line. Such happy fabric! I didn't want the pillows to get too wild so I used a taupe cotton for the backing and to frame the block. It's the same fabric I used on Big Red and it is very soft. It has the look of linen I love without the linen price. All these pillows need now is a sunny afternoon and a porch swing to rest upon. In time Dear One, in time...

"There is no pillow so soft as a clear conscience" - French Proverb

Koop Island Blues - Koop

Check out Sew and Tell Friday AND Fabric Friday! So many beautiful creations and fabric.

It's Time For Dinner Now Let's Go Eat!

Now mama's in the kitchen

And she's been there all day

And I know she's cooking something good

So let's bow our heads and pray

And he sang

To the Lord let praises be

It's time for dinner now let's go eat

We've got some beans and some good cornbread

Now listen to what the preacher said

He said to the Lord let praised be

It's time for dinner now let's go eat!

Lyle Lovett

Amen, Brother!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, GOOD FOLKS!

Big Red

This is one red quilt! I threw caution to the wind and just went for it. These 15" log cabin blocks are made from Valori Wells' Olive Rose line. I have seen many wonderful quilts blending red and turquoise, so I decided to combine the red, turquoise and brown pallets and see what happens. The back is pieced with 3 smaller log cabin blocks. As mentioned in an earlier post I LOVE log cabin blocks and one reason is this awesome tutorial by John at Quilt Dad. He knows his stuff! This is my third completed quilt and I am no longer intimidated by making bias tape or the binding process itself. Eventually I will need to tackle free motion quilting but for Big Red I just quilted in straight (kinda) lines. The binding is a snappy cocoa polka dot! Love it! I think I know a spicy little lady that will love this quilt, too...no peeking till Christmas!

"Red is the ultimate cure for sadness" - Bill Blass

Diablo Rojo - Rodrigo y Gabriela

Piping...Been There, Done That...

Oy Vey, such a meshuggeneh! Yes, I can act a little crazy sometimes, like when I'm trying to add piping to my pillow. I thought it would be a lovely accent to give it that "extra somethin' special". This pillow was made from one of my County Fair log cabin blocks. I used a khaki cotton to frame the block and also for the back. I added a strip of fabric along the edge of the opening and used the same fabric for the piping. What a brilliant idea! I wanted to showcase the shape of the block and give the whole pillow a simple, vintage look. I had no idea I would encounter "piping issues". It was getting late, I was getting cranky, I had a deadline (Friday Sew & Tell). I was not going to let the piping win this fight. When it was over I stood back and looked at my pillow and became verklempt. It looked pretty good. The piping wasn't perfect but it was acceptable. Maybe piping can be my friend after all. Maybe I'll play with it again sometime. Maybe I'll add it to my next pillow, even if it IS a pain in the tokhes.

"If things are not as you wish, wish them as they are." Yiddish proverb

Two-Fisted Mama - Katie Webster

Mama Roux's BLT

My, oh my! What a fabulous sandwich this is! Quick, easy and fairly healthy. I created this last night when I really did not feel like cooking a meal but wanted something comforting. This sandwich calls for Turkey Bacon, which is all we eat. It's just as flavorful and much better for you than regular bacon. Unless compared side by side you cannot tell the difference. The real defining element to this fabulous sandwich is the bread. I wanted something hearty and chewy. I chose LaBrea Rosemary & Olive Oil Sourdough, usually available in most grocery stores. The rosemary gives a deep, earthy flavor while the olive oil offers a mellow sweetness. Any high end, herb flavored sourdough will work. I also jazzed it up a bit by using a salad mix with radicchio, purchased in a bag from Trader Joe's. I'm telling you, each of these ingredients on their own are delicious, but put them all together and something magical happens. Once you take a bite you just might shed a tear, I know my husband did! Enjoy!

Mama Roux's BLT

1 package turkey bacon

1 round of sourdough bread with rosemary & olive oil

1 ripe avocado

2 ripe tomatoes, sliced

salad mix with radicchio and baby lettuces

mayonnaise

salt

freshly ground pepper

Cook bacon until crispy. Slice bread into 3/4" slices. Place on a sheet pan and toast under broiler until just crispy on each side. Mash avocado and season with salt and pepper. Assemble sandwiches by spreading a good amount of mayonnaise on each slice of toast. Spread one side of sandwich with 1-2 Tbsp mashed avocado, then add 5 slices of bacon, 2-3 slices of tomato and a good handful of salad mix. Cover with second slice of toast and press to keep sandwich together. Slice in half and place on a plate. Eat this wonderful thing on the couch while snuggling under a quilt with someone you love. A crackling fire is recommended but optional. Makes 3 yummy sandwiches.

Sew and Tell Friday: Cool Little Totes!

I also made a Log Cabin Block!

A few weeks ago I ordered a good assortment of Denyse Schmidt's County Fair. I was not quite sure what I would do with all of that canvas but I just had to have it. She uses such simple, classic designs and soothing colors for her fabrics. I love tote bags so I thought I'd try to create one from a pattern. Now, I have not followed a pattern since 8th grade sewing class, something like 34 years ago! So, on a quiet Saturday afternoon, alone with my pile of fabric, I dove into the simplest pattern I could find. It looked pretty easy, how hard could it be? Well, about 4 hours later after a lot of head scratching, re-reading the instructions about 5 or 6 times and ripping out several seams I had this cute little lined tote bag! I ran upstairs to show my accomplishment to my husband, expecting him to be as excited as I was. He wasn't. Baseball was on, but that was ok. I ran back downstairs and made another one from different fabric. That one took me much less time as I was able to wrap my head around the whole concept. And then I made one more. After all, Baseball was on and that was ok!

"There would be no society if living together depended upon understanding each other." - Eric Hoffer

Cool tune: Fuoco Fatuo - Nicola Conte & Koop, Jet Sounds Revisited