Happy Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, Ash Wednesday, etc., etc., etc....

So in honor of this festive week, I decided to make that good old Louisiana classic, red beans and rice, with sausage.  Nothing fancy, in fact it's nice and hearty for a chilly February evening.  And if you have leftovers, it's even better the next day.

I'll add I'm home today with a horrible chest cold.  And to anyone else who has the galloping crud, well... it's awful, isn't it!?! 

Oh!  One more thought - if anyone recognizes this dishware pattern, and has some they'd like to get rid of, let me know!  I purchased it from Target about 15 years ago, and have since lost a few pieces, and would love to replenish it!

(Picture quality isn't so great - snapped it with my phone!)

Anyway, here's how I make this yummy, easy, hearty, add adjective here, dish.  I would add one word of caution - check the ingredients on your can of kidney beans, as some contain quite a bit of sugar!  I prefer the red beans from Aldi, you get more "bean" taste, and not "sweet" like in other giant superstore brands.

Redbeans, rice and sausage

1/2 yellow onion, diced
1/2 tsp. minced garlic
2 ribs celery, sliced
2 Tbsp cooking oil
1 can red kidney beans
salt and pepper to taste
cooked rice
sausage - I used keilbasa, sliced and fried up separately

Optional - tabasco, jalepeno, or other pain-inducing food items.

In a 2 qt. saucepan over medium high heat, add oil, onion, garlic, and celery.  Cook this until the onion is translucent and a little limp.  Dump in the can of beans, including liquid.  Turn heat to medium-low, cover, and let simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring a few times.  You can add a few drops of hot sauce, however I don't care for it, so this is a pretty mild version

In the meantime, cook your rice - remember the 2:1 ratio, 2 cups of water to 1 cup of dry rice.

After awhile, uncover your beans and check the texture by mushing a few against the side of the pot with a spoon.  If they're still firm, let them simmer another 10 minute, covered.  If they're fairly soft, then mush a few more - this helps with the thickening of the beans.  Uncover, stir, and turn the heat up to medium-ish for another 5 or 10 minutes, or until the beans thicken.

While the beans are in their final boil-down, slice your sausage and fry it up!  Just warmed through, or dark and crispy, however you prefer.

Now plate that bad boy up.  I like to put down the rice, then the beans on top, then add sausage.  Some like it separated.  It's up to you.  I like that about food.

Enjoy this nice, filling, and relatively healthy meal!

Dust storm's a-comin'!

...or so says NOAA.  In north Texas, it's 73 degrees and sunny, but windy, so the windows are all open, and fresh air is blowing in my quaint apartment.  Guess this means I'll have to put off cleaning, boo hoo.

My absolute favorite fruit is now on sale at Central Market.  I love Blood Oranges!  Been looking for recipes that use them, I'll post some in the next day or two. 

Kind of tangy, definitely orange, but with a rasberry note.  I love it in sorbet, juiced, or just sliced and chomped.  Don't wear light-colored clothing around these yummy bits of deliciousness, they stain something awful!



Another year past, and a new one ahead!

I hope everyone had a safe and happy New Year's celebration.  I was in bed, asleep, by 11 p.m.  And I'm ok with that!

Any resolutions?  For me, it's the usual eat-better-lose-weight-save-money deal.  I'm starting school in a few weeks to finish my degree, and I'm sure excited about that!

So, do I have to post only my own food stuff, or can I share?  All credit will be given appropriately... there are just some things out there that MUST be shared!  Like... cinnamon swirl pancakes for one, and cranberry fudge, and... well, just look for yourself.  (So much for the weight loss resolution!)

Cinnamon Swirl Pancakes, from RecipeGirl.com (see, there's the credit) and the recipe is here: http://www.recipegirl.com/2011/03/01/cinnamon-roll-pancakes

And Cranberry Fudge - from Taste of Home, I love their recipes - nothing too fancy, and just about always good!

Find the recipe here:  http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Cranberry-Fudge

Personally, since the cranberries and nuts aren't stirred in until the very end, I would substitute white chocolate chips for the walnuts, or maybe some of the other "Craisin" products.  I think they have blueberries.  That would be incredible!

Time to put on one last Christmas CD, and take down the tree.  I'd like my living room back again, thanks!  Although this tree was indeed a good one, and I'm thankful for it.

Here it is....

My first blog post!  Let me wipe away a tear....

My intentions for this blog are to offer random musings about my life, the world in general, school, and whatever comes to mind.  It will be chock full of "how-to's" for cooking, sewing, crafts, and more.

Right now there is a standard blogspot template background.  That will change.  All my computers are fried, but in another week or so will quit borrowing my kid's computer, and have my own - with all kinds of cool graphic design programs.

There will be pictures - if not in a tutorial, then random stuff like, oh - this.

Not sure if they're "oooh!" or "ewww" but they are definitely Uggs!

A little bit about me - I'm a 51-year-old single mom whose chick is about to leave the nest!  I haven't lived by myself in years, so this will be a lot of fun.  I'm about to go back to school to finish my degree, studying web applications and development.  My home is in Fort Worth, TX but my dream is to end up in Colorado, someday soon.  My politics are conservative, my beliefs are Christian.  I welcome everyone at my site, as I believe we are all loved by our Creator.  Some things we as humans do, well not so much.  But that's a whole 'nuther post!

I do love to cook - and unfortunately, love to eat!  Luckily, kiddo's friends are a good source of guinea pigs.  Nothing like kids away from home to volunteer as taste-testers!

Ah, my dogs.  They're like my kids, and have the mentality of 3-year-olds.  Texi is on the left, she's a purebred tweener weiner, and Schatzie is on the right, she's half blue heeler and half dachshund.  Hmm, does that make her a blue weiner? 

Schatzie is a very good protector, and guards what she loves!

Photo quality isn't so great, they're phone pictures.  Better ones for the future, I promise!

It's the end of a grueling work week, so as Porky Pig would say, "th-th-th-that's all, folks!"