In The Moment

About this time next month, I will be sitting on this casita patio looking at this view sipping on a glass of sangria. Here I come Santa Fe. I can't wait to relax and reflect. There is no better place for it. 

Cheers

A Nice Warm Bowl Of Chicken Chili Soup For The Soul

I love Chili. Maybe it's a Texas thing. But, I love it, year round even. I decided to branch out a little and make a chicken chili this time. I usually use ground beef or ground turkey for a hearty chili. I've heard of chicken chili but honestly...it didn't really strike my fancy until, I saw a nice looking recipe in one of my South Beach Cookbooks. I changed one little thing and it turned out so yummy! It made enough to feed an army. So, I was able to freeze the left over (even after  I took some for my lunch the next day) to have next week. I need to get better at making a lot one night and freezing the rest for the following week. That would save me so much time and I am certain I would love myself for it later. Yeah, note to self...do that more often. Anyhoo, without further ado...

White Chipotle Chicken Chili

2 tablespoons evoo

3 medium onions, chopped

4 large garlic cloves, minced

2.5 lbs boneless, skinless, chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch cubes (yeah, I don't get that technical, just chop it up and don't mind the measurement, it will be JUST fine.

1 tablespoon chipotle Chile powder (I used my Santa Fe School of Cooking red Chile powder)

4 teaspoons ground cumin

salt to taste

3 19oz cans of cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

3 cups lower sodium chicken broth

1/2 cup fat free half and half

1/2 cup reduced fat shredded cheddar cheese (I used the most fantastic Vermont white cheddar from Trader Joe's)

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

In a large Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onions, stir, and cook until soften, about 4-5 minutes.Push the onions to the side of the pan and add the chicken. Sprinkle the chicken with the Chile powder, cumin, and salt. Cook, stirring, until most of the chicken is opaque on the outside, 5 to 6 minutes.

Stir in 3 cups of beans and 2 cups of chicken broth. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a simmer. Partially cover and cook until the chicken is cooked through, about 8 minutes. 

Meanwhile, is a food processor, combine the remaining beans and remaining 1 cup of broth. Process until a smooth puree.

Stir in the bean puree and half and half into the soup. Divide the soup among 4 bowls and serve hot sprinkled with cheese and cilantro. I also topped with a lime wedge.

Cheers!

Oh, P.S, I promise to start posting some crafty yarnie things soon. My hands have been full with my little pup. Somehow, I don't think she is going to allow me to spin yarn. But I am going to give it the old college try. I have been wanting to spin, I feel the urge, it will happen soon!

Tuesday In Santa Fe

This morning we got up early and went to the Santa Fe Farmers Market. 

There was a lady that was selling her hand dyed and handspun yarn. It was beautiful and very inspiring. Even this little guy liked her stuff! 

There were tons of fresh greens to choose from.

My favorite is the Intergalactic Bread Company.  She has the most wonderful breads.

I picked up green Chile cheese, apple elderberry, and pumpkin pinon. When we got back to the casita they were eaten up in minutes!

Here is all our loot from the market.

My parents too my cousin to the museum and my sister, niece and I stayed back home. We jammed out to some Gypsy Kings while my sister made brunch. 

She made Quiche with the jalapeno pepper from my garden.

A fantastic salad with a cucumber from my garden, some steamed veggies and whole wheat bread!

Later I spun some yarn that I had been working on at home while the girls watched. I gave them a mini lesson but hope to give them a really good lesson this week! They seem really interested and that excites me!

Of course I had to get a picture of my spinning briefcase.

We also went to the Jackalope for bit of shopping. They have Prairie Dogs there. They are really cute!

Then to Gabriel's for dinner we went! The best ever Guacamole. They make it for you right at your table.

I had black bean enchiladas. Yum!

Cheers!

Monday In Santa Fe

Another beautiful day in Santa Fe.  We took it easy this morning which was really nice. My dad and I went for a little hike and when we came back to the casita my sister made banana/granola and blueberry pancakes along with fruit salad and a bird in a nest! Hiking in this altitude is tough so we were hungry when we got back!

Then for a bit more relaxing and hanging out be fore we took off for the day. My poor little V is sick. We had to pick up meds for her and I hope that she will be good as new soon so she can enjoy SF with us.

Mimi stayed back with V and the rest of us had lunch at Upper Crust Pizza. My sister and I shared the whole wheat sunny chicken pesto pizza. Fantastic! The pizza is great. You can't get a whole wheat pizza back home that I am aware of unless you make it yourself. This was dang good! Thank you Upper Crust! We sat on the patio. The weather was great and there was a nice breeze. The people that worked there were great too.

A shot of the nice little area we ate in. Great views all around.

After pizza we went shopping of course. My younger cousin Phoebe got a cute little purse she had her eye on yesterday and also picked up a few buttons to put on it from Santa Fe Hemp. She is 11 so I am sure she found the store very interesting. But, I love this store and my sister did too so I am glad about that! I could not resist this necklace.

I love owls and this necklace is so very charming. 

We also went to Todos Santos! The best chocolates and confections in Santa Fe if you ask me plus it has a Dia de los Muertos theme. I mean, you can't possibly beat that! The people the work there are consistent, the same people that have been working there since I started going several years back, and they are friendly so that is an added bonus.  As usual I had to purchase a "box of chocolates" and a few little extras. I also had to get a little something special for V since she has been sick.

We also stopped by Miriam's Well. I love this store and go here mainly for woolies to spin.Miriam is a very eccentric and lovely lady that owns the place.

Unfortunately, she was on vacation. I guess we can let this one slide since everyone deserves a vacation. The very nice lady holding down the fort said that Miriam will be back on Wednesday so my sister and I will go back. I think Thursday will be the day we go to La Boca as well. That will be a good day! I wish we had a place like La Boca where I am from.

Well, geeze, back to what is most important...the woolies!

I picked up 100% Targhee and a Merino pencil roving. Pencil roving is so easy to spin with. For me, there is no predafting required and is it very simple for me to spin a thin and consistent yarn. There is something about Santa Fe that makes me feel even more creative and makes me want to create even more than when I am at home. It must be the calm spirit of Santa Fe. I could just knit and spin all day in Santa Fe. So, that is what I have been doing, the knitting part anyway. But, as usual, I brought the old reliable wheel too so I am going to spin some too while I am here. I have been working on knitting a hat for my uncle. I really have never knit a hat before so we will see how it turns out. I figure if I can knit socks I can knit a hat!

Oh, Santa Fe, if it were not for my hubby staying back home while I am here I may never leave!

Cheers to another great day in Santa Fe!

Sunday In Santa Fe

Santa Fe is so nice this time of year. In Texas we are already hitting 100 degree temps. Frankly, I am not cut out for that.  Santa Fe on the other hand is about 80 degrees for the high and 50 for the low. However, the locals think that is hot! To me, it is perfect!  Today I got up and went for a hike around the land where we are staying. I forgot a bit about the altitude. I was huffing and puffing afterwards but it made for a great workout! When I got back I had a "great start breakfast" waiting for me. One of my favorite things to eat for breakfast is granola, yogurt, and berries.

However, I think I may have a new favorite thing to eat for breakfast...a bird in a nest! My sister started making this for me during her visits and as a matter of fact she will be making it for me tomorrow morning and I will be sure to share it with you. 

After breakfast we all got ready to go to mass with my dad at Cathedral Basilica. This is pretty much a tradition for us every Sunday we are in Santa Fe. My dad really loves it.

After Mass we headed over to the La Fonda for lunch. Much to my surprise, my favorite jewelry designer, Rocki Gorman, moved her shop to the La Fonda so after lunch we headed over there. Might I say I want one of every frigging thing in the place. I have my eyes on a pair of dragonfly earrings and may just hop back over there at the end of the week to purchase them. My favorite sales lady was not there which was a bit disappointing but, it was all good because I am in Santa Fe!

Well, anyhoo, back to lunch. I had tortilla soup and shared crab cakes with my mom.

I can't resist either one typically and had to have the the tortilla soup so I was happy when my mom wanted to share the crab cakes.  The Pink Adobe also has some awesome crab cakes. I hope to swing in there too before the end of this little vacation.

My sister had a yummy little goat cheese, veggie, and fingerling potato tart. I love goat cheese. :-)

For dessert, Flan!

My niece Violet loved it!

After lunch we shopped a bit and I picked up a huge can of Chile powder and blue corn meal from the Santa Fe School of Cooking. I love this place. You just can't visit Santa Fe and not go in here. Also, they have the best cooking classes and demos. A must do!

Then we headed back to the casita to relax. I read my Spin Off magazine, wrote in my Happy Book and started up a bit of knitting. I crawled up in my little corner and it was the best. I have a perfect view from here and love to leave the door open that leads to the deck to get a nice breeze. I would be happy if I sat here forever.

After everyone was rested my dad grilled while my sister and I took pictures of the scenery with our new cameras.



Tomorrow my sister and I are hitting up the town for shopping, food, and a bit of mischief. :-)

Cheers!

Santa Fe Here I Come!

It is the wee hours of the morn' and I am about to turn in. I will be getting up at about 4:30am to get ready to head to Santa Fe with my family. I can't wait! We have all had a very rough few months with the loss of 2 family members. I don't think any family should have to loose 1 much less 2 family members in a 2 month time period. So, I hope this trip will provide some comfort.

My garden has been growing quite well! I will be taking this lovely cucumber that I grew all by myself to Santa Fe. I think I may make a tossed salad with it! 

Yippee for gardens!

Cheers! 

Happy Things

I love granola. I especially love yogurt, granola, and berries for breakfast. I first ate this fantastic breakfast treat at the Chocolate Maven. They call it the Great Start Breakfast. Yes, I have to agree...it is a great start to any day! I have been taking it to work with me and it gives me the refreshing jolt I need to begin the day! Our Santa Fe trip is right around the corner and I believe I will be heading to the Maven for breakfast one morning, I can't wait!

Thursday In Santa Fe

Well, the trip seems to be coming to a rapid end. I don't want it to end. It is so peaceful out here and I have not thought about work once! It is good for the soul to escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life! I have enjoyed every minute of it. Tomorrow Jeff and I are going to go do a bit of exploring on out own and I think I am finally going to get to go to La Boca!!

Today we had a nice relaxing morning. We went Museum Hill to the Wheelwright Museum. Our casita is just a few miles from Museum Hill. There is the sweetest exhibit there right now. It is called Through Their Eyes: Paintings from the Santa Fe Indian School. The exhibit is a collection of the work of students at the Indian School between 1918 and 1945. The paintings are absolutely wonderful. The students had talent that I can only dream about. The colors they used and the precision of the lines in their drawings was so enthralling to me. Each painting told a story of culture and heritage. Some of the paintings are so detailed, it is as if the people in the painting are alive and staring back at you.

The museum has 2 sculptures outside that were sculpted by Allan Houser. Allan Houser was one of the students at the Indian School who later became a famous artist.

The museum has a gift shop they call "The Trading Post". It was structured and built to look like a real trading post. I picked up a few things there...some I cannot talk about because they are for a particular person...I think she knows who she is!

I got the cutest little folk art owl at the Trading Post. Jeff actually found the owl. I think it makes a fine addition as a decorative addition in our home. I also got a burden basket. I learned about this from the casita. Susan, the lady of the casitas that we stay in, has one hanging by the front door. I noticed it last year and wanted one but was not able to find one. So, when I saw it in the Trading Post, I knew I had to have it!

***update. We have named our little owl..."Enchilada Tow-Hee." I think I am going to write a Children's book about him. It is already in the works!***

On Museum Hill is "The Labyrinth." (Jeff is now dictating to me what the labyrinth is so this is all him...he is a science dork) Contrary to what the name may imply, this labyrinth is no maze. It is a single circular path eventually ending in the center. In the center, sound is resonated which baffled me at first (that is Jeff speaking remember). I could not leave until I justified this to myself. As I walked around the 2 foot exterior walls, I noticed that the labyrinth rose slightly towards the center forming a dome. This meant that the labyrinth formed a perfect parabola. For those not familiar with calculus, a perfect parabola means that no matter where on a structure a signal makes contact it will follow a line called a directrix to the exact center point, called a focus. The low walls serve to reflect the sound along a directrix to the focus, where you are standing. My mind at rest, we could now leave. **That is the end to Jeff's scientific description. Those who are reading this and know him...I know appreciate it! :-) Oh, this is Jeff's first blog entry!!! World record breaking news here! I can just go ahead and end this blog here, but I am not...

After the museum we came back to the casita for lunch and just relaxed. Then, we headed over to Gabriels...the most fabulous Southwestern/Mexican food restaurant in this area....I feel like I am writing a review or something.

If you order guacamole, they make it for you right at your table.

My dad ordered a pitcher of margarita! Aye! Right up my alley!

For dinner I had black bean enchiladas. Sooooo good!!

Jeff had crab enchiladas..I never heard of such a thing.

Well, I am tired and it is about 12am here so, I am turning in. Good night to all and Cheers!!

Tuesday In Santa Fe

There are so many pretty birds in Santa Fe and they all seem to hang around the casita. My mom has left bread crumbs and sunflower nut meats on the adobe fence ledge for them to eat.

We picked up a Birds of New Mexico: Field Guide at La Fonda. So, Jeff is keeping tally of the birds that we have seen so far. On Monday while I was taking a relaxing bath, the sweetest little bird sat on the window sill and sang a little song. Jeff determined from my description of him that he is a Cedar Waxwing. We have also seen a Spotted Towhee, Chihuahuan Raven, and a Cliff Swallow.

This morning we headed over to the Santa Fe Farmers Market at the Railyard.

There is a lady there that sells the most wonderful breads. So, being on vacation and all, I had to splurge. I got green chile cheese flat bread and a garlic arugula flat bread.

I ate most of them when we got back in the car. Oh, so good...so so good. We also got cherries for our evening sangria.

We also picked up some tomatoes, snap peas, some garlic plant thing that I can't remember the name of. The farmer did a little cooking demo for us. He sauteed the snap peas and garlic things with olive oil and seasoned with salt. It was delicious so we got some to make for dinner tonight. I am going to be cooking raspberry chipotle chicken on the grill with sweet potatoes, red potatoes, and corn. Jeff is going to try his hand at sauteing the snap peas and garlic things, which is a big deal for anyone that knows Jeff...he does not cook!!

After the market, we drove to Espanola, a little town outside of Santa Fe and went to Espanola Valley Fiber Arts Center. Unfortunately, they just moved and were in the middle of restoring the new building so I get the feeling the store was not at its full potential but, I did walk away with some lovely roving!! I can't wait to get spinning.

I got some bright blue Corriedale.

I also got half a pound of white Navajo Churro wool....

And grey Navajo Churro wool.

I also picked up the latest edition of Spin Off Mag.

I love how natural this wool is. Usually I go for the bright colors but for some reason there was something so sweet about this wool in its natural state. If I can learn to spin a fine wool, this wool just might knit up into a nice warm sock...or even mittens! Apparently the Navajo Churro Sheep has quite a story.

After the fiber arts, we ventured over to Black Mesa Golf Club.

My dad got a golf shirt for his New Mexico golf shirt collection. It is a small course but it is so beautiful. My dad always wanted my sister and I to take up golf and play with him. For some reason, we just never caught on. I don't know about my sister, but I was never able to hit the ball. If I was able to hit the ball, it would just roll a few feet in front of me which was rather discouraging. I did turn out to be a superb golf cart driver and only almost ran over one of Daddy's friends once! But, you know... I could learn to play golf on a course that looks like this, I don't think it would be an issue at all!

After we went to the course, we drove to Tesuque and had lunch at the Tesuque Village Market. Tesuque is a neat little town and reminds us a bit more of the vibe in Taos.

The food was great and the atmosphere was too. It was a fantastic place to people watch. My mom and I shared the Southwestern salad. Jeff had quesadillas and my dad had a green chile burger which looked mighty fine. This little place kind of reminded me of the old days when I worked at Coffee House in Sundance Square. But then Starbucks swooped in and took the place over. Anyhoo....if I were 18 again, I could see myself working in this place.

We then ventured off to the Shidoni Foundry and Gallery. This is a really cool outdoor/indoor gallery full of bronze sculptures among other things. If you are ever in the Santa Fe area, it is worth stopping by!

So, after our very full day of driving and site seeing we went back to the casita and I grilled it up outside for everyone. We ate al fresco. It was a lovely evening!!

Jeff made a little fire after dinner.......

Cheers!