Monthly Archives: December 2011

I think I’m safe

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I’m pretty sure no one from work reads this blog so I think I’m safe sharing what I have done so far on my office Christmas knitting.

My plan was to knit mitts that coordinate with these hats that I made last year. 

Office hats

I still have one navy mitt to knit then another pair to coordinate with the striped hat in the upper left.  I’m not sure how I want to do that final pair.  These are knit in the round so any colorwork will also go around.  Maybe bold stripes around the main hand part?

There are still ends to weave in but I’m making headway.

My front door

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Before I write this post, I just want to tell you that my photos have taken a turn for the worse.  For some reason when I download photos from my camera, something happens and the photos disappear or the file is damaged.  So until this issue is remedied, my iPhone photos are going to be it.

I wanted something different for my front door this year so I bought three  20 inch wreaths, some fabric poinsettias in lime green, blue, and white, and blue and green ornaments.  I have enough red with the door and wanted this to stand out a bit.

 

The wreaths are wired together but I’m looking for some magnetic hooks so the bottom wreath can hang on its own.

Did you do anything special to your front door this year?

 

Substitutions

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That word conjures up all sorts of interesting memories for Mr. Aitch and me.  My mother was the queen of substitutions when it came to recipes.  Sometimes it worked out and sometimes it didn’t.

If I alter a recipe, I have to be very careful when I tell Mr. Aitch that as he usually makes a face if the word “substitution” is uttered.

I was in the mood for Chicken Corn Chowder awhile ago.  A few years ago is more accurate.  This is really strange as I had never had it before but it sounded like comfort food in a pan.  I scoured the recipe sites on-line and decided I could make my own version using what I had in the house.

It was delicious and I was smart enough to write it down as I went just in case it was good.

I use leftover roasted chicken from another meal and things that I’m sure most people have in their pantry/refrigerator.

Last night I made a batch to take to our daughter’s house today.  Our plans changed so we will have it for our dinner tonight.

I’d love to show you a beautiful photo but I’m not a professional food stylist so this is as good as it gets.

Here’s my recipe…and feel free to substitute or add whatever YOU like.

Chicken Corn Chowder

2 stalks of celery, diced
1 small onion, diced
1 red pepper, diced
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 teaspoon poultry seasoning
Salt
Pepper
2 cups corn (fresh, frozen, creamed or canned)
13 oz. can chicken or 2 cups cooked cubed chicken
14 oz. can fat-free, reduced sodium chicken stock
1 15 oz. can evaporated skim milk
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup milk, half and half, or cream (Optional, if soup is too thick)

Melt butter in large pan.  Sauté celery, onions, and pepper till softened.  Add corn, mash up with a potato masher, if desired.  Stir in poultry seasoning.  Add chicken, chicken stock, and evaporated milk.  Simmer for 20 minutes.  Add cream cheese and allow to melt.  Stir in milk if needed and heat through.  Salt and pepper to taste.

Makes 4-6 servings.

Serve with salad and rolls.

I basically threw in what I had on hand.  Creamed corn would work and I intended to use that but I didn’t have any so sometimes I use a potato masher to make it smoother and sometimes I don’t.  I always use leftover chicken but the canned is fine.  A tub of spreadable cream cheese would probably work though I’ve never tried it.  Some people put potatoes in there recipe but I don’t.  Obviously.

When I made this last night, I didn’t have any red peppers so I “substituted” a frozen medley of red, yellow and green peppers.

These just came out of the oven and will go quite nicely with the chowder.

Is it time to eat yet?