“YES YES YES, WE NEED HELP!!! LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME TO THE NEW BOXING GYM AND I WILL GIVE YOU A 15 MINUTE TALK ABOUT WHT YOU WOULD BE DOING. AWESOME!!! THANK YOU FOR YOUR EMAIL! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!”
My first thought is to reply and let the boxing coach know that I will wait until between the Christmas and New Year’s holiday’s have passed, but honestly? I think I might try to get over tho the Rock Steady Boxing classes right smack in the middle of all this hubbub.
I have a feeling that finding ways to help out somewhere is a lot more interesting than standing in line at the mall.
“Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, it’s at the end of your arm, as you get older, remember you have another hand: The first is to help yourself, the second is to help others.” Audrey Hepburn
At a gathering recently, a friend and I referred to the same news clip that we each had seen on TV. It seems that another family looks forward to the same news program that The Husband and I have been watching for a couple of decades.
CBS Sunday Morning has been a great way to pass an early Sunday morning. The stories and news clips are great viewing for kids of all ages and we always discover something new. A few weeks ago, we learned about a therapy program designed to help patients with Parkinson’s Disease.
Quite surprisingly, it turned out that my friend is also interested in this program. We took the hint that Coincidence was throwing our way and promised that the very next morning we would drive out together to one of the local boxing and fitness facilities to start asking our questions… I’m glad I have a friend who gave me the push I needed to send off an email and ask about helping out. Hopefully, I will hear back from our Rock Steady Boxing coaches and there will be volunteer positions open.
Watch the above video and ask yourself this: where can I volunteer my time, offer my talents, or donate my treasure? Do you feel called to help out somewhere or with someone? There are so many ways to help everywhere, you just have to get out there and ask. Maybe look for Coincidence?
All Costco’s Kirkland brand drinks seem to be great- the wines, the liquors, and now… how about this Irish Cream Liqueur? Into the cart it went since I couldn’t pass up the possibility of a good drink.
We have since tried it, and the Kirkland Irish Cream Liqueur is a winner! On ice and in coffee, The Husband and I have loved it. The Bunco Club has indulged and gave their approval, but the level in the bottle has still barely dropped.What am I supposed to do with an enormous bottle? It’s time to experiment because this is a seriously ridiculous amount of booze…
How about brownies? Yum.
The Ingredients
Irish Cream Liqueur Brownies
Oven at 350. Grease a 9″ x 13″ baking pan.
Into a large bowl put:
The brownie mix
Prep bowls with vanilla and coffee
coffee into the vanilla
coffee and vanilla into the liqueur
Mix together in a small bowl or measuring cup:
1/4 cup Irish Cream Liqueur instead of water (or amount of liquid as directed by recipe)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 Tablespoon instant coffee crystals
Beat together in a medium bowl:
1/2 cup vegetable oil (or as directed)
2 eggs (ditto)
Stir together the liqueur and egg mixes, then slowly add all the liquid mix into the large bowl with the instant brownie mix. Add in chocolate chips now, if you are using them in your recipe. Stir until combined, but don’t over mix.
all the liquids go in
I added chocolate chips!
Pour batter into prepared pan. Follow your usual baking directions, and in about 25 minutes you should be in Brownie Bliss!
I need about a half gallon of milk right now, or maybe a big mug of black coffee… or two. I just tasted my brownie concoction and WOW. Very sweet, but Very good. I think that the brownie mix could have stood another tablespoon or two of liqueur, as the batter was not only more stiff than when usually made with water, but also- the Irish Cream Liqueur flavor is pretty mild.
Irish Cream Liqueur Icing (makes about 1 1/2 cups icing)
In bowl of stand mixer, slowly beat together one cube of butter, two ounces cream cheese(1/4 of an 8 oz. block) and two cups powdered sugar. Beat on high speed for three to four minutes until light and fluffy.
Stop the mixer and add one teaspoon vanilla and 1/4 cup Irish Cream Liqueur. Mix again, on low speed until combined, then high again for one to two minutes.
This recipe is fantastic because it is so versatile. Everything can be thrown together with pre-made convenience foods, but honestly? It is unbeatable if you use your own salsa and make stock from scratch. Like all the best food, this dish is as good as the ingredients you use.
(left) Yesterday’s stock from the slow cooker!
Ready? Here it is:
The Best, Easiest Chicken Tortilla Soup
shredded chicken
chicken broth
frozen corn
salsa
chili powder
shredded cheese and crushed tortilla chips
Need exact measurements? I’ve got those:
(but remember, this is a very forgiving recipe in that you can change the amounts of each of the ingredients)
3-4 quarts chicken stock (home made is best)
1 1/2 cups salsa (home made or your favorite)
2-4 teaspoons chili powder
Simmer the above ingredients for as long as you have patience, 20-60 minutes is fine.
…shredded chicken, frozen corn.
About ten minutes before you want to serve, finish the soup by adding the following two ingredients and heat through but don’t overcook:
1 bag frozen corn kernels (12-16 ounces)
2-4 cups chopped, cooked chicken (most of the meat from a rotisserie chicken)
Serve with crushed tortilla chips and shredded cheese.
A plop of sour cream is good on top, too. I never offer this, as The Husband doesn’t like the added dairy- he leaves out the cheese, too. Cretin.
This soup is also great with hominy instead of corn kernels. Buy your favorite prepared salsa if you don’t make your own, no cheap cilantro-less crap with added sugar allowed. Again, this soup is as good as the ingredients from which it is made.
Want this dish without any of the prep work? Break out a couple cartons of chicken broth, cooked chicken strips from the convenience section of the market, store bought salsa, chili powder, a bag frozen corn, tortilla chips, and pre-grated cheese. So easy. So good.
From this 3.5 lb bird came a little over 2 pounds of meat… and the skin, bones and junk left over? DON’T THROW IT AWAY!!
If you want delicious, home made soups but don’t have half a day at home to make stock on the stove, your slow cooker is your ace in the hole! I’ve never tried this method, and have let the chicken carcass simmer for anywhere from 2 to 5 hours on my stovetop, and wanted to try this method for once. Is it easier with the slow cooker?
THIS IS NOT WASTE
Observe:
Here’s all of the non-meat leftovers- about 1.5 pounds of carcass, in the slow cooker and covered with water to about an inch from the top of the crock…
This muck sat on low for about 12 hours overnight. In the morning I put a pot in the sink, the strainer in the pot, strained the broth, put it in the fridge, tossed the bones in the trash, and washed out the crock. Bonus- if you are trying to cut calories, the fat will float to the top of the pot and solidify, just scoop it off for fat-free stock.
This was by far the easiest and tasted like any of the best broths I’ve made before. I’d say I ended up with close to just under a gallon of broth, too. Broth that tastes better than from a can or carton and nearly free to boot? Can’t beat that with a stick!
Pour batter into prepared pan. Follow your usual baking directions, and in about 25 minutes you should be in Brownie Bliss!
Costco’s Rotisserie Chicken has its own Facebook fan page, I kid you not
branching out... on a limb 