October 8th: Cooler Weather & SNOW??

Yes, I said it... SNOW!
Ok, so it wasn't anywhere near us, but it was in the state! Up to 4 inches in some places.That's as bad as your creepy relatives knowing what town you live in... they don't have your address exactly, but their in the vicinity & scouting around. SCARY!

 

Hwy 81 Sunrise



So, no snow for us yet, but it is decidedly cooler out with several days of lows below freezing this last week and highs only in the mid 50's. I had to use my seat warmers in the car for the first time since last march... and it was AWESOME! Something about heated seats is just great. You get all nice and toasty first thing on your morning drive with golden beams streaming in the car window from a beautiful gold and pink sunrise... yeah, that is great!

There is beginning to be frost on the ground in the mornings... kinda gives you that false snow excitement... when your almost ready for snow, but still need some time to ease into the idea. And you can see your breath in the mornings, which if you work at an ethanol plant like me, means that you can see the steam off the cooling towers for more hours in the day. The sky seems to be bluer and heavier in the mornings, and the darkness comes quicker and more intense in the evenings.



Fairmont, Ne Ethanol Plant



Ok.. so we still have a long way to go before we hit winter (THANK GOODNESS) but we are getting closer. Harvest is winding down as corn gets wrapped up and beans are almost all gone too. The mad dash for the harvest wrap-up, and fall field work sprint has begun. Excitement is building to complete the harvest and i couldn't be happier to join in with the celebration. What a great year most farmers have lucked out with. Irrigated crops have done above average on both corn & beans, while even the dryland yields being down doesn't seem to hurt as bad with prices higher than ever at harvest. Soon all the tractors, grain carts & combines will be put away for the winter, but for now bring on the Fall Fun!



Dad taking a picture from the combine of my brother pulling the grain cart next to him. - Metamora, IL



October... a time for eating!

I Love to Cook, but more so I Love to Eat!

Which is probably a pretty good thing on both counts considering i live in the middle of nowhere, so a meal means i have to cook! Lately I've been on an easy, quick-fix, kick. So any shortcuts i can take, I do! Especially since the days are getting shorter, and the husband is spending more time at the elevator with harvest right now. Quick & Easy is a must!

And with it being Fall I'm really glad it is soup season again.... AND CHILI SEASON! This recipe was especially delicious. The flavors really reminded us both of the great flavors of New Mexico. PLUS, you get to dip a warm and flaky tortilla in it! Yum!

White Bean Chicken Chili


White Bean Chicken Chili



3/4 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 medium onion chopped
1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped (used two thumb sized ones in mine and didn't find it hot at all)
2 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp ground cumin
2 tblsp olive oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 cans (15 oz ea) white kidney beans, rinsed and drained
3 c chicken broth
1-1/2 c shredded cheddar cheese
sour cream and minced fresh cilantro for garnish

-Sprinkle chx w/s&p. In a large skillet over medium cook chx, onion, jalapeno, oregano & cumin in oil (3-4 min) Add garlic, cook addt'l 1 min.
-Transfer to 3 qt crock pot. In small bowl mash 1 c beans; add 1/2 c broth and stir till blended. Add to crock pot.
-Add remaining beans and chx broth to crock pot.
-Cook on low 3-3.5 hrs (i put mine on warm for the whole day while i was at work)
-Stir, sprinkle w/cheese. Serve with dollop of sour cream and cilantro.
YUMMY YUMMY YUMMY!

And if you like spice & quick, here is a great tip: And 3 tablespoons of cocoa mix, chai tea, or any other sweet flavored mix AND 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne to any white or vanilla cake mix and create a masterpiece. AND slather homemade cream cheese icing on anything to make it absolutely sinful!

Spicy Chocolate Cake w/Cream Cheese Frosting!

And even though the freeze has just recently come and started killing all the green things, I've got a bounty of homemade tomato sauce in the freezer that i can't wait to warm up and serve over some delicious pasta with LOTS and LOTS of cheese... that is pretty much the key to any pasta dish.... cheese!!! Yes, just made myself hungry. I will probably be having cheesy pasta tonight! HA HA!!

The other great thing about food in the month of October is that this is officially Thanksgiving Recipe Practice Month! Which could be really good or really bad, depending on which side of the recipe you end up on. My husband will, unknowingly, be my guinea pig for the remaining 23 days of October as i try out all sorts of new potential Thanksgiving Dinner worthy recipes on him. (which also means he'll be helping wash dishes... but I can tell him that detail later!) I'll keep you updated with pictures and recipes of the "Yes" dishes, and maybe just pictures of the "No" dishes.... :-D

Happy Harvest Eating!