In the Middle of Fun!

 Spending the week with this little Sprite!

Which means adventure is the just around the corner! Wishing ya'll a Happy St. Patrick's Day!

When she first saw the headband, she was so excited and called it her 'broccoli' hat. 😂

Out & About

 Ya'll were sweet about yesterday. With raging winds and no electricity, you wisely suggested  I linger over a cup of coffee (tea for me) or enjoy some hand quilting. That sounds so good in theory, but I guess we're not very good at dialing it down. Almost as soon as I published that post, DH suggested we drive to a town 2 hours away to pick up a welder and we'd make a few stops to inquire about baby chicks.  They are in high demand this year. So we tended to chores and headed out.

We loaded up a small anvil that the previous owner had left. He had expressed interest in keeping it and we'd be close to their new place.

DH has a big one at the barn for when he shoes horses and one in the shop

One stop for a new little stick welder for the shop

One stop for some extra quikrete for the new flagpole

3 chick stops, but we came home empty handed. However we've got a date to pick some up in a few weeks.

1 stop to pick up a little side table so that I could stop using a still packed Uhaul box to set a glass or mug and my hand binding supplies.

I didn't want anything big or bulky and this little metal table with a wood top is perfect. 

Then we spent a couple of hours visiting with the kind couple from whom we bought this place  before heading back. They have become friends and we're so glad we're staying in touch.

We hadn't eaten all day and it was 4:30 when we stopped at a favorite little spot on the way home.

Home at 6, in time to chore. And we have electricity. Yay!

I'm in the kitchen today, cooking...we have family coming for the week!

Off Grid This Morning

 With the strong winds (60 mph) whipping across our mountains, we figured we'd hunker down today. They even closed schools and many businesses in town today. No electricity this morning here, but that doesn't phase us much. I am surprised we have phone service as thats been spotty. So I guess we're not completely off grid. We are looking into installing a generator. That's been on the list since we bought this property.

 DH had to hunt around in his shop to unearth the lanterns since we hadn't needed them yet, but its nice and cozy in the kitchen this morning  as the winds continue to howl and the sparse snowflakes dance between rain drops.

I trudged out to the storage container when I got up at 4:30 to find the French Press so DH could make coffee

I need to get back in there to organize things better. I'm so grateful to have this space - makes it so easy to find seasonal and stored things and it keeps the garage from being cluttered.

But that's a project for another day. My cozy kitchen is calling. 

Quesadillas

 I've been making these for a long time...at least 15 years. They are a family favorite. We rarely eat out, but when we do, I would often order them if they were on the menu. If you share dishes they were easy to share. I no longer order them because we think these are better. 

We went to one very  popular local Mexican restaurant last year and I ordered them. They were awful. Truly. They had just tossed some unseasoned canned chicken between two soggy tortillas. I could not believe they would even serve something like that. 

Here's a better version. 😉

Quesadillas

Chicken

Pepper-Seasoning Salt-Granulated Garlic

1 large diced onion

1 large green pepper, diced

1 diced jalapeño 

Freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese (I find it melts better and adds more flavor than the pre-grated cheese)

* Season chicken with pepper, seasoning salt, and granulated garlic in cast iron skillet. Brown in a little oil and butter. Remove from skillet and cut into small pieces. I buy the large bags of chicken tenderloins at Sam's and use those.

In same skillet, add a touch more oil and over low-medium heat, saute onion, green pepper, and jalapeño until vegetables have softened and charred a bit on the edges - about 15 minutes. Stir in diced chicken.

Heat another cast iron pan (I have a cast iron griddle) over low heat and place a tortilla on it. I don't put anything on the griddle. Top with grated cheese. Layer chicken mixture, then a 2nd layer of cheese. Top with another tortilla. Flip when bottom tortilla has crisped up and browned a bit to cook other side. Remove and cut into wedges. Repeat. 

Serve with salsa, sour cream or Mexican crema, and guacamole. If you come and stay for a few days, chances are pretty good that these will be on the menu.