Monday was a pretty dreary day. Lots of rain and a sudden drop in temperate going from 60's during the weekend to the sudden bone chilling 23 degrees all overnight. Sebastian and I tended to our chickens, insulating their coop and adding the numerous pine needles from the yard, and hay stacks to keep the most of the chill out while still allowing air flow to go through.
Even in the middle of dead winter those silly little feathered dinosaurs will be out and about in the yard scratching and looking for things to peck. Collected a few pumpkins while on the paper route Sunday morning for the chicken to nibble on throughout the week, so we spread them through the yard like little treasure troves.
As for Little Lincoln, little buddy had a pretty rough day teething and was a pretty unhappy baby. With the holiday's quickly approaching I also went through our stock of Holiday greeting cards to begin the process of writing and addressing the envelops to family, friends, and our many paper subscribers. I'm hoping to send them off by the first weekend of December.
On the spur of the moment I decided to make a pumpkin BBQ chili for dinner. It's not too often I make chili even though it is one of my personal favorites. My family on the other hand would rather I not make chili. Every year for my birthday my mom also makes a big batch of her chili, and or lasagna another favorite of mine. Throughout the day I kept passing the kitchen counter, each time eyeing the progress of the hamburger I'd gotten out for dinner as it was thawing. Several times as I walked by i kept thinking oh it'd be so yummy to make a chili, And each time I mentally went through my pantry thinking if I had all the ingredients to make a chili. It wasn't until dinner time that I decided chili it was. With the bonus of using up some ingredient that have been sitting in the cupboard for a bit now. Now my family being mostly male tends to eat quiet a bit of meat and with our diet we don' do legumes so I used 10 lbs of hamburger meat that was also in the process of being used.
Here's my personal recipe for my Pumpkin BBQ Chili for 8
normally I combine everything in the crockpot and let them cook medium heat for 6-8 hours.
Sometimes I add a pound or two of sausage or a little bit of steak if we have them, to change up the taste here or there. Again family of meat eaters. This time I cooked this up on the stove ground up and browned the hamburger in one pan, then added all the other ingredients to another pan to simmer while meat cooked. After the meat finished cooking and was drained added the hamburger to the sauce and continued to simmer for 30 minutes.
10lbs hamburger
1 can 29 oz pumpkin puree
1 can tomato paste
2 cans of fire roasted tomatoes or 2 can rotel tomatoes with peppers
4 table spoons chili powder
4 tablespoons molasses
4 tablespoons honey mustard or mustard which ever you have
2 table spoon red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons allspice
2 tablespoon garlic
4 tablespoon honey (which I get locally from a neighbor bee keeper)
2 cups water (unless you combine all ingredients in the crock pot)
1 tablespoon paprika (I prefer smoked)
Tuesday
There are so many moments that can bring us to our knees as a mom. Leaving us defeated both emotionally and physically. This morning was no different. My 6 month old was up every 15 to 30 minutes last night. The only comfort was laying with me and nursing. Poor baby is teething and the only comfort he wanted was his mum. I take comfort in these long, hard days because they won't last. In a few short years, he'll shy away from my hugs and kisses.
The morning came all too soon. Having to get the rest of my 5 kiddos up, dressed, fed, and out the door for therapy. To find our Nissan NV 3500 van sliding door frozen shut from the nights rain and freezing temperatures. So instead of panicking, we simply let it be and
shake it off while playing, and climbing in by the passenger door. I mentally have to in my minds eye re-watch and episode from The Magicians season 1 episode 4 where Quentin (yes this is where Quentin's name came from) is in a mental ward singing and prancing around trying to get the attention of Penny a fellow magicians help who is a mind reader. It makes me smile picturing myself in my own chaos singing shake it off. It's also my husbands favorite way to lighten my mood. Here's a link if you're curious.
I'm a big fan of fantasy, fairy tales, and syfy.
I try to live everyday by looking for the best in every situation. Some days leave me pulling my hair, but those days are becoming fewer and fewer. I love my clan and the patience they've taught me. Everyday striving to be a better mom and to make our dreams come closer to a reality. Living for today, living for the moment.
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