This And That

Today was one of those days where I ran around town and completed errands.  Hit Walmart and picked up several cases of jars for canning (all different sizes) and freezing, went to the post office (nothing interesting there, just bills).  Pulled out the good old crock pot and made chicken SOS, some people call it fricassee.  Either way it’s grub and goes down real good! 

Then I was off to the dentist to get a second opinion on some dental work.  I really have not had much luck with dentists the last 10 years of my life.  I have had dental work that ends up eventually breaking (i.e. crowns w/root canals) and now I am paying dearly.  I must admit, getting a second opinion has eased my mind.  Especially when the dentist completed a thorough examination, spent over 45 minutes just talking to me about what needs to be done to my mouth.  I am very pleased with this second opinion and now I have found a dentist that is willing to work with me and get me situated.  Someone I am extremely comfortable with. Hopefully by this time next month, my dental issues will be resolved. 

Have you looked out into the sky this evening?  There is nothing prettier than looking at a full moon.  Can you see the face inside the white circle?

Simple Things

I took a drive down to the local grocery/bulk store to pick up a few of the essentials to add to my pantry. Canned beans (because some days I am just lazy and don’t feel like cleaning beans, lol), extra broth, flour, sugar, rice, apples and oranges.

 I have been trying to perfect my pinto bean recipe for some time now.  My husband, Bulldog Man loves pinto beans.  He pretty much grew up eating them as a staple.  I really didn’t know anything about pinto beans from growing up.  I was raised eating green, black or kidney beans.  So Bulldog Man had to, I guess you could say, train me on how to make pinto beans that he could stomach, lol.  I have perfected a recipe that seems to satisfy Bulldog Man.  Who knows, maybe it will satisfy your taste too.  

My Pinto Bean Recipe

(Serves 4)

Ingredients

*4 cans pinto beans (rinse the beans in a colander)

2 ham hocks (if ham hocks are real smoky, use only 1)

½ onion (or onion to taste)

1 can green chilies (Hatch is the best)

½ cup salsa (homemade or store bought)

1 teaspoon cumin

½ teaspoon garlic salt

½ teaspoon pepper

14 ounces of chicken broth

Directions

Place all ingredients in a large pot.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium low and cook for 45 minutes.  Take out ham hocks and trim off the meat.  Place meat back in large pot and trash ham hock bones. Serve as a meal or side dish.

*Substitute can beans for 1 pound of dry pinto beans, add water as you need when cooking.

We had a wonderful surprise today, our son, Dakota found his class ring.  He found it in the dryer (actually it was in his pants pocket and it fell out in my dryer).  Now I don’t have to strangle him! J

I Finally Have All The Ingredients

Homemade Flan

Ingredients

5 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 (12 ounce) can evaporated milk

1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

*3/4 cup white sugar (do not add to flan mix).  This sugar is for your caramel topping, read instructions below.

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, then start melting your sugar.



Sugar Just Placed In Pot





Sugar Starting To Melt





Sugar Totally Melted, Looks Like Caramel



*In a sauce pan place the ¾ cup of sugar on low to medium heat, constantly stirring so sugar will not burn (as displayed in pictures above).  Continue to stir until sugar is dissolved and looks like liquid caramel.   BE CAREFUL, Do not splash sugar liquid onto yourself, it will burn badly.  Once sugar has totally melted, pour into a circular baking dish, preferably a pie dish, and then set aside (as displayed below).



Pour  Melted Sugar In Pie Dish, Set Dish Aside And Continue The Next Process

In a mixing bowl beat eggs for 30 seconds.  Add the vanilla, evaporated and condensed milk.  Mix everything together for an additional 1-2 minutes (displayed below). 



Beat Eggs

  

Mix Remaining Items


Pour eggs, vanilla, evaporated and condensed milk mixture into the pie dish you have already coated with sugar.  Carefully place the pie dish into the oven for approximately 60 minutes.  Make sure before taking out of oven the liquid in the pie dish has solidified.    Once it has solidified, remove from oven and let cool.  After approximately 30 minutes, invert the pie dish onto a plate.  Let flan continue cooling at room temperature.  Once cool enough to wrap, wrap with tin foil and place in refrigerator until cold.  Slice like pie and serve with a compliment of real cream on the top.  Enjoy!

 



Right Out Of The Oven, Let Cool Before Inverting





Inverted Finished Product