Yuletide = Slackeritis

So yeah, the season is upon us...you know, that season where your 55 degree house seems like a tropical paradise after being outside, your wallet has more receipts in it then cash, you know. Christmayulakkah. Or as the cats call it, "box-and-paper time." I've been a little preoccupied as of late, and I will admit. I have not posted shit from 3 or 4 weeks ago because I've been trying to complete the World of Warcraft Winter Veil achievements, and aiming for Loremaster before 2010. But that matters not, my snowy owls of the intarwebs......for I have the greatest gift of all for your cold winter nights. Frito Pie. **Courtesy of Mr. Boris' spiffy camera phone, he bestows another gift of visible, clear pictures! Thanks Boris!**

That's right. To make enough for 6-8 people, saute up 1 good sized chopped onion and a regular pack of poor cow *ahem* ground beef in some EVOO. Once that's nice and browned, toss in 1 large chopped bell pepper and as much garlic as you like. I add 1 large chopped jalapeno for some extra flavor.  I love the smell of hearty veggies cooking up (and the heat from the stove didn't make me sad either). After those cook for about 5-7 mins over medium-high heat, in goes a can of kidney beans (optional of course), a can of diced tomatoes (or fresh) and some tomato sauce until it looks how you like it. I seasoned this pot with salt, pepper, ancho chile powder, oregano, and cumin (again, little by little, tasting all the way). Let it come to a boil, then turn it down to simmer for 15-20 mins.

That small pot in the back is the brave voice of animal kindness (yeah, I'm not a complete veggiehead, well pffffft). It's made with this Quorn brand fake ground beef stuff, expensive as hell, but worth it cause it goes a long way. All of that brand's products are delicious, especially their "chicken" and gruyere cutlets. Anyway. Set the table with sour cream, cheese, and green onions, load the chili over the fritos....and hot damn. Yes. the damn......is hot, my friends.

I shall leave you with this.....whose bowl of nom is this? My compassionate, moocow-friendly bowl, or those barbaric men?

Muahahahahaha. Well, off to feed the cats now. They're so mistreated. *rolls eyes*  Happy holidays to everyone, wishing you all the best that this new year can possibly hold. May you have warmth and love from your kitchen, from front door to back, and from everything beyond. 

Trippin' on Tryptophan

Well, I hope everyone has sufficiently recovered from Thanksgiving foodcoma! I went down to southeastern New Mexico (Pecos Valley por vida! lol) to spend it with mom, grandma, step-dad, and the rest of the gang to eat ourselves redonkulous and enjoy time with them all. I had such a great time! Really thankful for those awesome folks. (Love you, mom!) Without further ado, here is the as-always lo-fi shot of our Thanksgiving bounty.

Step-dad Rand-o started the 23 pound turkabird the night before, letting it cook allllll night. Now I'm not the biggest carnivore you'll meet, but I had a few pieces and HOT DAMN. Grandma manned the kitchen with mom and I acting sous-chefs. All in all, there was dressing, cranberry relish, candied sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and I still felt two things were missing: my Aunt Rene's homemade noodles and rolls. She was a greatly missed presence.

Now, now, I know, we're getting to it. The pies. Oh, there was pies. In less than 3 hours, grandma had cranked out a coconut cream pie (the reigning fave of everyone), a chocolate meringue pie, and a pumpkin pie. I will never choose. I took all three.

 

I then had to drive all the way back home that night and all I wanted to do was stay another day and relax with the familia. NOH, said the universe. So Dane-o-rama and I headed out (he was headed back the same time as well) and we spent the rest of the evening drinking coffee on my front porch with a nice drizzly rain coming down. I couldn't have asked for a better holiday weekend.

MonkoMikeyPants came back from his holiday on Sunday, and asked me to help unload the trunk. By the beard of Zeus, what did I find? A flippin' tree. I love him. Yesterday was spent buying cheap but legendary ornaments, then glasses of eggnog and decoratin'. It is the most baddest, raddest tree to ever stand on metal legs. The cats have unsuccessfully tried to ninja their way around it, slowly raising paws to bat at the awesomeness that is our tree. I think we have it on lockdown though. *hope*

So, from our little feline-dominated family to yours, we hope everyone has a great, warm, love-filled holiday season. Cheers!