Spring 2016

Spring 2016?

I've been thinking about Spring the past few weeks when the temps got into the 70's.  Good thing you can't get angry with Mother Nature because it's cruel to get a snowstorm the first day of Spring!  I was ALMOST thinking of washing my car this weekend that's how much I was in mood for Spring! 

When I was little (NOT GOING TO SAY THE YEARS) my mom would get me all dressed up for Easter.  I always wore a new outfit with hat and gloves.  And of course new patent leather shoes and pocketbook to match.  AND I always had a doll with me.  Everyone in my generation will remember dressing up for Easter.  After church we'd make the rounds of all the relatives and then have a big festive dinner either at our house or at a relative's house.  Funny as you get older, you can't remember what you did last week but some of those childhood memories live with you forever.

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When Chris and I got married his mom gave me all of his childhood bunnies.  They live all year long in our hutch.

I don't know if he liked bunnies or...

his mom liked bunnies...

but somebody in that house liked bunnies! 

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I was going to post some spring recipes today BUT since it's really cold out and going to snow I'm in the mood for chili and cornbread.  Here's two of the best recipes I have and believe me I have thousands!  

  I didn't start out to make this post so nostalgic but I think the holidays subconsciously always bring it on for me.  We all go on when we lose our loved ones because we know that's what they would want but it never gets easier.  Easter has always seemed to me to be a more somber holiday.  It's commercialized like everything else but there's still meaning to this holiday if you're a Christian.

The beauty of this chili is it's nice and thick so we use it in nachos and tacos and even over rice.  It's fantastic left over and freezes beautifully.

Betty Crocker's Cookbook (1986)

AND I always love to make cornbread with chili.  This is the recipe that appears on the back of the Quaker Oats Cornmeal canister.

Golden Corn Bread

Quaker Cooking

Servings: 9

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 23 minutes

Side Dish INGREDIENTS:

1 Cup(s) Quaker® Yellow or White Corn Meal

1 Cup(s) all-purpose flour

2 to 4 Tablespoon(s) Sugar

4 Teaspoon(s) Baking Powder

1/2 Teaspoon(s) Salt

1 Cup(s) milk

1 egg, beaten

1/4 Cup(s) vegetable oil

PREPARATION:

Preheat oven to 425° F. Grease 8-inch square pan with solid vegetable shortening or non-stick cooking spray. In large bowl, combine corn meal, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add milk, egg and oil. Beat until fairly smooth, about 1 minute. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake in preheated oven for 20 to 23 minutes, or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

Serving Tips: Muffins or Corn Sticks - Pour corn bread batter into greased or paper-lined muffin cups OR hot, well-greased corn stick pans. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes. YIELD: 12 muffins or about 14 corn sticks. Mexican Corn Bread - Stir 1 cup whole kernel corn, 2 tablespoons chopped green chilies and 1/2 teaspoon chili powder into batter. Bake in greased (with solid shortening) or non-stick cooking sprayed 8-inch square pan for 22 to 25 minutes, or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from oven; top with 1/2 cup (2 oz.) shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese.

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So sadly all good things must come to an end and

Downton Abbey was one of them. I had to treat

 myself to a few remembrances:

I love this pillow!

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Finally, being a Hamden Arts Commissioner has many great moments.  Last weekend Steve Kazlauskas and his band "Echoes of Sinatra" came to sing at the Peter C. Herald Sunday Performances.  He was fantastic.  I recorded a few of his songs and they were all amazing.  One of the ladies who attended said she closed her eyes and thought he was Frank.  When no one falls asleep you know you've got a good performance!  We were dancing in the back!  When he played my favorite song I was in Heaven.  There's something about listening to "Summer wind" that puts me in a real happy place.  I really want to share this with you so take a minute and please listen.  If you're a Sinatra fan you're in for a treat!

Below Steve is on the left in the back.  Since Thornton Wilder Hall Stage is home to many events there's always something in the wings.  Last Sunday it happened to be a bull.  These guys are so funny and so much fun they insisted on a photo of themselves with this bull.  I think if they could have taken the bull they would have!  This Sunday series is really wonderful.  It's open to everyone so keep watching the Hamden Arts Commission postings for great bands and come on down when you can!

Happy Easter!  Happy Spring!  Thanks for visiting!