Chicken Corn Chowder- Yum-O!

If I had to guess I would say that it has been about minus a billion outside in the past little while and to me, this is unacceptable. I actually am not a winter hater like many, in fact I am a winter baby- born on Winter solstice. But I find it difficult to appreciate winter and it's beauty on days where I think even my bones are frozen. Solution? Find quick ways to thaw out.

I'm going to share my heart healthy chicken corn chowder recipe that my dad always makes- it is soooooooooooo good, will warm you up and is so easy to make.

So I am not a cook. I make about 3 things well (including KD, which I have mastered in the microwave ps). But this is so simple and involves a lot of nice healthy ingredients and also good to note is that it freezes well to save up for the next cold spell. So here is some yummy for your tummy, enjoy!:

Chicken Corn Chowder

1 t olive oil
1 lg onion finely chopped
1 red pepper diced
1 all purpose potato – peeled and diced
2 slices bacon diced (optional)
1 cup of chicken broth
1 can evaporated skim milk
1 can creamed corn
¾ lb of skinless, boneless chicken breasts – cut up in bite size pieces
½ t salt
¼ t pepper
¾ cup of frozen corn niblets
parsley for garnish

1. In a medium saucepan heat the oil until hot but not smoking over medium heat; add onion, red pepper, potatoes and bacon; cook, stirring occasionally until potatoes begin to soften (about 5 min.); stir in chicken broth, evaporated skim milk and creamed corn; bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer; simmer uncovered for 10 minutes stirring occasionally.
2. Stir in chicken; add salt and pepper; cook until chicken is cooked through (about 5 minutes); stir in frozen corn niblets and continue to cook until corn is heated through (just 2 to 3 minutes more).
3.Sprinkle with parsley; serve; enjoy ☺

Ps if you make this invite me over-I'm very good at being an official taste tester :)

4 your KD

Most people I know love Kraft Dinner ( I will not single out my friend who doesn't, you know who you are). For many it's a staple (good ol KD in a hot pot in your dorm room). If I were given the chance to pick my most favorite meal it would be KD & hotdogs (with ketchup of course)- don't knock it til you try it- I love it!

Not only do I love it, but my grand parents love it too and fully support my habit. My darling grand parents live in New Brunswick and always make sure I have a full stock of KD in my cupboard. Distance is no obstacle to keeping my stock of KD healthy and well maintained. I get phone calls when the weekly flyers come out, letting me know where the sales are (I don't dare ever purchase it at full price), and I even get passed along the bonus pack that was picked up for me and delivered on the next trip up.

I'm frequently questioned by them how much I have left, and if i'm getting low which is usually accompanied by the scoop on the latest sale.

Above is a picture that may seem quite random to some, but to me, it's quite normal and also brings a smile.

This is something I received in the mail from my grandparents, along with no note except the one on the post-it stuck to $10 bill: "4 your KD". This came after I was informed of a sale and to prepare myself for the next.

I took a picture of it when I received it (almost two years ago now) because it brings a smile to my face even though it's something as simple as good ol KD. KD is a simple pleasure in itself, but this note has been one of my simple pleasures

Bulletin board & key/mail holder

This was another little gem that I found at the Thrift Store- just a plain wooden frame asking to be transformed.

I picked out a really cute paper, coordinating colours and some bulletin board pieces and voila! Instant cute new bulletin board. I also added a few silver embellishments just for fun!

This project is so simple, so easy and a great way to add some colour to a room if you don't know how to! It's also really great for people living in dorm rooms or apartments where they can't paint- inject your favorite colour through inexpensive but fun projects :)

The second project was another plain wooden gem and I painted it all black and glued on some greeting cards that came in a set of 5 from Ikea for about $4.99 I think it was.

I cannot stress how simple and easy it is to do this yourself! The best way to start is with your object (frame, key holder, bulletin board etc.) or get inspired by paper or colours and then go from there! Fun Saturday afternoon project and can be done for under $10 :)

Save time off your life!

As some of you might already know, I rarely wear matching socks. I don't remember when I started this, it's been quite some time since I've actually matched them. Conditions under which I do wear matching socks:

1) When I go somewhere important that there is a possibility that my socks will be seen.
2) I open my drawer and they just happen to be beside each other (even then, sometimes then they are passed over).

When I take off my shoes people often point out that my socks are miss-matched (well aware :) lol) which then leads to: why?....lol.

Well, when you do laundry, during the dryer process there somehow opens a portal to an unknown dimension where socks sometimes disappear. Other items of clothing don;t go there, just socks, and not too often that you notice it every time. So that is reason number one: mystery dryer sock portal to nowhere. (This is legit & you know it, google it, many people have hypotheses, theories and random explanations).

Reason 2: It wastes my time. Let's say that you take an average of 12 seconds to match your socks (whether is be post-dryer run, or in your sock drawer). I'm 26 years old, lets say that I've been matching my socks up to age 13 (just a guess). So, let's say for 13 years I have not been wasting my time matching my socks. So, 365 days per year (plus 4 leap years, so 4 days, now 369), 12 seconds per day so that's 4380 seconds per year, times 13 years, that's 56,940 seconds plus the leap year extra days, 48 seconds so in total that would be approximately: 56,988 seconds.

Translation: 949,8 minutes, or 15.83 hours. That my friends is a lot of time-just merely dedicated to matching socks. So instead if I took this 15.83 hours, I could actually drive to Bangor, Maine (according to google maps) and back, and still have time for lunch and a few pit stops.

People in my life have tried to introduce some techniques to help me: my grandmother purchased me "Duo Socks" which are little feet-shaped plastic pieces with two pronged-holes in which you place your socks before washing them. Perfect for avoiding the black hole of socks, but not for what I now consider good personal taste, a personal preference and clearly as shown, a huge time saver. To you Duo sock: you can lead a horse to water but you can't force it to drink.

My mother, supporter of this quirky habit showed me this website: Little Miss Matched. Their slogan: Think outside the socks. This site sells packages of three socks, not matching but sometimes a similar family of designs. They have also have a section for you to design your own socks- really neat!

Anyways, really long blog post but hope you enjoy and consider the amount of time that you (and I already have) saved on miss-matching socks!

New socks

Such a small, cheap and easy way to reward yourself. Having a bad day, having a good day but want to make it better? Crack open a new package of socks!

The feeling isn't the same even after just one wash- has to be brand new fresh ones. I think a good top prize for a contest would be a one year supply of new socks- who wouldn't want this?!

Next time you're out and about, considering doing yourself a huge, and yet so very simple favour: new socks.

Feel extra passionate about new socks? Join this online group where you can read stories of other sock lovers or tell your own! (Yes it exists lol).

Check it out, happy walking!

Halifax for Haiti

Want to help the people of Haiti but don't know how? Or want to help and enjoy a concert surrounded by others wanting to help? Here's the info:

Date
Monday February 8, 2010 at 7:30pm

Location
Halifax Metro Centre

Tickets on sale
starting Tuesday January 19, 2010 at 11am

Ticket Price
All tickets $20 each

Orders subject to an additional $4 per order fee if ordered on-line (proceeds to Halifax for Haiti).

Seating
All seating is general admission.
First come, first seated.

Availability
Tickets available to purchase at:

The Ticket Atlantic Box Office
Charge by phone at (902) 451-1221
the 17 participating Atlantic Superstore outlets
Online - click Buy Tickets button above once onsale
Info
The Halifax for Haiti benefit concert featuring Halifax-based DRUM! and an array of the region’s finest artists is confirmed for the Halifax Metro Centre, Monday, February 8 at 7:30 p.m. All tickets are $20 and go on sale at 11 a.m., Tuesday, January 19 through www.ticketatlantic.com, at the Ticket Atlantic box office, charge by phone at 451-1221 or at any of the 17 participating Atlantic Superstore outlets. Proceeds from the event will go to the Canadian Red Cross, to support their relief efforts in earthquake-ravaged Haiti.
The event, featuring a solid line-up of East Coast headliners along with a segment from the electrifying music, rhythms and dance of DRUM!, will be produced by Brookes Diamond Productions. “Our DRUM! team wanted to do something to help the people of Haiti in their time of greatest need and the music community jumped in immediately offering their services," said Diamond. "As well, we are so thrilled that our friends in the business community are sponsoring this and local media are jumping on board to help pull this together so quickly.”
“We wanted to lend our support in the best way we know how—with the expertise of our people who make things happen behind the scenes in a facility capable of holding what we very much hope will be a large crowd,” said Scott Ferguson, President & CEO of Trade Centre Limited, the provincial crown corporation that operates the Halifax Metro Centre. “Nova Scotians are known for their huge hearts and generous nature. Now is the time for all of us to join together and show our generosity in support of those who need us so much right now.”

Lineup
Anna Ludlow
Bruce Guthro
Charlie A'Court
Christina Martin
Classified
DRUM!
Joel Plaskett
Lennie Gallant
Linda Carvery
Nova Scotia Mass Choir
Rhapsody Quintet
Scott MacMillan
Sung Ha Shin-Bouey
The Stanfields
Thom Swift
..... more to come

Found: Money!

Today I decided to clean out my closet and I experienced a life's simple pleasure: finding money etc. in pockets of stuff you haven't worn in awhile. Be it a loonie, toonie or even a bill- it is a great feeling. You can't do it on purpose- you have to let it happen, much like a slow clap- has to happen organically.

Related to this I love when you pull out what you think is just a receipt from your pocket and snuggled up to it is a crisp, clean bill. Again, great feeling.

I assure you that re-finding money that was yours and you assumed spent and long gone is in fact in your closet-feel free to check!

What did I find today to inspire this blog you may ask? Nada. Just a badminton shuttle- no money. But then I thought how I wish it were money, not the most random object I could probably have hiding in my closet.

So simple yet so rewarding and can seriously make your day!