The Crazy Witch Cooks: Chowder!

So I decided I wanted to make potato soup the other night, but never got the chance to. Then last night I decided I would make potato and corn chowder tonight. It turned into "Potato-corn-ham-and veggie-chowder" lol...

It turned out REALLY good so I thought I would share my recipe. Now I have to say, when I throw something together like this, I do not take exact measurements so bear with me.

Bella's Whatchamacallit Chowder
Serves about 6

6 medium potatoes, peel optional, cubed
1 large onion, diced
3 medium carrots, diced ( Next time I will dice mine finer than I did this time )
3 stalks celery, diced
16 oz of whole kernel corn, canned or frozen ( I used yellow, next time I will use white )
Diced Ham ( I used the last of the Thanksgiving leftover ham )
1 cup chicken broth
1  cup of Milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 Tbl. Butter
Salt
Pepper
Lemon Pepper
Garlic
Paprika
Basil

Wash and cube potatoes, cover with water in stock pot. Bring to a gentle boil, cook until tender but not mushy. Drain 3/4 of the water out of the pot. Return to medium heat.

While potatoes are cooking, dice your carrots, onion, celery and ham.

Add chicken broth to the potatoes, followed by the diced veggies,corn, and ham. Return to gentle boil until the carrots are tender but not mushy.

Finally add your milk, cream, butter,and spices, and simmer this for about 30 minutes or until ready to serve.

 If the chowder is a bit thinner than you like, you can add a little cornstarch and water, or mash a few of the potatoes in the pot, or add a few instant potato flakes until you get the constancy you prefer.

It may not look like much, but it was really hearty and totally nom worthy.

Serve topped with shredded cheese and crackers, and a few dashes of hot sauce for a little kick!

Just a quick hello...

Just wanted to pop in and say I hope everyone had a good weekend. It has been a busy yet good one for me...we spent some time today at my parents house, I was fixing one of their computers. Mom was in a mood but at least I got to spend a little time with the kids.

Tomorrow I have some things to do..one, catching up on cleaning after the weekend as usual, and I need to do a releasing and cleansing ritual...got some things to let go of and get it out of my system.

After that I should be back to a fairly regular schedule of posting, I have a few things to write about.

But tonight, it is back to vegetating for the rest of the evening and getting a jump start on stuff tomorrow.

More later!!

Why yes, it WAS a Happy Thanksgiving!

 Oh it was all that I hoped it would be, and even more!

First of all I want to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving, and I hope you all got to enjoy the day, no matter what you did.

Second of all, today was AWESOME!! I got woken up by the smell of cinnamon...under my nose. I opened my eyes to find Jack holding a plate of cinnamon rolls he made this morn...Hazelnut and brown sugar icing rolls to be exact and they were from scratch! I adore cinny rolls and he knows it, so he decided to try out a home made recipe and wow. I had three lol.

He had been cooking since he got up, and he had to run to the store after I got awake, and when he left I set to making an oreo cheese cake and started my eggs to boiling so I could make deviled eggs later. I also made the dressing.We had: Turkey Breast, Honey Ham, green beans and potatoes, dressing, sweet potatoes with marshmallow on top, Cajun rice, deviled eggs, jellied cranberries, and the oreo cheesecake, which we did not even eat yet lol.

Cajun Rice

                                                      

Deviled Eggs

                                                        

Sweet Potatoes

                                                        

Dressing

                                                         

Ham and Turkey

                                                          

                                                          

I did not take pics of the cranberries or cheesecake....and I had to add that Jack did not want me to post these pics because it was just us, so he did not make it "all pretty for presentation." But between the two of us, we literally washed dishes about 10 times, and we were starving, so I snapped pics and we dug in lol. So while it may not look like much, it was absolutely divine tasting. I just finished my turkey and cranberry sandwich so I am a happy camper right now.

It was just the best day. It was relaxing, and fun, we laughed and joked and talked, cooked together, watched a few movies, and relaxed. No fighting or being pissy or anyone yelling or stressed out like it would have been with the rest of the family...I am very pleased we got to do this today. We even got to have an hour of uninterrupted adult time, thanks to Alex taking an after dinner nap!

Jack even took a couple of pics, and a couple of them turned out ok. Here is my fav, of Alex and myself...

He caught me off guard here lol..

                                                

My Sassy Girl Alex

With the wind blown hair

                                                   

Remember me saying I burnt the old couch?

Here is the pic of it burning!

                                        

I think that about sums up the pics lol...

I also wanted to say thank you for the comments on my post yesterday...especially Ryan, what you said helped a lot. Sorry I scared the crap out of you lol..but I am glad to have helped. As it stands, one of the people I was referring to decided to just up and remove themselves from my life over it, but like Ryan said, sometimes you have to say what you have to say and walk away. On the other hand, sometimes you have to listen, and walk away, because that is what is best for you. I understand that, and wish those people well on their life's journey.

So now the evening is winding down, Jack's boss is on vacation this week, so usually he would use HIS vacation days and take a 4 day weekend, but as second in command, when his boss is away, he is the boss, so he has to be there, and Saturday as well..but the overtime will help a lot with Christmas coming up. He is in bed already, and so is Alex, and I am sitting here rocking out listening to the Paul McCartney concert on ABC...I am not a huge Beatles fan, but he was my fav out of the bunch, and he is singing all the songs I like!

If any of you go out in the commercialism war known as Black Friday, be safe. I would hate to hear of anyone getting trampled by the herd! I will be safe and warm here at home...eating cinny rolls and drinking coffee, and counting my blessings....

Love to you all!

*Music of the Moment: Hey Jude by Paul McCartney (Which is the song that reminds me of my Mom..Judy)*