Wishing for a "White Out" White Chili and Cornbread

Well I did get the day off work today due to inclement weather, but didn't get much snow to write home about. We got a dusting of the white stuff on the ground and our cars, but most of what we see is just yucky ice. If only we had been a few more miles north and we would have had quite a few inches!! You are in luck though! Since we've been "snowed in" I'm sharing two amazing recipes you can make for your next snow day....or to eat while watching a game of football with friends. These recipes are fool-proof and soooooooo delicious. I made this last night and it was perfect while we watched the winter storm. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

White Chili

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. cooked, chopped chicken
• 48 oz jar Great Northern Beans (we used 3, 15 oz cans as Publix was quite spare on the bean aisle!)
• 1 cup of your favorite salsa
• 8 oz Pepper Jack Cheese, grated
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 2 tsp. cumin

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker and cook on low for 4-5 hours. You can also cook in a pot on the stove as we did. Bring all ingredients up to a bubble, then simmer for about 2 hours. Serve with cornbread. It is really that easy and that delicious!!

Now here is the real star of the show.....Mexican Cornbread. This was the BEST cornbread I've ever made. Ok, it was the only cornbread I've ever made, but good to know I can make cornbread!! :) I have a feeling a certain someone will be requesting this cornbread with all soups from now on. It is so yummy!

Mexican Cornbread

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs, slightly beaten
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup oil
• 1 cup creamed corn
• 1 1/2 cups self rising corn meal
• 1 cup grated cheese
• 1 tsp. salt
• 2 green onions, chopped (optional)
• 2 hot peppers, chopped (optional, we substituted half a can of green chiles because we are wimpy!)

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together except cheese.

Pour half into greased baking dish and sprinkle with half the cheese.

Add remaining mixture and top with remaining cheese.

Bake at 450 degrees for 25 minutes. Enjoy!

Tips: I threw the remaining creamed corn (about 1/4 of the can) and the other half of the can of green chiles into my pot of chili. It seemed pointless to waste and the chiles added extra flavor to the chili.

Delicious!

Our New Camera

Hello! We are waiting on this crazy winter storm to hit the southeast so I decided I'd catch up on my blogging. I've had a short break in my Christmas posting but that is because Brian and I have been S-I-C-K.....SICK. It has not been fun around here. It all started right after Christmas.......it stayed with us to ring in the new year.....and through this past week. Not fun at our house!! After a much needed WEEK of resting I am happy to tell you we are both finally healthy again. It has been quite the sinus bug that we caught, and I wouldn't wish it upon anyone. :(

Back to my post.........

I've got some pretty awesome in-laws. Brian and I are truly blessed to both have parents that are together and love each other and love us so much. They would do anything in the world for us and we both feel that love daily. Well this Christmas, Santa really read my blog post of wishes because we got THE CAMERA.

This one!!!

It was such a shock to open at Brian's parents' house on Christmas Day. I believe I yelled out loud and Brian just looked at them like "Are you crazy?" Of course we were pumped to have such a gift as it will last us a lifetime and we'll be able to take lots of wonderful photos. Brian can also use it for school for some up-close before and after pictures of his dental work. It's perfect.

Since we've opened the camera, "Mr. Fix It" (meaning my husband who is intrigued by how anything works and a new piece of "machinery" is right up his alley) has not really given me much time with it. That's ok though because I will master this camera.....one day. Maybe not as fast as he has done it. I blame this on his week without school. If I had a week off work I'm sure I'd get good at shooting too. :)

Anyway, I'll leave you with a few of his wonderful pictures he has taken in the short amount of time we've had the camera. We are still learning to use it daily. If you know someone that can give a good quick photography lesson let me know!