Robbins Blog

A little late but I would be monumentally remiss if I did not acknowledge my appreciation for all of you that have been with me during this journey. The thoughts, cards (though unnecessary) , wishes and prayers have been so appreciated. I feel guilty for not thanking you all personally but I am not sure who all of you are! Special thanks to Jo who has spearheaded more than one collection of family and friends to support me and more importantly my family.

Another year of crash commercialism and rampant American style consumerism completed. Not that this is a bad thing (to some in this household!) …

District art winners.

Something that I approve of that the President actually put his name on.

Academic Award

Texas Turkey Chowder

Having lived on ALL coasts, here is something to create the day after T-Day that is not your typical soup (not that I don’t love a turkey soup). The addition of white wine versus beer and black beans vs kidney (or no) beans is a hat tip to my western friends.  Calling it chowder to my east coast friends.  Making it chili style is all Texas….

Ingredients:

• Some oil
• Some turkey (I use dark meat) – 1-2 lbs or whatever you have
• 2 cans of crushed tomatoes (diced is okay too)
• I can of tomato paste
• I can of black beans
• 1 good size onion
• Chili mix (package or make your own) *
• A bell pepper or two (I use orange and red)
• Some white wine (no doubt all of my friends have this)

* A responsible chili mix:

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 tablespoons chili powder (chipotle best)
• 1/2 teaspoon Spanish paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon onion salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

Okay, simple procedures.

Chop the onions add it a stockpot that has some (teaspoon or two) oil in the bottle   Sauté/sweat until you get that nice smell (you know…).  Add in some chopped turkey (thigh meat is great, take some from the drum too if you have a household that doesn’t eat them (like mine).  Add cut up peppers.  Add 1/3 of the chili mix.  Stir that around for 2-3 minutes.  Add tomatoes, tomato paste, beans and another 1/3 of the chili mix.  Add some wine to make it chili/chowder consistency.  Simmer covered for 30-45 minutes or as long as you can stand.  Add the rest of seasoning and stir.  Add more wine if needed but likely you can just drink it (did I have to wrote that part?).  Cook another 10 minutes with the lid off.  Taste for seasoning.

Ladle it in a bowl, add some grated cheese (cheddar) and sour cream as desired.  Serve with whole grain tortilla chips.  Enjoy while recovering from shopping hell.

The other bed is now complete… and there will not be another, regardless of what Yoda might allude to (hope you all remember that reference).  This one was in a lot of ways easier — because I actually had some tools and of course more experience.  It was a little harder in that I was making it up as I went along versus having a set of plans.  The girls seem to like it.  Now, if it would only help them go to bed more nicely.

At least my next vacation is not spoken for now.  Of course, I just want to rest for a while. Between this, work, a trip to Canada, tee ball games and this damn cold I now have, I am ready for some high quality, extended nap action.

Well I am off for a while.  Will try and post something if anything conducive comes out of my ADD/OCD mind, besides the obvious (like Obama is a freaking liar, his people are crooks and Morgan Freeman is an idiot).

First, let me say that I am SO looking forward to the election in 2012 even if it means that I have to sit through the seemingly endless commercials… and no, I do not mean Presidential speeches though I can understand why you might assume that.    It is really sad when it only takes 3 years to cheapen 230+ years of courage and conviction.  Politics aside — and I am generally not in favor if his — this man has really taken the office to an whole new low by his actions and character.  That is saying a lot consider Carter, Taft and a few others….  Makes me mad.  I wish we could have honest debate in this country and let people vote by conscience.  Unfortunately, we have Alinsky playbooks, political spin control, scandalous speechwriters, special interest groups buying favors and our electected or those hoping to be elected, men (and women) fronting it all.

That aside, bed is done minus some cosmetic updates.  More pictures in the future (or in the photo gallery) but Max seems like like it.  He better.  Lots of time went into it.  I shutter to think of the real cost of it but hard costs were about 1/2 of the asking price from the manufacture, and that includes buying a table saw and compound miter saw (which I always wanted anyway).  Now, on to make a castle bed for two girls who never want to go to bed anyway.

BTW, it is September?  How did that happen ?  At least the triple digits are mostly gone though it was 101 yesterday.

yes, the first day of school is amongst us… TWO this time.  There was general excitement (as evidenced by the 5ish  AM wake up) and then caution on the part of the Meghan.  Some minor confusion at the school (parking was a nightmare) and Mackenzie’s class was mislabeled but besides that, it went off without a hitch or a hissy fit.  Success in my book.