Different take on White Chili

My mom gave me this recipe and it's absolutely yummy. I love White Chili and I think this may be my new favorite way to make it.

White Chili

2 or 3 Chicken breasts cubed, raw

1 small onion, diced

1 leek, sliced and washed to remove grit

1 poblano or ancilla pepper, seeds removed and diced

2 cans great northern beans, drained and rinsed

1 can white hominy

1 quart chicken broth

1 tablespoon cumin

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

salt and pepper to taste

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon butter

Heat olive oil and butter in pot on medium high heat. Add onion and poblano. Cook until onions beginning to be translucent and then add chicken. Cook for several minutes until chicken has browned on the outside. Add leek and stir until tender (about 3 minutes). Then add beans, hominy and spices and stir in for another minute. Then add chicken broth- enough so that it almost reaches the top of the ingredients, but you don't want the ingredients to swim in the chicken broth. Bring to a roaring boil. Bring heat down (medium low) and allow to simmer for 30- 45 minutes. So yummy and makes great leftovers.

Tonight, we eat out :),

Lana

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

My friends, have you read this book? It. Is. Awesome. I was so sad when it was over! I wanted more more more! My book club read it before I joined and they kept telling me I HAD to read it. So, I listened to them. Here is the book description:

"January1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man shes's never met, a native of the island of Guernsey who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb... As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends- and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society- born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island- boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all. Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society's members, learning about their island, their taste in books , and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever. Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises, and of finding connection in the most surprising ways. (From the Hardcover-edition)"

The characters in the story are all so endearing and funny and quirky. I just loved it. If you read it, I hope you love it too!

Happy reading,

Lana

Jason Aldean, Baby!!

Our sweet friends Jonathan and Rachel asked us to go to the Jason Aldean concert! We had a blast! We ate at Cantina Laredo first. This is my blouse I showed you in the last post. While we were there, the waiter spilt food on my back as he was clearing the table. I felt horrible for him! I could tell he was super embarrassed. I've seen that happen to other people but it's never happened to me. Rachel and I agreed it was like slow motion watching the plates fall. Poor dude. Anyway, I washed it when we got home and it came right out. No harm, no foul! Isn't Matt cute?!

Me and Rachel

Here are Jonathan and Rachel! Isn't her top cute? She got it at Anthropologie too!

Here's the whole gang!

Here is Eric Church who opened for him. He was one tall dude! And a true red neck! He put on a great show! My favorite song of his is Love Your Love the Most

And of course the man, Jason Aldean! He was awesome!!! Matt and I were excited because we knew more of his songs than we thought we did. He really was a blast to watch. I think my favorite song of his is Big Green Tractor but it was really cool when he did the knew song he has with Kelly Clarkson (Don't You Wanna Stay). They had filmed her before and had her sing her part on a giant video screen so it was like she was there for their duet.

Anyhoo, it was SUCH a fun night! We had a great time with great friends and can't wait for the next concert!

Yeehaw,

Lana

Loves of Late

Hey sweet friends! Here are some things we have picked up lately that I love.

I spent the rest of my Christmas money on this beauty (and a dress). Went to Anthropologie (which is also a love) and found it in the sale section! I had seen it before Christmas but they didn't have my size. I walked back there this week and there it was! Oh my heart stopped. I was so excited! I have a funny story to tell about it but will share in the next blog I am about to post.

New bed pillows! My sweet MIL got them for me for Christmas. LOVE. It adds some color to the bed that was all olive green before.

SPRAY PAINT! I just really struggled with liking my blue bathroom for a while, but after I started spray painting the accessories white, I love it. It is so calming and crisp looking to me. My mommy gave me the pedestals (originally gold) and I spray painted them white. I got the vases at a garage sale for $1 each and the stems at Hobby Lobby this week since stems were half off. Then my best bud/ handy man Matt hung them for me. LOVE LOVE LOVE.

Well, Matt finally got his office he has been so patiently waiting on since his promotion this past summer. We were buying him leather chairs for his seating area and stumbled across this AWESOME love seat! We got a GREAT deal and it matched everything perfectly. Our living room is now complete. And we can sit more than 4 people comfortably with out grabbing chairs from the dining room which is nice.

I also picked up the red pillows at Target on sale. (Notice I switched the brown pillows to the leather couch from the love seat. Which do you like better?)

Anyhoo. Those are our new accessories. I am so excited about all of them!!!

Thanks for taking the tour around the house,

Lana

Snow Day! (Self Declared)

Here are a few pics of the pups playing in the snow with their dad. He got out there and played with them for a bit. Here's the deal. I do have 4wd on my truck, but to me that does not mean I should use it. Crossing the 430 bridge with ice really scares me. I did it last year and I hated every second of it.

Ignore the awful no make-up shot. I did it to show what a cuddly dude he has been lately. I think the whole tail/ cone wearing ordeal maybe traumatized him a bit. He has to touch us all the time now. (Which I just really don't mind at all.)

Anyhoo, today, I have played with my sewing machine! SO excited to get some crafts going, played with my dogs, dumped a bunch of ingredients in my crock pot (really, I just dumped, I have no idea what it will taste like), finished Big Love Season 4, finished Sarah Palin's Alaska, pulled something in my neck, hung some pictures, spray painted some candle holders, did some ironing, and I am about to watch last week's Bachelor~! Oh how it brings back special memories from college!!! We girls used to get together and watch every episode! Oh nostalgia.

Thrilled about the snow day, but EXCITED to go to work tomorrow,

Lana

Random Thoughts and Goings On...

Yellow. I have a lot on my mind so I will just share with you my thoughts.

1. My mommy bought me a sewing machine for Christmas. I am sooo excited, but I haven't had anytime to play with it. We've been so busy lately. I have wound my bobbin, and that's about it. I have some projects in mind to do and plan to do them during tax season. Pretty pumped! I took a sewing class in High School and I really enjoyed it. I am looking forward to getting reacquainted with the hobby.

2. I have made my way through most of her cookbook. I have made 39 recipes and I have 20 left to make. Favorite breakfast: Mine: French Breakfast Puffs (Matt's is Eggs in a hole). Appetizers: Jalapeno Poppers (made about a million times). Supper: I don't know my favorite. All are delicious.

3. It's snowing! And sticking! Which means I will probably sleep in and go to work a bit later. I will let it thaw out a bit before going out in it!

4. I am really digging Shape magazine. Lauren and I decided that we would NOT be doing the LR Marathon in March. WHAT A RELIEF! So, I've been really enjoying my gym time. I do about 30 minutes or more of cardio and then to strength and weight training exercises that I get out of the magazine for about 30 minutes. I can tell a huge difference and I am pretty excited about it.

5. Matt and I are going to the Central Arkansas Heart Ball in February! I can't wait! It is a formal event and Matt has to wear a tux and I need an evening gown! Looking forward to shopping for that and all that goes with it in the weeks to come.

6. Big Love. Heard of it? On HBO? We had HBO a few years ago and we have it right now for a preview deal. They have on demand so I am getting caught up before the last season starts. It's about a Mormon family that believe in the principal (which calls them to have multiple wives). I realize it is dramatized for the audience, but I love the story and characters.

7. The Tudors. Have you watched it? LOVE the Tudors. It's the story of King Henry VIII and the goings on of his court during the time he ruled England. LOVE. I am through Season 2. I need to get my hands on Seasons 3 and 4. I guess I will Netflix during tax season. I have such big plans for tax season, and it only lasts 3 months! (Thankfully.)

8. I am going to paint our guest bathroom soon. I have enough left over paint from painting our bedroom and plan to do that with it. Pretty excited. It's pretty drab and needs a makeover.

9. Going to Jason Aldean and Eric Church at the end of this month! Yeehaw!

Thanks for listening to my ramblings. Oven just dinged on the pizza and it's time for supper!

Hope you are warm and cozy inside away from the snow,

Lana

I Fell Off the Blog Wagon

• Oh my. Forgive me, Blogger, for I have sinned. It's been 3 weeks since my last submission.
  

To catch you up:

• We hosted a Christmas Party for the JPMS Cox Tax Department. "Soups and Sweaters with the Summitts". We made 4 kinds of soups and apps and tacky sweaters made for a great time!
  Here is Matt's sweater! Midas was checking it out!

And here is my sweater. It says, "Happiness is a homespun Christmas".

• We had Christmas with the Summitts. It was a BLAST! It was at our house this year (the weekend before Christmas) and we were all able to get together. Karan and I cooked all day (well not all day really but we cooked together and it was so much fun!) We had Christmas dinner Saturday night and exchanged gifts and Christmas breakfast Sunday after church. What a wonderful time together!

• And we had Christmas with the Gilberts! It was so fun too! We were there Christmas Eve and Christmas day. Lots of great gifts and food and time together.

Please notice that Jett is covered in ribbons. It's a Christmas tradition. He loves it! Please also notice that he is sideways. Just turn your head and look because I can't figure out how to delete and re-post. Honestly, this is why I have not been posting lately. I feel that sometimes Blogger can be a bit cumbersome for my very limited knowledge of computers, etc. Who has time? Plus, tax season is very quickly approaching and I just want to spend every minute I have with Matt instead of on here. It has taken me an hour to do this post.

Anyhoo, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours!

Lana