A messy kitchen and the bigger statement.

Last night I had two goals
1. Make a killer award winning salsa.
2. Make fantastic white chicken chili.
I accomplished both, but the resulting kitchen chaos was ridiculous. I took some pictures to commemorate the disaster. Whatever, it was acceptable- I was both emptying the dishwasher and loading it while putting away various ingredients.
What struck me almost immediately was how I would have reacted to someone else making that kind of mess in my domain. Namely, my husband. I would have shit bricks had I walked in the room at the point of my pictures. And I can assume my tone would have been bitchy and accusatory.
It's not fair and it wouldn't have been nice. But I know it would have been angry. I showed him the pictures and explained my realization. He agreed.
Being a wife is a tricky game sometimes. I didn't fail last night, but I could have. Score 1 for me!

Get creative with potato chips

I've been getting 8-10 little red potatoes per week in my CSA bag from Wenninghoff Farms . Lately I've been baking them in light oil. Creating either crispy dark brown chips or slightly soft potato slices.
I enjoy adding any number of spice combo. Tonight for about 5 thinly sliced reds I added:

1. 1/2 tsp garlic powder
2. 1/2 tsp cumin
3. 1/2 tsp curry
4. 1 1/2 c canola
5. 2 tbsp sea salt
6. Pepper to taste

Mix, coat, layer on baking sheet.
Cook for about 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Flip them halfway, and remove the smaller ones as needed.

Canning/Pickling Okra

Tonight, I'm pickling okra and canning it. For those of you afraid of canning, or fearful of slimy okra- be not afraid, for I am lazy and still manage to do it.

I'd like to say quality okra and great fresh spices are the key to great pickled okra. I'd also like to say I take the time to make cute little labels for each jar that have a 'made with love, eat with joy' caligraphy sticker label on them....

I used my brother's left over okra and last year's pickling spice mix for my canning this year. I do have some pointers on okra though.

1. Pick it yourself. I know there's a U-Pick field within 5 miles of you. Find it and utilize your local market.

2. If you can't get it from a field/ farmers market or backyard garden- get it organic. I always feel better when the food I eat is organic (especially when you eat the entire food, skins and all).

3. Size matters- You want pliable, softish okra that's no more than 3-4 inches long. My personal opinion is under 3 is optimal.
4. I freeze my okra before I put it in the jars. I don't know if it's just an old wives tale or not, but I do it every time. I think it makes them crispier. 

2 Ways to Prep your Jars

1. Wash in warm soapy water then rinse and set in a low temperature oven until ready.
    - I've seen any temperature from 100 degrees to 250 degrees called for. 
2. Run them through the dishwasher alone, no soap, heated dry. Don't touch them until you're ready to use them.

Okra/other ingredient prep:

• I like to include 2-3 garlic cloves per jar - regardless of what I'm pickling.
• I use either chilies or hot banana peppers, cut however you like. I like long slices.
• In each jar I'll use a dime-quarter size amount of Ball Mixed Pickling Spice
• My briney mix is 3 cups white vinegar, 2 cups water, 1/4 cup salt, little pinch of sugar(I forgo the sugar). 

Putting it all together!

1. Sterilize your jars, bands, and keep the lids in hot (not boiling) water.
2. Bring your briny mix to a boil.
3. Pull out 1 jar at a time and pack it as full as you can. Careful not to get your hands on the jar insides.
4. Ladle in the boiling briny mix until there's about 1 inch of space left at the top of the jar.
5. With tongs or a lid picker uper place the lid on the jar and the band over the lid.
6. Tighten it down to just what you can do with your fingers. Hot jar and clean lid mean you won't want to man handle the jar to get it super tight.
7. Place jars in your boiling water bather for 15 minutes.
8. Set them on a cooling rack or cutting board covered in a towel overnight.

The towel is to prevent air currents hitting your jars and making them crack. You'll hear the telltale lid 'POP' when they've sealed themselves shut!.

Love is A VERB

I came home from the gym tonight and the apartment was clean. The girl's clothes were neatly folded in individual piles (pants, dresses, shirts, shorts) for each child. The dishes were done. And the toys were nicely piled.

It reminds me that I love being married. And that sometimes I forget that my husband is a nice guy that isn't always trying his hardest to do as little as possible- Yes, I have used those exact words at him.

Love is a VERB- and I ought to remember that when I see it in action.

Work is hard, friends are a challenge, and my kids drive me crazy- But my partner in awesomeness makes it all a little bit easier.

Okay, I know I know, sappy and all said before...... but it also doesn't hurt that he still has a great ass.

A little birdie told me to do it

I got myself a fun little tattoo yesterday. Of course, for same day tattoos in the Midwest I went to Sailors Grave .