Poor Richard's Almanac: Food Storage Friendly Fiesta Chicken Soup

"Eat few suppers, and you'll need few medicines." 

~ Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard's Almanack

With all due respect to Mr. Franklin's quote above, eating "few" suppers is what nightmares are made of.  

At least mine are.

That's why I've earnestly tried to make sure that our family always has an emergency dinner supply waiting for us, whatever comes our way.  That doesn't mean that I've got a cellar full of beef bourguignon and Waldorf salad.  It's more like a toddler cafeteria with all of its Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, Spaghettios, pudding, and Oreos.

(Wait.  Strike the Oreos.  I finished off the last package on Wednesday.)

But then I stumbled across this gem-of-a-recipe and realized that EVERY ingredient can be kept in long-term food storage.  And the best part:  

It tastes great.

(Believe me . . . you can't say that about every food storage offering.  Just ask Miriam about her pinto bean brownie experiment.)

 We eat this soup on a regular basis, and not just when hurricanes, blizzards, and unemployment come to town.  It's a crowd pleaser of a meal that tastes great any time of year.

Here is what you'll need.

Fiesta Chicken Soup

4 cups chicken broth

10 oz can chicken breast

1 can tomatoes with green chiles

1 can diced tomatoes

1 can black beans

1 can chili beans (or ranch style beans)

1 can corn

1 can diced green chiles

2 teaspoons cumin

1 teaspoon garlic

3 tablespoons of cornstarch mixed with 1/2 cup water

Mix together.  Simmer for 20 minutes and serve with chips or tortillas, cheese and sour cream.

It isn't like this house is prepared for any and every eventuality---especially if it might require toilet paper, Scotch tape, or dog food.  We are fresh out.

But, if you are looking for a tasty dinner in an emergency, then my house is the place to be.  

Unless, of course, you're hoping for some Oreos, too.  Then, I'm afraid, you're out of luck.

Poor Richard's Almanac: Ironstone Envy

"Good sense is a thing all need, few have, and none think they want."

~Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard's Almanack

Blast this blogosphere!  A pox on the internet!  It seems as though every nook and cranny of cyberspace is TAUNTING me with beautiful ironstone collections like this one . . .

{via Country Living}

and like this one . . .

{via Pinterest}

and like this one.

{via Frog Goes to Market}

The only serving collection I own is a pile of mismatched Ziploc and Rubbermaid containers.  And just when I think I'm getting really classy by whipping out the Tupperware for special occasions, I think back on these perfectly styled shelves with their perfectly aged ironstone and creamware and realize that my kitchen has been weighed in the balance and found wanting.

But so has my bank account.

So what to do when you have ironstone envy?

Well, as good old Benjamin Franklin would advise, you simply make do or do without.

Today, I choose to make do.

I dug through my cupboards and discovered that I had a small and humble collection of lovely white dishes and accessories.  No ironstone here.  Nothing antique.  Just a few of my favorite gifts and bargain store finds.

But where to put them?  I'd like to say that I have a perfectly chippy French armoire just waiting to be filled my with faux ironstone collection.

But I don't.

What I DO have is a library bookshelf.  I know it may sound odd to put teapots and scalloped plates in a library instead of a dining room or kitchen, but teapots and books go perfectly together in my mind.

Don't you think?

I love rich the wood looks against the clean white accessories . . .

and how fresh the dishes look against the warm backdrop.

My faux ironstone collection isn't going to attract any collectors or wow any antique lovers  . . .

 but at least it is a step above showcasing Tupperware.

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Poor Richard's Almanac: Waste not, want not

Have you something to do tomorrow? Do it today.

-Poor Richard's Almanac

 This week is so lovely and sunny here, but last week told a different story. When I moved here, it made me laugh to see everyone cover their trees and plants with blankets when temps hit 32 degrees, but now I have my own yard, and I get it. SAVE THE PLANTS!! Everything here dies when we hit 32 degrees, because everything that grows here survives 120 degree temps in the summer. You can't have it both ways. So as we headed into a week of freezing temps, I headed out and covered the precious plant life in our yard, and set about harvesting two trees worth of lemons, and a full tree of pomegranates. 

What to do, what to do...

It's delicious. I love lemon sorbet, but the pomegranate seems to mellow out the zing a little bit, so it's even better. Plus, I love the color.

And look how cute it is served in egg cups :)

Lemon Pomegranate Sorbet

2 C Water
2 C Sugar
1 C Lemon Juice (These were ripe lemons. You may need to use less if yours are more tart)
1 C Pomegranate Arils

Heat the water and sugar just to a boil, and remove from heat. Add lemon juice. Use a food processor or food chopper to break down the pomegranate arils into a juicy paste, and strain through a mesh sieve into the lemon mixture. Now freeze!

You don't even need an ice cream mixer for this---I didn't feel like pulling mine out, so I just froze it in a bowl and took the bowl out of the freezer and stirred it every once in a while to break up the ice crystals as they were forming. The result? Soft, tangy, perfect sorbet. 

Enjoy!
 

Sharing at . . .

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My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
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Jennifer Rizzo
StoneGable 
No Minimalist Here
Common Ground
From My Front Porch to Yours   
French Country Cottage 
At the Picket Fence
Stuff and Nonsense 
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Somewhat Simple  

Poor Richard's Almanack: Collection Love

"If you desire many things, many things seem but few."

 ~Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard's Almanack

I live in extremes.  I'm all or nothing, hot or cold, standing still or going a million miles an hour.  I don't usually see this aspect of myself as a vice---until I want to start a collection.  Just ask my ebay account.  Once a collecting bee gets in my bonnet, I let it buzz and buzz instead of just finding the nearest swatter.

Alas, this is supposed to be a month of prudence and provident living.  31 days of bee-in-bonnet swatting.  So good-bye Ebay account.  Good-bye antique boutiques.  Good-bye Home Goods.

(Cue pouting.)

Luckily, I can live vicariously through adorable houses like this one down the road with all of its fabulous "collections" . . .

Like this grouping of wire pendant lights in the entry . . .

Or these frames and mirrors in the hallway . . .

Or these punchy floral pillows on the great room couch . . .

Or these deliciously red leather bar stools in the kitchen . . .

Or this fun collection of plates on the dining room wall . . .

Or these funky floral platters in the master bedroom . . .

Or the chunky rustic furniture in every corner of the living room.


I guess you could say I've become a "collector" of collection photos.  Sigh.

It's a hard habit to break, I tell ya.

(Interior Design by Four Chairs Furniture)



What do you collect?  We'd love to hear!

Sharing at . . .

Between Naps on the Porch 
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Homestories A to Z
Jennifer Rizzo
StoneGable 
No Minimalist Here
Common Ground
From My Front Porch to Yours   
French Country Cottage 
At the Picket Fence
Stuff and Nonsense 
Savvy Southern Style 
Somewhat Simple