Winter Fruit Salad

I am trying to celebrate the close of what has been a very long, taxing week of trying to balance four snow days with two children and work. I am also trying to prepare for a business trip. Instead of celebrating with something sweet, like we normally think to do, I'm celebrating by making a "scrumptions" (Noah's fav word) winter fruit salad.

2 Rio Star Sweet Ruby Red Grapefruits, peeled and sectioned (videos on internet if you dont know how to do this.
Juice of the grapefruits (video should show you how to
3 Moro Blood Oranges, peeled and sectioned. (you can get these at Market Street)
1 lb Strawberries, sliced top to bottom with tops removed.
2 Naval Oranges, peeled and sectioned.
I will add bananas but not until we're ready to consume it.


Mix with the best kitchen tools God gave you - your hands.

Enjoy :)

Chili (Recipe from LBJ Ranch kitchen)

Papa bear's mom made this and brought it over and I begged for the recipe. I'm making it today. The first picture shows how I really feel about this recipe.
I made one variation. I cooked the onions seperately while I brown the ground beef, then I combined. I love the flavor that the onion gives the oil so I don't want that drained out when the meat gets drained.

Chili (Recipe from LBJ Ranch kitchen)

1 large yellow onion chopped
1 ½ lbs coarsely ground beef
1 heaping teaspoon garlic salt
1 tablespoon Cumin
4 tablespoons Gerhardt chili powder
1 can stewed tomatoes (mashed)
1 can Rotel (tomatoes and green chilis)
1 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons corn starch + 6 TBS water
1 small can tomato sauce
1 family size can Ranch beans

Saute chopped onion in oil until clear in a seperate pan.
In a pot, brown meat thoroughly, stiring often, then drain.
Add all spices and stir well (don’t add cornstarch)
Add stewed tomatoes and Rotel tomatoes (I mashed the stewed tomatoes in the pan once I added them)
Mix cornstarch and water, then combine with tomato sauce.
Add tomato sauce mixture to chili
Stir well
Add can of Ranch beans
Cook covered at least 2 hours
Best served over rice.

Freezes well

Fried Rice - with leftovers

I had leftover rice from when Papa bear's mom brought over chili. Leftover asian grilled chicken. Combined with some asian spices and oils, chopped carrots and fried egg - it made for an easy meal for Papa bear as he recovers from his stomach bug.

Not real measurements here.

fry the egg first so you dont have to transfer rice mix back and forth. Fry the egg, add salt and pepper to taste. break the yolk in the pan and then flip until well done. Set aside and chop up to preference.

Olive Oil with a few dashes of sesame oil (start small with the sesame oil, I mean VERY small. Its overpowering).
sautee carrots until they start to soften, then throw in diced leftover chicken.
When this is warm, toss in leftover cold rice (works best with fried rice).
add a dash of rice vinegar and some red chili flakes and some soy sauce (maybe a tbsp?) and turn dish.

Add egg, mix until well turned. Taste. Add additional elements if necessary.

Leftover Risotto

I had some leftover risotto and wasn't sure what to do with it. It had become a little binded and wasn't as tasty as when it was hot out of the oven.

Formed patties out of risotto
Rolled in Panko
Fried in olive oil until golden brown
topped with Tzatziki from Sprouts

The sourness of the Tzatziki really livened up the risotto.