Smoked Pork White Chili, Rainbow Pancakes, Rainbow Cupcakes

Good Tuesday morning!

I've added a few more paintball pics to the Gallery today. I have found in my life, you cannot have too many paintball photos!

RANDOMNESS - My friend, Jennifer, left some VERY interesting information in the Comment Section yesterday. She has discovered a restaurant that serves Krispy Kreme Milkshakes. That's right! KRISPY KREME MILKSHAKES! Here are the details... and I'll see you there at lunch!

Jennifer said, "Last night I tried the ultimate dessert, a Krispy Kreme Milkshake, at the new Flip Burger Boutique at The Summitt. Very cool, but the shake took the prize! I know my daughter would love, love, love it so I highly recommend it. The burgers were small, different, and priced at about $7 to $9, and the shake was $6 (but worth it)! Next time, I'm trying the nutella and burnt marshmallow. Yum."

I cannot even imagine!

50 Ways to Tell Your Child "I Love You" - As promised, ten a day!

11. When you sense something is troubling your child, make a reason for a trip in the car alone together.

12. Have a surprise make-your-own-sundae ice-cream party for the kids, making sure each child's favorite toppings are there.

13. Ask your child's opinion on a big family decision.

14. Show your child where you have kept a special card or picture he or she has given you.

15. Never say, "I'm too busy."

16. Give your child your full attention when he or she tells you what happened at school today, and provide a thoughtful response. (This is not a time for multi-tasking.)

17. Occasionally include your son and daughter when doing something with your adult friends.

18. Take your child out to breakfast (just the two of you) before school.

19. Allow your child to plan the day for the family.

20. In a relaxed time together, get out your high-school or college yearbook and talk about your "school days" memories.

Special Guest - ANN GRABER - Part Two - Be prepared for a few more surprises today as Ann's interview continues. (And don't worry about the answer to number 12. I'm planning on getting the recipes for those two meals to use next week.)

11. What is your favorite old hymn?

What a Friend We Have in Jesus and It Is Well.

12. What is your family's favorite meal you prepare?

"Candy" Chicken and "Special" Mashed Potatoes. (Okay. So now I have to call and find out what "Candy" Chicken is and what can possibly be so "Special" about her Mashed Potatoes. I'll let you know.)

13. Shoe lover or purse lover?

Neither.

14. Where is your "happy place?"

My happy place is wherever I am speaking to my Lord and Savior!!!! (There are those exclamation points again!!!)

15. Name a fond childhood memory.

Visiting my Uncle and Gram in Rhode Island every summer and holiday!!!

16. Who are you most like... your mother or your father?

I am a combination of both my Mother and my Father!!! Cool!

17. Did you grow up in a small church or a large church?

I did not grow up in a church. As a matter of fact, I didn't become a Christian until I was in my 20s... just a couple of years ago (smile). (You may or may not have noticed... The Special Guest NEVER has to reveal her age. So if Ann wants to be 26 or 27 this week, it is perfectly fine with me! I may join her.)

18. What is your favorite holiday, and why?

My favorite holiday is Christmas. I love the decorating, the music, the food, celebrating my Savior and all the family traditions!!!!

19. You are at home ALL day long by yourself with no car. Do you go stir crazy or thoroughly enjoy every minute of the day?

I would LOVE to be home all by myself for a whole day!!! I would enjoy every minute of it as long as it was only one day. After that I might go crazy!!!

20. Movie lover or shopping lover?

I LOVE TO SHOP!!!! (Wonderful! I'm going to The Galleria four more times this year. Maybe we can get together?)

21. What is one food you cannot make yourself eat?

I cannot force myself to eat beets! (And all the girls said, "AMEN!")

Tune in tomorrow for the last part of Ann's interview. I'll miss her when it's over. It has been a pleasure.

Smoked Pork White Chili

Today's recipe is shared with us by Angela Hardiman. I saw where Angela had prepared this for a family meal on Facebook a week or so ago, and asked if she would mind letting the multitudes try it, too. She agreed. Angela found this recipe using www.e-mealz.com. She's the second person I know you uses this meal program. I think I'm going to take the plunge very, very soon and start using their program, too.

Angela cooked a 6 pound pork roast in the crock pot and used part of it for barbecue sandwiches and reserved 3 cups for this recipe.

You will need:

1 stick butter
1 onion, chopped fine
4 stalks celery, thinly sliced
3 teaspoons minced garlic
5 to 10 jalapeno slices, chopped
2 tablespoons flour
3 cans chicken broth
2 cups half and half or milk
2 cans great northern beans, undrained
1 can white corn, undrained
3 cups shredded smoked pork
Shredded fiesta blend cheese (topping)

1. In large Dutch oven, melt butter and saute onion, garlic, celery and jalapenos until softened.

2. Blend in flour, stirring to break up clumps.

3. Gradually add broth and half and half. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cook for 20 minutes.

4. Add beans, corn and pork. Heat thoroughly. Top with shredded cheese if desired.

She assures me it is WONDERFUL!

As promised, I have two more recipes/ideas for the St. Patrick's Day Party we talked about yesterday.

Rainbow Pancakes

This recipe is for St. Patrick's Day breakfast... and technically it isn't a recipe as much as it is an idea. Go to My Blog List and click on Nitty.Gritty. Scroll down to February 20 to a post called Sunshine and Smiles. Just divide your batter into six different bowls and add the colors of the rainbow (one color per bowl). Aren't they beautiful and fun?

Rainbow Cupcakes

This is exactly like the above, except it was in Family Fun Magazine this month.

1. Prepare your favorite white cake mix, then divide the batter evenly among six small bowls. (Use the chart below to make the rainbow colors in the correct order.)

2. Line the muffin pan with baking cups. Evenly distribute the purple batter among the cups, then the blue, and so on, following the chart below. As you go, gently spread each layer of batter with the back of a spoon to cover the color underneath.

3. Bake the cupcakes according to your recipe directions. Before serving, remove the paper wrapping, and if you like, top each cupcake with a whipped-cream cloud.

Rainbow Chart:

Purple - 9 red and 6 blue drops
Blue - 12 drops
Green - 12 drops
Yellow - 12 drops
Orange - 12 yellow drops and 4 red drops
Red - 18 drops

This would be a fun snack to send to your child's classroom the week of St. Patrick's Day OR serve at your own St. Patrick's Day Party.

Have a fantastic Tuesday. Take a little time to call someone you haven't spoken to in a while... or send them an e-mail... or text them. (I personally have to use the antique telephone. By the time I text, "Hello. How are you?" I could conceivably be on my third or fourth phone call!) Wednesday is Wednesday Wisdom day AND I'll have a Seasonal Tradition that is sure to please. Oh, and we'll have the last (heavy sigh) installment of the interview with Ann Graber. We will miss her on A Simple Life.

Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda