Thanksgiving Made Simple - Part II

Hello everybody! First of all let me tell you that I've been really busy, just with great stuff, with my girls, friends, Bible Study, etc... Yesterday we even went to a Pumpkin Patch/Farm ... it's Texas so it's more like a "Texan Ranch" ... I miss Wisconsin all the time but fall... well... fall makes me even more nostalgic! Yesterday we reached 90 degrees outside with over 90% humidity! So you can imagine it didn't have a "Fall" feel! but we still had lots of fun!

 So, that was that... Now... I want to remind you of our Coffee Friday Party tomorrow! We are in for a treat! Our featured blogger has prepared a great post and just a delicious cup of coffee to share with us! Make sure you mention coffee somewhere in your posts this week and also, remember to make sure your post links back to us, just add a link to "The Coffee Shop" or if you want to you can add the Coffee Friday Party Button that appears on my right sidebar! just grab the html code and paste it in your post.

Now... I will continue to share my "Thanksgiving Ideas and Tips" for an enjoyable Thanksgiving Dinner! You can host it! Trust me! It's all good! The host/hostess deserves to enjoy Thanksgiving too and not just be "Thankful" when "everything is over! If you missed the First Posts of this series click here and if you want to see my Thanksgiving "Menu Idea" click here

Grandma' Huebschen ... A "Thanksgiving Expert" ... Such a beautiful Lady!

 6. Be Thankful! - Ok... I know that was my first point in the previous "Thanksgiving Post" but I feel I can never say this enough (even for myself)! Focus on what you're thankful for and have the right attitude about it! Instead of worrying about the dishes to wash, thank God for having food that allows you to have those dirty dishes, Thank Him for the running water in your sink! Don't take it for granted! Thank God for the kitchen you have where you can prepare a meal instead of focusing on the "counters you'd love to replace" or stress over the "appliances you'd love to have" ... I find it very interesting that the more people have the more stressed and even depressed they seem to be... we're not "entitled" to all these blessings! God is Good... and yes, bad things happen, I don't know the exact situation and circumstances you're going through... but don't blame Him for the bad... we live in a corrupted world! He is not the source of evil, death and disease, but He is good and even in a bad world, we can enjoy all kinds of Blessings because of Him! ... when we go through something like a "party or holiday" it's weird that instead of enjoying it, it seems to cause us "pain"... just have fun with it! do your best.. and like Beth Moore would say (I got this from her Bible Study "on James") "Do only what Blesses and not what Burdens" ... so true! Don't try to live up to Martha Stewart's standards... just try to enjoy your family, enjoy food, enjoy the fellowship and His goodness.

7. Make Room! - Start getting things organized in your fridge/freezer ahead of time... I don't know about you but I have a crazy, weird refrigerator! LOL! ... I live in an apartment so I don't have an extra freezer or anything to store! So... I know I'll have to keep my fridge pretty empty and organized so I can have room to store leftovers and also for the things I am making ahead of time that will need to be refrigerated (pies, sauces, etc.) ... If that's your case, make sure you don't go "grocery shopping" right before Thanksgiving and then you find out you don't have room to store prepared meals, etc.

8. Don't reinvent the wheel - I'd recommend you to not try new recipes for your Dinner! ... If you have the time and there's a really great recipe you'd love to try (like the ones you can always find here at "The Coffee Shop") then I'd suggest you to try making them ahead of time to make sure they are what you expect and so you can check how long it takes *you* to make it. That way if it doesn't really 'work' for you then it isn't that big of a loss.

9. Only what you enjoy - If you don't like sweet potatoes (like me) or Pumpkin Pie even! Don't include them! Do only what you know everyone will enjoy and don't stress about it! I know they are like "must haves" but ... they really aren't... Maybe with the "time you save" from not making it you can focus on perfecting those dishes you know everyone loves!

10. Wear comfortable Shoes! - LOL! If you have never hosted Thanksgiving or if you've never enjoyed it before and you've decided to do it for the first time or to finally enjoy it too... Then ... Make sure you're wearing comfortable shoes! I know you want to look good but make sure you're comfortable... throw those high heels in the closet, at least while you're prepping and cooking it all... You can put them on when you join everybody too eat, etc.

11. Go to bed early the night before - When I know something is going to happen here at home (holiday/party/people over, etc.) I try to enjoy a relaxing time the night before and get a good night of sleep to be refreshed in the morning. I enjoy a piece of dessert, watch a funny (nothing stressful) movie or show and then just go to bed.

12. Let people help you! - I have very little ones... But if you have older kids, let them help you! I must
admit I am a very controlling person and I feel like "if I don't do it, it won't be right" but ... if your older kids and/or friends want to help, be specific and tell them what they can do! Prepare ahead of time a list of things that others could do! that are easy but time consuming.  On my first thanksgiving I had my SIL peel the hard eggs for the deviled eggs and my sister I think I had her watch my girls! I can't do it all! And I don't have to! I am sure I am not the only one!


There are many more tips coming... some great ones... trust me! But I have to stop for now... so you can actually (and hopefully) read it!

I hope you're taking note on these very simple things that will make sure YOU, THE HOST/HOSTESS, will enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving as well!

 © Paloma K.

Quotes and Soup for your Soul!

First of all... Remember to mention "coffee" on any of your posts this week so you can link up on Friday... even if you ask your readers if they already had their cup of coffee, anything... just "say the word"

Now let me tell you I am working hard trying to stop by your blogs... I've been blessed with many friends and great fellow bloggers so it takes me a bit to catch up with everybody! My Google Reader has always over 200 unread items... and I can't keep up! How do others do it? give me your tips... I guess there are many others don't try to reply or comment back that much! LOL!  But at least for sure I try to pay the visits back!

Well, for this post I've prepared a delicious Mexican "Sopa de Coditos" (Elbow Noodle Soup) which is really good and perfect for fall (although you can eat it any time of the year!) it makes you feel warm inside and loved as well! It's one of those soups that screams "La hizo mi mamá" (My mom made this)

But First I have some quotes... Quotes about Soup! Why not?

Only the pure in heart can make a good soup. Ludwig Van Beethoven

A first-rate soup is more creative than a second-rate painting. - Abraham Maslow

I live on good soup, not on fine words. - Moliere

I always think if you have to cook once, it should feed you twice. If you're going to make a big chicken and vegetable soup for lunch on Monday, you stick it in the refrigerator and it's also for Wednesday's dinner. - Curtis Stone

And now to our recipe:

Sopa de Coditos - Elbows Mexican Soup (with corn)

Ingredients: 

1. 1 tbsp. olive oil
2. 1 1/2 cups of dry small elbow macaroni pasta
3. 1/4 chopped white onion
4. 3 cups of hot water
5. 1 tbsp. chicken bouillion granules
6. 1/2 cup tomato sauce
7. 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
8. 1/2 cup frozen corn kernels
9. 1/4 cup chopped cilantro (must be fresh)
10. queso panela or queso fresco for garnish (optional)

Directions:

• In a saucepan (med-big) warm up the olive oil at medium heat, once it's hot add the elbow pasta and chopped onions and stir frequently with a wooden spoon until the elbows start turning a light golden brown.
• Add the hot water, chicken boullion, tomato sauce, garlic powder and corn and bring to a boil.
• Once it's boiling reduce heat to low and cover with a lid (just leaving a small crack open) let it simmer for about 8 minutes.
• Add chopped cilantro, remove from heat, cover tightly and let it rest for about 2 more minutes before serving.
• Serve in bowls and garnish with the queso (cheese) if desired. 

Enjoy!

Click on the pictures to enlarge.

Should look like this

 

 

Fry until light golden

Do not use parsley instead of cilantro

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deliciousness!

This is the cheese you need

 

 

© Paloma K.

It's all about comfort... at least the food it is!

Ok... So... By the time you read this we'll be enjoying some vacations with family and friends in Brownsville, Tx. I am writing this on Monday 9/10th and scheduling it to appear ... well.. now! LOL! It's almost like time traveling! How cool is that? Ok... it's not even close to time traveling... but it's still pretty neat to be able to schedule my posts and keep my friends that honor me with their presence here at The Coffee Shop

So... I found an amazing, amazing chicken recipe at Allrecipes.com ... The ingredients are very simple and inexpensive, I knew it sounded good when I found it but I had no clue how GREAT it would be!! It's really a keeper! I hope you enjoy it just as much as we did.

It's real Southern Food, a delicious dish right from the heart of Houston, Tx. I never thought I would love this that much... I hope you enjoy it too:

Serving Suggestion: Side of White or Brown Rice. It's delicious with mashed potatoes too. Cover rice with gravy from the chicken... YUM!

Soul Smothered Chicken 
(Slightly Adapted from Allrecipes.com)
Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 whole chicken, cut into pieces (separate drumsticks from thighs too, I even cut the thighs in two)
• About 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 big white onion
• 3 stalks of celery
• 3 - 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 cups chopped carrots
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 teaspoons salt (or to taste)
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

1. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken pieces with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Dredge in 3/4 cup flour, place in the skillet, and brown on all sides. Set chicken aside on paper towel to absorb the excess of grease, drain skillet, reserving about 1 tablespoon butter.
2. Reduce skillet heat to medium-low, and stir in onions, celery, garlic, and carrots. Cook 5 minutes, until tender. Stir in the flour, and cook 5 minutes more. Pour in the chicken broth, season with cayenne pepper, and remaining salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, and reduce heat to low.
3. Return chicken to the skillet, cover, and continue cooking 30 minutes, until chicken juices run clear and gravy has thickened.  

Enjoy!  Have a great week!

© Paloma K.