Spike William is our new kitten and he was born January 30th, 2013.

Monday, February 26, 2007

Italian Black Bean Chili


We originally found this recipe on the back of a can of Progresso Black Beans. We've lost the recipe a few times over the years. They don't have this recipe on the back of the can anymore. After we remembered most of the ingredients, we found the recipe online. Interesting side note: If you go to the Progresso website to try and find a recipe it actually sends you to a Betty Crocker website, which does not have this recipe either! Anyway, it is a very good chili and we enjoyed it quite a bit. I, of course, always put cheese on top of it!

ITALIAN BLACK BEAN CHILI

Ingredients:
1/2 pound bulk italian sausage
2 cans (15 oz.) black beans or cook dry black beans
1 can (14.5 oz) beef broth
1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce
1 cup sliced carrots
1/2 cup sliced onions
2 bay leaves

Directions:
Cook sausage until browned and drain. Stir in remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, covered for 20 minutes. Remove bay leaves. Use potato masher to mash part of carrots and beans. Soup will thicken.

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Winery Kitty Wednesday

The last time we drove out to the winery it was beautiful out but quite cold.
Here is the view from the porch.
We found Phantom and CC waiting for dinner. Love those crunchies! I put my Mardi Gras hat down while I was taking pictures
because it was windy out and I thought it might blow off.
~~~~~

CC snuck up on it from the rear.
~~~~~










Then she had to check out all sides
of this strange unknown on her porch.
I guess it was OK with her since she just walked away
after all the sniffing was done!









The sun was setting over the river on our way home.
It was simply beautiful.
Friday Ark has boarded yesterday,
Kate in the Kitchen is hosting Weekend Cat Blogging,
and Carnival of Cats is at Scribblings
So, it's time to visit all those cats!

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Alice and Biscuit - Mardi Gras Festivities

Alice is my grand-kitty and she is ready for Mardi Gras!We were able to put this tiara on her head...
for a little while anyway! Biscuit lives with my in-laws.
She is a very nice and sweet dog.
When I was asked to feed her the other day,
it just so happened
that it was close to Mardi Gras time...
So I brought beads and feathers with me...I also thought that she would look quite fetching
in this Mardi Gras feather boa.
Of course, it would contrast quite nicely
with her black fur and dark eyes!
As you can see, she looked terrific! Happy Mardi Gras from Alice and Biscuit!!!

Saturday, February 17, 2007

Biscuit's Great Afternoon!

Willow was 3 on Tuesday!!!

Willow is 3 years old now!
Here is a picture
of Willow's Birthday cake.
It's supposed to look like her!!!
Before the birthday party,
China Cat cleaned Willow's face for her.

Willow enjoyed watching it snow on her birthday.
In fact, she even sat on it!

Willow and China Cat each had some Birthday Tuna... It's important to clean up after eating...And then she was all tired out from her birthday festivities!
~~~~~
Friday Ark has boarded yesterday,
KitchenMage is hosting Weekend Cat Blogging,
and Carnival of Cats is at Pets Garden Blog
So, it's time to visit all those cats!

Saturday, February 10, 2007

Lucky Cats...

It's been very cold here in the midwest
so here are two Lucky Cats...
that live indoors. And... another Lucky Cat that is also nice!
~~~~~
Lucky Cat Martini
~~~~~
My daughter and I had the Lucky Cat Martini
at P.F. Chang's before we went to a show
and it was excellent.
She, of course, is also a cat lover!
Here's their recipe:

Technique: Shake and Strain

Glass: Martini

Smirnoff Vanilla Vodka 2 oz.
Dole Pineapple Juice 1 oz

Add: 0.5 oz of Chambord, sink in center of glass

Garnish: A wedge of fresh pineapple or if you want to get fancy, use a toothpick and spear a pineapple wedge and pineapple leaf and hang on the rim of the glass.

Enjoy!
~~~~~
Friday Ark is boarded yesterday,
Catsynth is hosting Weekend Cat Blogging,
and Carnival of Cats is at When Cats Attack.
So, it's time to visit all those cats!

Friday, February 02, 2007

Phil Says "Spring"!!!!!


Greetings from Punxsutawney!

Phil Says Spring is Right Around the Corner!

Phil's official forecast as read 2/2/07 at 7:28 a.m. at Gobbler's Knob:

El Nino has caused high winds, heavy snow, ice and freezing temperatures in the west.
Here in the East with much mild winter weather we have been blessed.

Global warming has caused a great debate.
This mild winter makes it seem just great.

On this Groundhog Day we think of one thing.
Will we have winter or will we have spring?

On Gobbler's Knob I see no shadow today.
I predict that early spring is on the way.

~~~~~

This picture is from last Spring of China Cat and Willow
watching birds and squirrels. No, we don't have any groundhogs!
They will be so happy to be able to go back out on the porch -
Today it's only 18 degrees so they just sit and
look out the porch door and meow to go out.
Of course, if I open the door and they realize it's very cold,
they want to just sit in front of the open door.
That's not going to happen until Spring!

Punxsutawney Pasta Fazool for Groundhog Day!

I always make this for Groundhog Day.
It's very good and easy,
hence the excitement leading up to Groundhog Day!
Will he see his shadow or not?????

Punxsutawney Pasta Fazool

Yield: 6 servings

1/2 pound lean ground pork or ground beef

1 small onion, diced

1 clove garlic, minced

1 (14 1/2-ounce) can chicken broth

1 (14 1/2-ounce) can Italian-style chopped tomatoes

1 (15-ounce) can white beans, drained

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon crushed fennel seed

1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

1/2 cup uncooked small pasta

Crumble meat into a large saucepan; cook until browned, stirring to break up
large bits. Add onion and garlic; cook until onion is soft, about 3 minutes.

Stir in broth, tomatoes and their liquid, beans, oregano, red pepper, salt,
fennel seed and black pepper. Bring to a rolling boil, then stir in pasta.
Reduce heat to a simmer; cook for 10 to 12 minutes, until pasta is tender.