....In Like A Lion....



....and out like a lamb!!!

 

This is the wish of everyone who lives in Saskatchewan in regards to winter 2014.

 

Enough already.

 

 

It's been cold, cold, cold.  What was it Saturday morning at 0500?  Somewhere in the -52 to -55 range with the windchill?? 

 

We're Saskatchewan-ites.  You'd think we'd be hardened to it. 

 

Uh-uh.

 

We took advantage of the cold weekend and

 

.......stayed home.....

 

That wasn't too hard - the weekend before we had done some travelling.  We ended our road trip with a day on the slopes of Saskatchewan's best - Table Mountain, by North Battleford.

 

During the whole trip, we noticed more and more that these boys of ours are able to be rather independent.

 

 

The boys - geared up for a day of skiing/snow-boarding

They'd come in every hour ....
.....to warm up.....

......and eat......

While we sat in the chalet, watching, er, reading.....

 

 

.....and writing and reading and thinking.....
Too bad there wasn't a Starbucks close by.

 



I did spend a lot of time watching the skiers as they came in and out of the chalet. 

 

First off, it was nice to be in a setting that was loaded with young people.  They're so vibrant and ready for adventure.

 

And loud.

 

Just sayin'.

 

Then I tried playing a game - "guess if this one is a boy or a girl". 

 

Hmm. 

• The snow gear is equally colorful for both sexes. 
• Tall and skinny - could be either one
• The faces are covered with face guards and goggles, so that's not giving me any clues. 
• Long hair is flapping out behind this one so MUST be a girl! 

Nope.  Wrong again. 

 

I soon gave up.

 



Next, I noticed that most parents there had the same posture - 'sit quietly and read a book' then 'reach in the pocket for cash when the offspring come in through the door so that they can go buy more food'.  Repeat every hour.

 

It's good.  It's very good.

 

And, tonight, it is 7:16 and it's still a little bit light out.  Summer is coming.  I promise!

 

 

 

During our weekend 'in' last weekend, I roasted up a turkey.  I wanted to make a soup today with the leftovers and went searching for a "Turkey Chowder".  I found this recipe on Pinterest and it is definitely a "Make Again". 

 

Turkey and cheese chowder recipe

Serves 6-8

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 cups onion, diced
• 1 cup celery, diced
• 3-4 cloves garlic, diced
• 1 cup corn (if desired)
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (add a bit more later if you desire more heat)
• 1 teaspoon thyme (fresh or dried)
• 1/4 cup dry sherry
• 2 large Russet potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes
• 10 grates fresh nutmeg
• 4 cups low-sodium turkey or chicken stock
• 2 cups milk (or 1 cup cream, 1 cup milk)
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 3-4 cups leftover shredded turkey (a combination of light and dark meat works best)
• 2 cups grated cheddar cheese (plus more for garnish if desired)
• Kosher salt

Directions:

1. In a large stockpot, over medium heat, begin melting the butter. Once melted, add onion, celery and a nice pinch of salt and saute about 5-8 minutes, until soft and fragrant.
2. Add garlic and corn to the pot and saute, stirring often, another 2 minutes. Add cayenne pepper and thyme and stir together well. Add sherry and continue cooking, stirring often, another 3-4 minutes.
3. Add potato cubes, nutmeg, another pinch of salt and mix well to incorporate all ingredients.
4. Add stock and bring to a boil. Once boiling, cover pot and turn down heat to a simmer and continue cooking about 15 minutes, or until potatoes are fork tender.
5. In a separate medium-size bowl or mixing cup, add milk and cornstarch and whisk together well until there are no lumps. Slowly add the milk-cornstarch mixture to the pot, whisking continuously until it's all added.
6. Turn up the heat to medium and bring the chowder to a light boil/simmer, stirring very often. Turn down heat to a simmer, stir in turkey and cheese and allow the chowder to continue cooking about 10 minutes, stirring often, until the cornstarch is cooked off and the chowder is thickened and hot.