And the Holidays are upon us.

It has been way too long since I have updated! I was super busy this fall with school and working 2 nights a week with a local marching band..I had no time to myself! Things are calming down a bit now and I can hopefully get back to my love for blogging!! Even though I haven't had much time for updating, I have been experimenting lots in the kitchen. I'm finding that I'm a much better cook than I ever anticipated!!!

Last Saturday I was in a real Suzy-homemaker type of mood and after my morning routing of the gym, I decided that I would spend the afternoon cleaning the whole house (while listening to Christmas music on Pandora!) and cooking/baking! I made my famous chicken chili and cornbread for J.J and I to have Saturday night (with enough left overs for him and I to eat for days), and then Sunday I made my first ever Pumpkin roll for a luncheon at school. The teachers that I eat with always have a luncheon once a month, and everyone brings in something delicious and we have a feast, usually with enough leftovers for the next day (or even more after that!). It is always one of the best days of each month!!! We usually have a theme, but theme or no theme, we always eat like royalty. Last year I stuck to bringing easy items like paper plates and soda, but since I have more confidence in the kitchen now, I've started branching out to some harder stuff! Anyway, here's the pics from Saturday's feast:

Chicken Chili and Picture Perfect Cornbread

The chef!

 Cornbread Ingredients:

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1/4 cup white sugar (I didn't put the whole cup in)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup plain nonfat yogurt
• 2 eggs, beaten

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease an 8x8 inch baking pan.
2. In a large bowl, mix flour, cornmeal, sugar, soda and salt. Stir in yogurt and eggs. Do not over mix, stir only until well blended. Pour batter into prepared pan.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until center of the bread springs back when gently pressed.

The chicken chili recipe is on my recipe tab (I think). I double the recipe so J.J could take some home with him and have it for lunch! I ate the leftovers for 3 days and now I think I've had my fill of chicken chili for awhile!!!

 

I'm relaxing for a bit right now, but there will be lots of Thanksgiving updates later!!