Taco Soup for Dinner

We have 7 guests coming for dinner this weekend to celebrate our
January birthdays.
I'll be serving Taco Soup and Fried Cornbread.
Apple Pie for dessert, maybe?

Here is my recipe for Taco Soup.
I hope that you love it as much as we do!

Taco Soup

1 lb. ground beef
1 tablespoon chopped onion
2 cans Rotel tomatoes - we prefer the hot ones
2 cans Mexicali corn, undrained
1 can black beans, undrained
1 can hominy, undrained
1 small can tomato sauce
2 packages taco seasoning - we prefer McCormick
1 package Hidden Valley Ranch Salad Dressing mix
Chopped hot peppers as desired
(I use a mixture of jalapenos, tabasco (peppers, not liquid), and habaneros)

Brown ground beef and onions in a skillet.
Pour beef and onion mixture into a crockpot.
(If you're dieting, you can drain off some of the fat.)
Add all ingredients to crockpot and simmer
for at least 8 hours.
If the mixture is too thick, add tomato juice.
Serve with grated cheese, sour cream, and Frito chips.

We like things muy picante,
so we usually add a few drops of
Dave's Insanity Sauce.

Buffalo Sauce is great, too - if you can find it.

Limoncello Recipe

Lemon Tree, Very Pretty!

Makes about 3 1/4 quarts

Those who are lucky enough to receive this homemade lemon liqueur should keep it in the freezer, where it turns a milky white after 8 to 9 hours. It can be sipped straight-up, mixed with tonic or dashed into champagne. Recipe adapted from Magdalena Borea.

17 large lemons, preferably organic

Two 750-milliliter bottles grain alcohol - Everclear is good

5 1/2 cups water

6 cups sugar

Wash and dry the lemons. With a paring knife, remove the ends. With a vegetable peeler, remove only the yellow rind, leaving the pith intact. (Squeeze juice from the lemons and reserve for another use.)

Place the lemon peel in a 4-quart Mason jar with a rubber-seal lid. Add the grain alcohol, making sure the lemon peel is completely covered. Store in a cool, dark place, shaking the jar once each day to agitate the lemon peel.

On the 13th day, bring the water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add the sugar and remove from the heat, stirring until it is dissolved. Cover and let cool to room temperature.

Place a colander on top of the saucepan and strain in the contents of the Mason jar. Discard the lemon peel. Stir to combine the liquids, about 1 minute. Transfer back to the Mason jar. Store for 3 weeks in a cool, dark place, shaking to agitate the liquid twice a day.

After 3 weeks to 4 months, transfer the limoncello to smaller bottles that can be sealed with rubber stoppers. Store bottles in freezer. Serve directly from the freezer.

Limoncello - Ready to Enjoy!

Hope for our economy

I have been reading too many blogs this week. I shouldn't do that. But now I feel that I must respond.

I keep hearing how wonderful it is that President Obama has been elected and what great hope there is for our economy.

First, I must say that I am neither a Democrat nor a Republican. I vote for the man, not the party. This election, I couldn't vote for either.

I wish that I could understand the hope that so many of you feel. But alas, the hope is not with me - nor with anyone else that I know.

Last month 600 people were permanently laid off at the company where my husband works. One man had been there for 40 years. Another had 8 children. Still another man killed himself.

On inauguration day, it was announced that there would be another huge, permanent layoff the first of next month because of a 7 million dollar loss of business.

My husband, who has been in a high level management position with this company for 16 years, is probably going to be one of the ones to go.

He will be 54 this month so there is no hope of being hired at a decent position even if one were available. His 401k, which was quite large, is now practically worthless.

If my husband is lucky enough to find another job, it will probably be working as a menial laborer making about one tenth of what he makes now.

I'm sorry, but I don't feel your hope and I don't understand it.

Our currency says 'In God We Trust' on it. These days, so many people not only don't trust in God, they don't believe in Him. Kids aren't allowed to pray or be patriotic in schools any more. So why should we, who are supporting this ambonination, expect God to help us?!?!

From now on, we must forget about help from Washington - no matter who is president - and depend totally upon ourselves and our Creator. God loves us and will help us, but we must ask for forgiveness of all that we have done against Him.

Don't put your hopes in our government, but get down on your knees and pray!

New ArtFire Member

I am a new member of ArtFire.
http://www.JewelsBySwanger.artfire.com

I'm not sure that I like it.
I have been unable to post photos in
Netscape
and unable to view them properly in
Explorer.
Weird.
But -
it's a Beta version
and it's free,
so we shall see what will happen.

New Doilies

This month has been spent making fabulous doilies for
my Etsy site
http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com
and
for my local customers.
This beautiful doilies have created quite a stir
among my customers.
They are make exclusively from thread
by me in my own studio.
They can be done in solid colors or your choice
or in two color combinations.
Shown above is deep red and gold.

The weather here today is cold!
The high was 24 degrees.
No snow, of course.
These temperatures are providing great times
to sit in front of the fire and knit.
I'm loving it,
but feel so sorry for those you must
go out to work.
Homemade chili is on the menu for tonight.
Maybe some Mexican cornbread to go with it?

Keep warm!
Ruth Ann

Happy New Year - a little late

My Wish for You in 2009
* May peace break into your house and may thieves come to steal your debts.
* May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet of $100 bills.
* May love stick to your face like Vaseline and may laughter assault your lips!
* May your clothes smell of success like smoking tires and may happiness slap you across the face and may your tears be that of joy.
* May the problems you had forget your home address!
In simple words …………
May 2009 be the best year of your life!!!

With love and best wishes!
Ruth Ann
http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com

Posy's Cake Stands

This photograph comes from a wonderful blog done by Posy.
While I have never met her, she is a woman after my own heart.
She is from England.
Her household is floral.
She plans too much.
She does too much.
But, unlike me, everything she does turns out perfectly.
I read and am inspired by her blog daily.
You can find this fantastic lady at
http://www.posy.typepad.com
Read, enjoy, and be jealous!

Cheers to a beautiful lady!
Happy New Year!
Ruth Ann
http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com