More snow is coming!

We really have had a pretty mild winter so far - behind on snow fall for the year - but February wants to make up for it. We got a foot of snow last weekend and another foot or more is on it's way starting today!

I did not get outside and finish the pruning last weekend with the snow. So when I got home from work last night I went out for a few minutes before it got dark and pruned about a third of the grapes. Hopefully I will be able to finish before they wake up for spring! I should have done that pruing when there was no snow on the ground - that's what I get for procrastinating!

Garden goodness in the middle of winter

We got over a foot of snow this weekend. What is better on a snow day than Chili? It's even better when it's made from things grown in your own garden.

I started by cooking dried beans in the slow cooker. I soaked them overnight - rinsed them and covered with cold water and cooked on low for about 5 hours. I use a variety of beans - this time I used Kidney beans, Garbanzo beans, black eyed peas, pinto beans, small red beans and black beans. I usually do a cup of the kidney beans, a half cup of garbanzos and 1/4 cup (dried of course) of all of the others. You could use canned beans as well - I don't buy anything canned in aluminum if I can avoid it myself.

I chopped up one onion and sliced boneless chicken breasts into bite size pieces. I used 3 chicken breasts today. I never seem to use the same amount or measure much when I cook.

Heat a couple of tablespoons of olive oil and cook chicken until done. Then add the onions and saute until translucent.

Add 2 quart jars of stewed tomates and 2 pint jars of tomato sauce. I also added about a quarter of a jar of canned green chilis. I sprinked in some dried garlic and 4 tablespoons of chili powder. Add 2 cups of chicken broth and salt to taste - I added one large palmful - probably about a tablespoon.

Drain the beans and add them to the pot. Stir and heat through. We like to crush corn chips on top when we eat it.

This made a pretty large stock pot full - somewhere between 6 & 8 quarts of chili - but it won't go to waste - it will be eaten this week.

Winter is pruning time

Before spring comes, don't forget to do your pruning. Right now is the perfect time to do it - while the trees and bushes are dormant. I pruned the apple tree today and plan on getting to the grapes before the end of the week.