Karen's Texas Chili Recipe

Karen's Texas Chili

To make Karen's Texas Chili, you will need the following ingredients:

2 lbs. Lean Ground Turkey (or Ground Beef)

1 cup Chopped Onion

2-3 Tablespoons of Chopped Garlic

3 Tablespoons of Chili Powder

2 Teaspoons of Ground Cumin

1 Teaspoons of Paprika

2 cans of Tomato Paste (6 oz cans)

2 cups of Beef Broth

2 cubes of Beef Bouillon

8-12 oz Red Wine (or Dark Beer or Ale)

2 cans of  Bush's Chili Beans - Kidney Beans in Mild Chili Sauce (15 oz) - drained

1 can of Bush's Chili Beans - Pinto Beans in Mild Chili Sauce (15 oz) - drained

1 can of Bush's Pinto Beans (15 oz) - drained

2 cans of Rotel (Original) diced tomatoes and green chilies - undrained

Add Salt and Pepper to taste.

To make it hotter, you can add 1/2 Teaspoon of Ground Red Pepper (Cayenne)

In a large pot (over medium heat), you will brown the ground turkey (or ground beef).  Drain the fat.

Next, add in chopped garlic, chopped onion.  Occasionally stir - until the onions are translucent.

Next, add in the spices and cook for approximately 5 minutes.

Next, add in the tomato paste.  Stir into the ground turkey (or ground beef).

Next, add in the beef broth and beef bouillon cubes.

Next, add in all of the beans (kidney, pinto beans) and Rotel.  Stir.

Heat to boiling for 5-10 minutes.  Stir every few minutes.  Reduce heat to a medium heat.  Place lid on the large pot (slightly cover) and allow the chili to simmer for the next 1-2 hours.  Stir about every 10 minutes to prevent any food sticking to the bottom.

Serve with cornbread / crackers, cheese, chopped jalapeno peppers, sour cream, or fresh chopped onions.

Safely Unclog A Drain @ Home

Do you have drain that is clogged?  If yes, follow these safe and economical steps to unclog a drain.

1)  Clear a clogged drain by pouring a 1 cup of baking soda into it.

2)  Followed by 1 cup of vinegar.

3)  It will bubble and foam and once that stops...simply flush the drain with hot water.

4)  About 5 minutes later.... rinse with cold water.

This approach is effective, non-toxic, and less damaging to your pipes (and wallet!) than commercial drain cleaners.

Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Tall Vase Floral Creation

I wanted to try something new for my Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Floral Creation.  For this project, I selected a tall cylinder vase, silk roses, river rocks, Spanish moss, foam, and ribbons.

First, wash the vase in warm soapy water (wash with your hand or a paper towel).  To dry, I use coffee filters (as it doesn't leave any streaks).

Second, if want to wrap ribbon around the vase, measure the ribbon.  Wrap the ribbon around the vase...make sure you know how you want around the vase before you glue it onto the vase.  To secure the ribbon, you can use a glue gun, double stick tab, or small glue dots -- to hold the ribbon in place.

Third, place a few inches of river rocks at the bottom of the vase.

Fourth, place some Spanish moss.

Fifth, it's time to check if the foam fits properly and/or needs to be cut to fit into the vase.  Wrap a little bit of Spanish moss around the foam.  Place it into the vase.  It looks great if some moss moves up to the edge or little bit above the vase.

Sixth, use wire cutters to cut the silk flowers....individual stems.

Lastly, add your single floral stems into the foam.  You can include additional leaves and/or other flowers (to your taste).

Newly Elected Lamar CISD Board Trustee - states, "Too Tired"

As you know, the 2013 Lamar CISD Graduation Commencement ceremonies occurred after the Memorial Day weekend - started on Friday, May 31st and continued on Saturday, June 1st.

 

We now have four high school campuses, so LCISD scheduled graduation to start on Friday and continue on Saturday.   It calls for a very busy weekend...especially for LCISD's Superintendent, Administrators and Faculty from each campus, and of course our Board of Trustees.

Sadly, though at this year's graduation ceremonies - What happened with our Board of Trustees?  Friday night, there were seven board members.   However, by Saturday's ceremonies, they started off with four....dwindled down to only three during Lamar CHS and ended with four to complete Foster HS.

What happened to being committed to our children? What happened to representing our school district (as a whole)?

According to the newly elected Lamar CISD Board of Trustee for Single-Member District 1 -- Mrs. Kathryn Kaminski, first she said, "I'll drive myself on Saturday morning." Then by the next day it was, "Friday's ceremonies tired me out. It was too much."

Mr. Dar Hakimzadeh stated on Friday, "I'm not sure about Saturday, it's up in the air." Then sends a message stating, "He's not attending any graduation ceremonies on Saturday."

However, outgoing board members Michael Richard and Karen Mendoza attended all four graduation ceremonies as they were Board Officers for the 2012-2013 School Year.   Also, in attendance at all four graduation ceremonies was newly elected board member, Ms. Anna Gonzales.

Understandably, Mrs. Julie Thompson attended two graduation ceremonies (Friday night and Saturday morning).   Her eldest daughter graduated from George Ranch HS and she left to celebrate with her family and in-laws.

What we, the community, don't understand is -- How can you say that you want to serve our community, staff, and students; yet you fail to show up to graduation ceremonies?

 

What happened to your message of courtesy, commitment, and communication?  Answer: It went out the window.

When serving on the School Board, it entails more than just a seat at the table, meeting once or twice a month to discuss and approve district matters.  Serving your community, school employees and students is a priority as well.  Board Members, you must make some sacrifices as it does take time away from your family.  You must learn to use your time management wisely.

Yes, many people noticed who was not on stage presenting our graduates with their diplomas. It saddens me and others in our community that some of our current board members' hearts are NOT in the right place at all.

If one graduation ceremony tired you out, Mrs. Kaminski (aka Ms. K)....our question to you then is -- How are you going to handle the remainder of the year?  Next two years?  Next four years?

 

Our community, staff, and students deserve better LEADERSHIP.  I hope that all registered voters will take this into consideration the next time election comes around.

Rainbow Tiered Cake Recipe

Would you like to bake something that is not only fun, but easy?  Your family and/or friends will be impressed.

Ingredients:

• 2 boxes - Duncan Hines "Classic White Cake Mix
• Vegetable Oil **
• Water **
• 3 Eggs **
• 4 Containers - Duncan Hines White Frosting
• Food Coloring Set
• Rainbow Sprinkles

** Since you'll be using 2 box of cake mix, you'll need to double up on the measuring / quantity of the following ingredients (vegetable oil, water, eggs).


Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2.  Pour both cake mixes in a large bowl.  Add the vegetable oil and water -- begin mixing.  Then you'll add 6 egg whites -- mix until cake is formed and smooth.

3.  Take the cake batter and separate into 5 small mixing bowls.  You'll then add 4-6 drops of food coloring into each mixing bowl.  Stir with a mixing spoon until the color develops and looks evenly mixed.  You may add more food coloring if you wish in order to the color that you want.

4.  Once all the small mixing bowls have been mixed with the colors, you'll need to evenly butter 5 separate cake pans.  Pour the colored batter into each cake pan.

5.  Place the cake pans into the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes.  You can check if cake is done by using a toothpick - place it in the center...if it comes out clean, your cake is done.  Then you can remove the cake pans from the oven.  Flip each cake pan onto a baking rack to allow them stand and cool.

6.  When they are cool, take a sharp knife and cut off the round tops of each layer to make sure the cake layers stack on each other without tipping over.  As each needs to be flat on top and bottom in order to stack them properly.

7.  Begin by icing the bottom layer.  Stack the next layer and repeat until all are stacked.  Once all the layers are stacked, then you can frost the sides of the cake.

8.  Add the rainbow sprinkles (or whatever kind of sprinkles you'd like) while the frosting is still wet.


Hope you enjoy your tasty Rainbow Tiered Cake.

Fresh Catnip and Lemon Grass - Helps Keep Mosquitos Away

What really works to help keep mosquitos away from your home?

1) Make sure that you do not have any standing water around.

2) Change your outside light from a white bulb to yellow bulb.

3) Plant fresh catnip (according to Bob Vila) in your garden or in a planting pot.

4) Plant Lemon Grass in your garden or in a planting pot.

I went to Home Depot and bought 2 packages of Catnip and some planting pots and plant soil...reasonable price (Garden area).  Let's wait and see if it acutually works.

Fresh Basil - Helps Keeps Flies Away

Fresh Basil.

According to Bob Vila - Growing Fresh Basil in your Kitchen will help keep flies away.

I went to Wal-Mart and bought a starters kit for growing Fresh Basil (garden area)...reasonable price.  Let's wait and see if it acutually works.

I will keep you posted on the outcome.