Chili-Corn Chip Pie

I'd heard about Frito Pie from my Southern friends and was curious. I mean, who doesn't like the sound of Fritos being part of a meal? Well, when I finally got around to reading my September 2011 issue of Cooking Light (just a few days ago) and I saw the recipe for Chili-Corn Chip Pie, I figured now was my chance to try it. It was a bonus that it is considered a "light" version.

John and I were going to go out to eat Saturday night, but once the predicted Nor'easter was becoming a reality, I decided that it was the perfect night for comfort food and the perfect night to make the Chili-Corn Chip Pie. You'll see the various items that are light/low-fat. Our grocery store didn't have "lightly salted" Fritos, so we used regular ones. We also used low-fat vs. fat-free sour cream, as we can't quite make that leap.

Let me just say this -- John (my husband) is wary of ANYTHING that's light or low-fat. So, basically, anything that comes out of the Cooking Light magazine, he's skeptical of. Not this one. He used the word "amazing," I do believe. He loved it and so did I! It's a great winter lunch/dinner and it's VERY easy.

Ingredients


Cooking spray
1 pound ground sirloin
1 1/4 cups chopped onion
6 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon no-salt-added tomato paste
1 cup fat-free, lower-sodium beef broth
1/3 cup water
1 (10-ounce) can diced tomatoes and green chiles, undrained
4 ounces lightly salted corn chips (such as Fritos)
1/3 cup (1 1/2 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/4 cup fat-free sour cream
1/2 cup diagonally sliced green onion tops

Preparation

1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add beef to pan; sauté 5 minutes, stirring to crumble. Remove beef; drain. Wipe pan clean with paper towels. Add onion to pan; sauté 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic; sauté 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir in beef, cumin, pepper, and salt.

2. Stir in tomato paste; cook 1 minute, stirring occasionally. Add broth, 1/3 cup water, and tomatoes; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, and simmer 15 minutes or until slightly thick, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.

3. Place 1 ounce chips in each of 4 bowls, and top each serving with about 2/3 cup beef mixture, 2 tablespoons cheese, and 1 tablespoon sour cream. Sprinkle each serving with 2 tablespoons green onions.

You Say "to-mah-to" and I Say "to-may-to"

What do you call each of these things? My answers are at the bottom. (Don't cheat!)

1.

2.

3. 

4.

5.

6.

7.



8.

1.  Carriage. Having worked at a grocery store in high school, I think I picked that term up there. All I can here is, "So and So, Carriage Control." I've heard it called a cart, shopping cart, wagon.

2. Couch. I remember hearing my Great Aunt T. calling it a divan and I almost laughed out loud. Sounds very old-fashioned. I've heard it called a sofa, settee.

3. Pocketbook. I always feel funny saying this, although not sure why. Most everyone I know calls it a purse. Also called a bag, satchel.

4. Sub. I think when I was younger and lived in western Massachusetts, I called it a grinder, but after moving to the Boston-area, I converted to "sub." I've heard it called a hoagie, submarine sandwich.

5. Soda. When I was in 7th grade, having just moved to the Boston-area, a friend asked if I wanted to go to the tonic machine. My answer? "They have machines for tonic water?" Um, yeah. I'd never heard soda called tonic. Totally Bostonian. I've heard it called pop and some people call all flavors of soda "Coke."

6. Dresser. Occasionally I call it a bureau. I've heard it called a chest of drawers.

7. Sweatshirt. This one bugs me. My husband calls this a "jersey." Um, NO! A "jersey" is a long sleeve shirt. The new fad, of course, is calling it a hoodie.

8. Tag Sale. Yet another western Massachusetts term, I think. Most everyone calls them yard sales or garage sales (even if they're not in the yard or the garage.)

If You're On a 'Need-to-Know' Basis...

...then you'll NEED to know these things.

Today is National Chocolate Cupcake Day. No, really -- it is. If you don't believe me, believe ABC. Any article that starts with, "It’s National Chocolate Cupcake Day. What are you doing to celebrate?," is worth reading in my book! Here's another corroborating article from the Examiner. Another article worth reading, as it tells the reader to, "Get your cupcake on!"

So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and find some chocolate cupcake recipes and bake it up! Sink your teeth into this holiday!

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You might be tempted to stop at the cupcakes, but WAIT...there's more! Not ONLY is it National Chocolate Cupcake Day, but it's the birthday of three female TV icons.

Happy 73rd Birthday to Maryann from Gilligan's Island! I'm guessing Dawn Wells doesn't look quite like this anymore.. (although, I'm sure she's still a lovely woman.)

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Next up...It's the BIG 6-0 for Mindy McConnell! (Really? That was her last name? I guess I wasn't on a "need-to-know" basis for that piece of info.) Thanks to Wikipedia, I also just found out that Pam Dawber's married to Mark Harmon, who's stars on "NCIS," which I'm watching right now. Coincidence? I think not.

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And last, but certainly not least....Joanie Cunningham is 51!  It's too bad Erin Moran couldn't stay forever young as Joanie. The whole "Joanie Loves Chachi" thing was a disaster, not to mention going on "Celebrity Fit Club." ::cringe::

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Just a guess, but I'm thinking you may not have NEEDED to know any of this!

Hockey in Arizona?

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The Yotes Diva

 

As I mentioned in my last "50 States? 50 Blogs!" post for Alaska, I'm no Julia Child and it was somewhat curious that I was writing about a food-centric blog. Well, there's no question why I'm writing about this hockey-centric blog based in Arizona -- I LOVE HOCKEY!!! I feel lucky living in Massachusetts and being a fan of the Bruins, an Original Six team. While I might not be a fan of NHL expansion teams, I am a big fan of The Yotes Diva blog. The subtitle in the header is a good summary of this blog: "This is the story of a girl who moved to the desert, fell in love with an unappreciated hockey team & started a blog..."

Things that caught my eye about this blog:

• Multimedia!! Should you think you'll never make it to Phoenix Coyotes game, you can listen to the Goal Song. (Granted, it's no Hartford Whalers' Brass Bonanza...)
• Love the header -- especially the skates and the font.
• Not only does The Yotes Diva blog about the Coyotes, but about the NHL/hockey in general, and she seems to have good hockey knowledge.
• Her Blog Roll contains blogs written by other hockey devotees and even some hockey wives.
• Her four Chinese Shar-peis. Check out the "faces only a mother could love" under the About tab.

Things on this blog that I'd like for my blog:

• Sponsors? Can you imagine?? (I guess that would require more than 5 readers...)
• Search box. Not sure if this would require tagging/labeling, but something to consider. (Mostly for me...I often can't remember if I've written about something in the past and I'm too lazy to look through tons of old posts.)
• Advertisements. Jury's still out on this one for me, but I'm definitely considering.

I'll Miss You Granddad

Last week, at just a few months shy of aged 96, my paternal grandfather passed away. I called him "granddad" and he was my last surviving grandparent.

I have many fond memories of him --

• Paying me $1 to jump into the above ground pool in his and my Nana's backyard. (Imagine what price kids would demand today with 30+ years of inflation?)
• Watching the Bruins games and listening to him argue with Fred Cusick and Johnny Peirson.
• Driving up the Mohawk Trail and getting apples.
• Sleeping over and waking up to find juice, milk, and whatever I wanted for breakfast (no matter how late it was.)
• Having the diamond from my Nana's engagement ring made into a pendant and giving it to me on my wedding day.

I love you Granddad. I hope you and Nana are somewhere together and you're having lobster and a Heineken, watching the Bruins. :)

High School graduation photo:

Early days with his lovely wife:

Golfing (apparently there's a story surrounding this picture that involves THROWING the club!):

One of many Thanksgivings at Nana & Granddad's (I'm the one with the yarn in my ponytail :):

Nana & Granddad helping my Uncle move into college. I show this one to demonstrate that Granddad was ALWAYS dapper. I don't think I EVER saw him in anything more casual than khakis.

Tortola with a beer. Two of his favorite things!

Dancing at my wedding: