Winter Weather

Our
dump
cute newlywed house sprinkled with snow!

I love Alberta and the uncertainty that comes along with our weather. One day sun, in the afternoon a blizzard, and back to clear sidewalks by the evening. And although I've been lovin' the warm-ish weather we've been getting, I have been dying for a storm! I LOVE STORMS! Big white-out blizzards where you stay in and drink hot chocolate and snuggle. The weather man was calling for a huge storm this past weekend, and like the silly girl I am, I believed him! Well on Saturday it finally snowed... sorta... more like a gentle sprinkle. And then Ryan had to leave early for work (so no snuggling).. Aaaand I try not to eat dairy anymore (bye bye hot chocolate).... but I'll take what I can get! Hakuna matata! Carpe Diem!.. Something like that, you know what I mean ;) ANYWAYS... back to the point I was making... Saturday was my "stay in because it's a
fake
blizzard" day. Which made me so excited for dinner because a blizzard day is not complete without homemade soup!!!

White Bean Chili

I got this recipe from my awesome sister in law Alley who is the cutest thing ever, pregnant with her first baby! I tweaked the recipe a bit to cut down on the dairy/sugar but the great thing is it's a veeeerrrry flexible recipe and it has become one of our faves!

Ingredients:

2 Chicken Breasts, cubed

1 Onion, chopped

4 Celery Sticks, chopped

1 1/2 tsp Garlic

1 tbsp Virgin Coconut or Extra Virgin Olive Oil

2 cans White Beans, drained & rinsed

1-2 cans of diced Green Chiles

Low Sodium Chicken Broth

1 tsp Salt

1 tsp Oregano

1 1/2 tsp Curry Powder

1/2 tsp Chili Powder

1/2 tsp Pepper

OPTIONAL: 1 cup Quinoa flakes or cooked Quinoa (This will make your chili thicker!)

1/2 cup light coconut milk (or 1/2 cup greek yoghurt if you eat dairy)

1) Cook the chicken, onions, celery, garlic and oil together until browned.

2) Add the rest of the ingredients (EXCEPT the coconut milk) and the chicken mixture in to a large pot. Add enough chicken broth so that it covers your mixture (you can add/less depending on how "soupy" you like it)

3) Bring to a boil, and then cover and simmer for 30 mins.

4) After 30 mins, add the coconut milk and heat for another few minutes and then serve!

Chili with a side of corn bread is one of my favourite comfort foods!

Aaaand here's a quick 3 count update:

1) Ry is doing spring semester at BYU which means I will be living by myself for 7 weeks! I was so excited to hear he got in, but then reality hit me and I realized I would be living ALONE! I promptly had a break down right then and there, with lots and LOTS of crying.. I can't live alone! I get scared being home alone past 6pm! Plus I would miss Ry so much! But after I let it process for a while I have gotten more okay with the idea. PLUS my friend Tracey has been nice enough to offer to let me stay at her house, so all it's good!

2) Pinterest is the cool club that wont let me join. I feel like it's junior high all over again. Why can't I be cool? I have "requested an invite" 3 TIMES! And still - nothing. Anybody have any advice?? I am feeling pretty rejected here...

3) The insanity that is EXAMS is coming up. You thought I was already done with exams? You thought wrong. I have already graduated and written all my school exams, but to become a "registered" ultrasound technologist I need to write 5 more exams. It never ends I swear. Bring on the stress, the sweatpants&ponytails, the sleepless nights and craming. Ughh... good thing I have such a patient and helpful husband :) - He makes everything more bearable!

Enjoy the snow while it lasts!

Love, Car