Our Visitor Today

We had a visitor today.....as I was headed out to the hunting blind this afternoon, hubby was standing in front of his truck, on the phone, and nearly stepped on the little guy!


He (or she) is a young Mud Snake or "Farancia abacura"


Isn't it pretty? This photo was taken in the shade, but in the sunlight those reddish markings are actually bright red!





The boys picked him up and took him over to the trees, so he wouldn't get squashed, or attacked by a hungry chicken!





Goodbye little guy!

Science

We are studying birds in science, and right now we are studying flight feathers.  Mentioned in the book, were Albatross' and how clumsy they are at landing.  I found a video to show the kids, and thought it was quite entertaining.  :-)

Santa Fe Chicken Chili

2 lb chicken breasts, cut into ½ inch cubes
4 medium sweet red peppers, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 large onions, chopped
¼ c oil
3 T chili powder
2 t cumin
¼ t cayenne/red pepper
½ t pepper
½ t salt
2 cups frozen corn
1 jar (12 oz) salsa
2 cans kidney beans, rinsed & drained
2 cans chicken broth
1 large can diced tomatoes

In a Dutch oven, sauté chicken, peppers, onion, & garlic in oil until chicken is no longer pink, 5-7 minutes. Add seasonings, cook & stir 1 minute. Add tomatoes & broth. Bring to a boil, lower and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes. Stir in remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Cover and lower to a simmer. Simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until chicken is tender.

Cheerio Treat Bars

3 Tb butter
1 pkg (10.5 oz) mini marshmallows
½ c peanut butter
5 c cheerios

Butter a 9x13 baking pan.

Melt butter in a 3 qt saucepan over low heat. Stir in marshmallows and peanut butter, stirring until melted. Stir in cheerios to coat.

Press into baking pan, cool.

Creamy Hot Beef Dip

This appetizer is delicious for company! I make it in a hollowed-out loaf of sourdough or pumpernickel bread. When hollowing out the loaf, save the bits, cutting or tearing them into chunks and serve them with the dip, along with crackers or other “dippers.”

8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 c sour cream
1 jar dried beef, chopped fine
2 Tb finely chopped onion
½ tsp garlic powder
Pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients, and spoon into a hollowed-out round loaf.
Wrap with foil, and bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.
Serve with bread cubes, crackers and other “dippers.”

Chewy Brownie Cookies

2/3 c shortening
1 ½ c brown sugar
1 Tb water
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1 ½ c flour
1/3 c baking cocoa
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp baking soda
2 c chocolate chips
½ c chopped nuts

Heat oven to 375 degrees.
In a small mixing bowl, combine flour, baking cocoa, salt and baking soda. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, cream together shortening, brown sugar, water, vanilla, and eggs.
Gradually add dry ingredients to creamed mixture. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto a baking sheet/stone lined with parchment paper.
Bake for 7-9 minutes, or until tops of cookies *just* look dry and cooked. Remove from oven, and allow to cool a couple minutes before removing from parchment paper. When cookies come out, they will be VERY soft, and will firm up as they cool. Using the parchment paper allows you to slide the cookies off of the baking sheet/stone without harming the cookies. Then you can start the next pan right away. The shorter the wait, the less energy you will use, since your oven won’t run as long.