Lima beans- Southern Style

Our March is coming in with a furry. Isn't that the way it usually entered. For some reason I got the craving for Lima beans. Looking in the Cupboard I had Dried Limas. So that meant time to make them. This recipe is a very easy one.

What you will need:
 1 Smoked Ham hock ( you can find these in the meat department with the pork items)
 A package of Dried Lima Beans
 4 quarts water( divided)
 Smoked house Pepper
 Smoked Sea Salt
Shallot thyme finishing butter

In a large stock pot add package of Dried beans and 2 quart Hot water. Bring to a rapid boil and boil for 3 minutes. remove from heat and let stand covered for 1 hour.

Drain beans and rinse well. Rinse stock pot and add 2 quarts of hot water, Ham hock and beans. add in 1 teaspoon smoked pepper and 1/2 teaspoon smoked Sea salt. bring to a boil and simmer for 2 1/2 hours or until Lima beans are soft.
 Remove Ham hock and cut up, discarding the fat. remove 1/2 the water in stock pot. Salt the pepper meat add to the beans. chopped about 1/4 cup white onion.  return to heat continue to simmer for 30 minutes. Ladle beans into serving dish, Add some Shallot thyme finishing butter( you can find this in the diary section) serve warm.

Gameday Chili in about 35 minutes

Winter, February and Football Games. Now my memories in Colorado included a roaring fire  with chili and beer. Our Ravens are in the Superbowl this year  so I thought I would have some Take me back Memories. Here is a great Chili recipe.

You will need:

green peppers, onions, garlic and olive oil
salt, smokehouse  black pepper, roasted cumin, roasted Chili powder, Worcester sauce
Ground beef, cannelloni beans, red kidney beans, crushed tomatoes in puree sauce.
beer( I use a larger) however use one that you like the flavor.

 In a large soup pot, heat olive oil ( about 2 Tablespoon) add 1/2 cup each of Chopped green peppers and Yellow onions. cook on med heat until soften. then add 1 tsp minced garlic, stir well, add 2 tsp salt and a dash of  smokehouse black pepper, 2 tablespoon Cumin and 1 teaspoon chili powder stir well.

Add one pound of ground beef, break it up and brown in the soup pot, while browning add 2 Tablespoon of Worcester sauce. stir while browning meat.

Add one can of 28 oz crushed tomatoes in puree sauce. stir well.

drain one 14 oz can each cannelloni beans and kidney beans. add the drained beans to the chili.

Add 4 to 6 oz of beer. stir gently and reduce temp to simmer. simmer about 20 minutes.

Serve with cheddar cheese, to top the chili with.

In need of a New coffee pot

Had a great holiday season, didn't do too much due to hubby was in the hospital leading up to the holidays. Also we had a trip plan to Disney World. We stopped by Savannah and really love that place. We had the best Fried Chicken ever. I will need to get the recipe for it.

Oh yes the Coffee pot....Well ours has decided to stop heating. I will be looking for a new one. Want to get a more up to date one. However I am not a fan of the one cup ones.

Any suggestions on the brands? I tend to like Hamilton Beach. However I am open to other brands. Looking at the Starbuck one at Williams Sonomas. However the cost is high. I will have to get some gift cards to afford it. I think I have enough points to get it.  Looking at the Breville Youview coffee maker (photo on the right). It can brew a pot as well as a single cup. Runs about 280 dollars. I have liked all the products I have purchased from this company.