Nov 2, 2010

Halloweenie

Our first fire was lit, a scrumptious assortment of candy was purchased and ready to be gifted to small children adorably costumed, and chili was made.  The chili was about the only positive aspect of this first Halloween in our new house.  Adapted from Jenna's recipe, this white chicken chili was delish.

White Chicken Chili
1 head cauliflower
2-3 tablespoons of olive oil
1 rotisserie chicken (or cook your own fryer)
1 inion
3-4 cloves garlic
2 cans great northern beans
14.5 ounces chicken broth (plus an additional 1/2 cup)

2 7-ounce cans chopped green chilies
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp cayenne
1/2 cup half & half
8 ounce reduced fat sour cream

Heat the oven to 400.  Break apart the cauliflower and toss with a couple tablespoons of olive oil and sprinkle with kosher salt. Roast on a baking sheet until browned- about 25 minutes.
Heat the oil in a large pot over medium high heat. Add chopped onion and sauté for about six minutes, or until the the onion is translucent. Add the garlic and cook for another three minutes. Add chicken and stir.

Add the beans, spices, chicken broth and green chilies and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for thirty minutes.

Meanwhile, remove the cauliflower from  the oven and put in a large bowl.  Add a 1/2 cup of chicken broth, and puree with an immersion blender (or put in a blender).  Add to the chili and cook another 10-15 minutes.
Turn off the heat and add the sour cream and half & half. Serve with cheddar cheese and additional sour cream to top.


I also made Seven Layer Brownie Bars, so great was my excitement.  This is not for the faint of heart or the watcher of the waist.  But it's good!

1 box brownie mix
1 stick of butter
1 heaping cup of coconut
1 cup butterscotch chips
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 heaping cup pecans
1 can sweetened condensed milk

Preheat the oven to 350
Melt the stick of butter and spread it along the bottom of a 13x9 pan
Sprinkle the brownie mix on top
Sprinkle coconut, then butterscotch, then chocolate chips, then pecans on top.
drizzle the milk all over the pecans.
Bake for 45 minutes.
let cool completely.

Sounds awful rich!

I know, that’s why I serve it over ice cream to cut the sweetness.*

So I got all cozy in the living room, wearing my slippers and rabbit ears, reading my new magazine and anxiously anticipating my first trick or treaters, ever!  Growing up, our house is down a long windy then-country road, so we had to go to our friends' neighborhoods, and never had trick or treaters.  But now was the time!

Or not.
This is about 9 O'Clock when I got teary-eyed realizing we were not going to have a single child knock on our door.  Not even a lackadaisically dressed teenager. Laughing, Hubs comforted me (I was laughing too, as my reaction was ridiculous).  But I was SO disappointed! 
Our new neighborhood is connected to two major trick or treating hoods, so I think you just toddle over to those if you live in our area.  Boo.

Does anyone need any candy?  Lord knows, we've got plenty leftover.  Sob.

*What movie ladies?

10 comments:

  1. awww, poor thing! I'd definitely react the same way--I totally understand!


    and the movie was "steel magnolias!"

    --@baylormegs

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  2. Steel Magnolias of course!!!

    I'm so sorry about your first Halloween in your new casa. Ours was a bit like that as well--if it wasn't for me forcing my friends to bring their kiddos over, we would have had like 2. What the heck?! I grew up in the country too and handing out candy as a grown up is my right. I WILL do it. Even if no one comes to my house to take the candy. Sads.

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  3. I grew up in the country so we never had trick-or-treaters. I was so excited to have our few that stopped by... maybe next year for you!

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  4. I am SO making that white chili this weekend for our tent in the Grove at the Ole Miss game! You know my neighborhood growing up was trick or treaters central, but now I live in the middle of a cotton field so not a single person either:) BUT I do save myself some calories by not having to buy any candy (because Lord knows I am the one who ends up eating all of it!)

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  5. You poor thing! I feel the same way about no trick-or-treaters. This year, we made a point to go to a friend's house for a party instead of sitting at home... The lack of a doorbell ringing is just too depressing!

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  6. I didn't get a single trick-or-treater either! Last year I didn't buy candy, and I had several kids knock on my door. This year I bought candy and didn't get any. Humm...

    The chili looks delicious!

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  7. Don't fret. We only got 2 trick or treaters (and I knew them) and I live in a very popular kiddie neighborhood. Turns out our Mr. P didn't turn the motion lights to on so it just looked like we had a dark house. So it was our fault. We look like Scrooges!! But in other news I need to make your meal. looks fab!

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  8. That's exactly how my neighborhood is! There are two kid-filled neighborhoods next to mine, but they seem to stay over there. I was so bummed my first year in the house - and had a basket full of candy left over. Now we go to my parents neighborhood instead. Not too many kids there either, but better than my house :(

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  9. those brownies look divine! I`m a new follower

    xo

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  10. Our first Halloween we made a haunted porch at Stone Hill and only TWO kids came that were dragged by our friends (who stuck around for bourbon by the fire, parents that is). We have not had ONE child the last two years. Breaks my heart. They just can't find us. :( You look adorable and I'm sure those ears come in handy. ;) ;)

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