Potatoes, Sauerkraut and Kielbasa Sausage

So I was bored and didn't really want to slave over the stove. But the kids claimed they were starving. And I hadn't gone grocery shopping yet, so I had limited resources to work with.  So I took what I had and made quite the tasty treat.  Quick and easy too.

1 kielbasa sausage (sliced)
1 pkg frozen Potatoes O'Brien (the diced potato with chopped bell peppers)
2 cups shredded mild cheddar cheese
1 16 oz jar sauerkraut (drained)
4 tablespoons butter/margerine
salt, pepper, garlic powder, pinch of red pepper flakes

Preheat oven to 350°.  Spray 9x13 cake pan with non-stick spray.  In a mixing bowl, pour in frozen potatoes; season with salt, pepper, garlic powder and red pepper flakes; sprinkle on drained sauerkraut and add sliced kielbasa sausage. Mix and pour into cake pan.  Add butter pats or spoons.  Cover and bake 50 minutes.  Remove cover, add shredded cheese. Return to oven (uncovered) for 15 minutes, until cheese melts. 

Serve with garlic toast, dinner rolls, a side salad, or rolled up into a tortilla, or just eat alone.  It was quite delicious so I've deemed it a keeper.  I may add more bell peppers next time. 

Chile Verde

Chili Verde

1 bunch Cilantro
6 Jalapeños
6 Serrano peppers
3 Anaheim peppers
1 can tomatillos (or six fresh)
1 can green chilies
1 can diced tomatoes
2 cans tomato sauce
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 small pork butt roast (or  pork chopped for stew or even pork chops cut into cubes)
1 small onion
2 cups chicken broth.

Peel and chop the onion and put it in a pan of 2 cups of water with the pork. Season to taste (I used pepper, garlic powder, season all). Bring to a boil then simmer until done (about 25 mins).

In the meantime, cut tops of peppers (remove the seeds from the peppers if you want LESS spicy) and use a blender or food processor and blend the other ingredients. You'll need to blend in a couple batches (I do the peppers and tomatoes in one batch, the cilantro, spices, green chilis and tomato sauce in a second batch)

Cut cooked pork into large chunks. Place blended ingredients, broth and pork in a slow cooker and cook on high for ten hours. If you don't have a slow cooker, simmer on stove 5 to 8 hours.

Prior to serving, remove pork and shred with a fork, then put back into chili verde. Thicken with 2 tablespoons cornstarch/1/4 cup cold water mixture).

Serve over tortillas with beans or fried potatoes and eggs. Top with shredded cheese and chopped onions.

Sticky Gooey Delicious Chex Mix

I had this at my cousin's house on Halloween and I've been craving it ever since. It takes less than 15 minutes to make.

photo via google images

1 cup butter
1 cup karo syrup
1 cup sugar
6 cup rice chex
6 cup corn chex
1 cup slivered almonds (or any nut you enjoy really)

Stir butter, light karo syrup, and sugar in a pan and bring to a boil for about minutes.  Pour over the mix, stirring well.   Spread mixture on Wax or Parchment paper and let sit for about an hour. 


I'm going to mix it up a little and try it with different nuts as well (like pecans, cashews, maybe macadamia.  I think walnuts would be too strong). And maybe brown sugar instead of white.  14 wants me to add pretzels to the mix.  17 wants me to use Honey Graham cereal also.

Let me know what you try! 

Keep in a dry, airtight container.  I don't know how long it keeps, we ate a whole bowl in one day!

Happy Thanksgiving

Legal Translation on a Global Scale

Having worked in the legal industry for 20 years now, one thing I have noticed is the trend against using certified court reports to perform legal translations.  In the old days, one would find a certified court reporter that spoke the language being translated and that person would be hired to translate the document. One regret I have is that I didn't stick with Spanish after I learned it in my early days. I would have been that much more marketable.

Now days, there are services that specialize in such translation of legal documents, such as contracts, wills, trusts, and settlement agreements into another language.  I have family in the UK and apparently these companies are huge over there.  It is also my understanding that there is quite a market for translation given the global economy we’re living in.

So, if you are in the need for some legal translation, whether you are a corporation, legal firm or small company, there is indeed a market to service your very need.  Shop around, find someone reputable, and get references.  Just like any other job you’re hiring out, you want someone  who is good at what they do and preferably someone who specializes in the field you’re in. 

Thank you

Conditioning Cleanser

So. I moved from the scorching desert back to a more humid climate and yet and noticed my hair was looking very dry and brittle. I don't really use heat on it so I was surprised. I decided it needed a deeper condition to re-adjust to Utah.

I was reading an article about cleansing conditioner and thought that was the magic trick to bring my hair back to life.  It was conditioner with a mild detergent so your hair would be free of harsher chemicals.  Bingo!

I bought Pantene Cleansing Conditioner.  I've always had good luck with Pantene products.  And I tried it for a whole week.  And my hair was very silky and soft.  Except that I also looked like a homeless person with an exceptional wardrobe and great shoes.  

Because here is what they don't tell you:  if you have thin hair, or limp hair, or oily hair or anything that isn't full bodied - thick hair, you're hair will look like you haven't washed it for a week. 

I thought it was odd that the instructions said "for a deep clean, use regular shampoo every three days." 

I thought the point was to avoid using the "regular" shampoo full of harsh chemicals, etc. 

Anyway, after one week I went the route of using a mild shampoo every other day and the conditioning cleanser on the odd days.  Except I'm trying to avoid washing my hair every day because that just creates more oil.  So I now wash my scalp with a mild shampoo and use the cleansing conditioner on my hair ends and tips.

So far so good.