Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Soul Warming


I just spent a week in Lebanon, Oregon for a friend's wedding. Right before I left, temperatures here in California were crazy high - as in over 100°. I love summer, and I love warm days, but at some point I just start craving the next season. I was a little excited to discover that up in Lebanon, days would be nice, but evening through morning would be on the cold side. I got to bring my boots, and pack scarves. But while I was there, boots and scarves and tea still weren't enough. I craved winter comfort food. Something warm and stew-like and meaty. Something that warms your soul. Something like...

Turkey-Habanero & Butternut Squash Chili
Ingredients
2-3 tbsp. of fat of choice – olive oil, coconut oil, butter, lard, etc.
1½ cups diced onions
1½ cups diced butternut squash
2 habaneros, minced
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
4 cups turkey or chicken stock
2 cups diced cooked turkey or chicken
1 palmfull Alton Brown’s Chili Powder, adjust to taste
¾ palmfull smoked paprika, adjust to taste
½ palmfull cumin, adjust to taste
Salt & pepper to taste
1 bunch Swiss chard, chopped (optional, but highly recommended; adds an unexpected meatiness to the chili)

Directions
Melt the fat in a Dutch oven or other large pot.  Add diced onion and sauté until golden.  Add butternut squash and sauté a few minutes more.  Add habanero and garlic and sauté a minute more.  Add stock, diced meat, chili powder, paprika and cumin.  Bring to simmer and maintain until vegetables are tender.  Salt & pepper to taste.   Add chopped chard and continue to simmer until soft but still green (about 4 minutes). Serve with shredded cheese, sour cream and tortilla chips.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

A New Venture

This summer, Bobby and I decided to take our lives in a new direction. The last few months have been spent planning and training and getting our paperwork in order, and soon we will be hiring and looking to launch. We are excited to announce that we are opening a FirstLight HomeCare franchise!

FirstLight provides non-medical in home care to seniors, the chronically ill and disabled, new mothers and people recovering from recent surgery, including companion care, personal care, dementia care and respite care. It is a way to help people stay in their homes and out of nursing or rehab facilities while alleviating the burden on family members. This is a service we both believe in, and feel really good about being able to provide.

Our location will serve the areas of West LA, Santa Monica, Century City, Westwood, Brentwood, Beverly Hills, Pacific Palisades, Bel Air and everywhere in between. If you know anyone with a kind and caring demeanor in the area looking for work, or anyone that might benefit from our services, please send them our way!