Corn Chowder

I made a delicious corn chowder yesterday with recycled bacon (leftover bacon from breakfast).  I thought I would share the recipe.  It is delicious and even better on the second day when the flavors have had a chance to marry.  The perfect recipe for a cold winter's day.

6 slices of crispy bacon cut into small pieces
1 medium onion chopped
3 medium yukon gold potatoes cubed (yukon gold potatoes help to thicken the soup)
2 1/2 cups of water
2 chicken bullion cubes
1 can creamed corn
1 can kernel corn drained (or substitute fresh corn)
2 cups half and half
2 tablespoons of butter
salt and pepper to taste

In a pot, saute the bacon, onions and potatoes on medium until the onions are soft.  Add water and bullion cubes.  Add cream corn and kernel corn.  Simmer until potatoes are cooked through.  In a small sauce pan, heat half and half until warm.  Add warm half and half to other ingredients.  Add Butter.  Salt & pepper to taste.  Heat through and serve.  Delicious!!

O Christmas Tree

Christmas is over and if you have a live Christmas tree in your home, it's time to consider recycling it.  Christmas trees can certainly be placed in your compost heap.  It will decompose over time.  Just be sure to remove all of the decorations including tinsel before placing it in your heap.  If you cut it into smaller pieces it will decompose quicker.

Some cities and towns collect trees for their own recycling programs and will chip and shred the trees into mulch.  Check with your city or town for guidelines and dates for curbside pick up.

Placing your tree in your yard until spring is another alternative.  Birds and wildlife will seek the refuge of the branches of your tree during the harsh days of winter.  The branches will protect the birds and wildlife from snow, wind and cold.  Pete and I will lay our tree on it's side in a quiet location in our yard.  We'll place a bird feeder nearby and peanut butter suet in it's branches because finding food is also difficult in winter.  Then in March/April we'll place it into the compost heap to decompose.

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,

                                        How lovely are thy branches!

Not only green when summer's here

But in the coldest time of year.

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,

How lovely are thy branches!

Recycling Christmas Cards

This is a fun and easy project from BHG using Christmas cards.  Using a compass, make circles ranging from large to small.  Scallop the edges of some.  Slice and remove a 3/16 inch wedge with your scissors to the center of each circle.  Form each circle into a cone shape and tape to hold it in place.  Cut a styrofoam ball in half.  Place the styrofoam flat side down and push a wooden dowel (to desired height) into the center. Stack your cones starting with the largest at the base pushing it down the length of the dowel and into place.  Wind a rubberband around the dowel between each layer.  Continue until your tree takes shape.  Top with a ribbon.  No that's a beautiful way to recycle!!