Life at Willis Creek Ranch: March 2017

Friday, March 31, 2017

Mexican Chicken and Corn Soup (IP)

This recipe was written to make on the stovetop, but I converted it to be made in the Instant Pot. (Of course I did!) ;) ha!

Mexican Chicken and Corn Soup in the Instant Pot
2 tsp. butter
1 tsp. minced garlic
6 cups chicken broth
10 oz. can tomatoes with green chilis
3-4 cups frozen corn
½ tsp. onion powder, optional
½ tsp. dried oregano
½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. ground cumin
½ tsp. paprika
½ tsp. black pepper
¼ tsp. cayenne pepper, optional
3 cups cooked chicken, cut into bite size pieces
¾ cup half and half (or can use milk)
shredded Colby Jack cheese for garnish

Melt butter in Instant Pot and add garlic to quickly saute. Add chicken broth, tomatoes with green chilis, frozen corn, and all seasonings. Then add in the cooked, cut up chicken. Place lid on Instant Pot, set vent to seal, and cook on Manual High for 5 minutes. Allow for 5 minute natural pressure release. Remove lid, add in the half & half and stir to combine. You may add the shredded cheese to the pot or sprinkle it on the individual bowls of soup. Serve. (We ate this with Red Lobster Biscuits - https://lifeatwilliscreekranch.blogspot.com/2015/03/red-lobster-biscuits.html)

Random March

Just randomness from the month of March...

Daddy had purchased this tool box for his truck a couple years ago and ended up getting a different one. It sure came in handy to put it in Jonathan's truck. :)

A friend of Daddy's had posted this photo of Harry Truman and a Missouri Mule on Facebook. That led to us looking it up in our History of the Missouri State Fair book. You should all make plans to come visit the Missouri State Fair this August. The theme this year is 'Come Home'. :)

Interesting sidenote - Alaina's boyfriend is the namesake and relative
of the Senator listed at the head table with Harry Truman.

I love to hear Gary C. sing in church! This made my day.

Look who is going to Scotland!! :) After a family dinner one evening, we got out all the Scotland travel guides for Anna and Matthew to use to plan their upcoming trip.

When Kerry and Candace visited recently, Candace brought her Martin birdhouse so that Marvin could help her make some modifications. They got it done and I look forward to pictures from Candace of birds flocking to their new house. ;)

Mama and Daddy are clearing off shelves in preparation for the new room addition to their house. Look what they ran across! So very cool!! That Newsweek is dated July 4, 1976 and the TIME magazine is from July 25, 1969. Treasures!

Thursday, March 30, 2017

Family dinner

Kerry and Candace were able to visit Willis Creek Ranch for a few days. We enjoyed several family dinners together while they were here. What a pleasure! On one particular night we even got to FaceTime with James and Rojina. It was great to see their faces as well as hear their voices. We sure miss those two, but are so thankful for their story.

Brianna and Jackson

Daddy and Mama

Kerry and Candace

Julie and Matthew

Anna and Jonathan

Setting up FaceTime with James and Rojina

Hello James and Rojina!! :)

Ha! Candace is 'showing' James the tapioca we had for dessert that night. :D

Rojina and James

Tapioca Pudding (IP)

Marvin loves tapioca pudding. I remember when we first got married I was determined to make this treat for him. I made it one time. And that was enough. Poor guy... So you can imagine how excited I was when I realized I could do it in the Instant Pot! I have now made it 2 times in the last week! Perhaps on my way to making up to Marvin for the last 23 years??? ;) ha!

I realize this doesn't look all that appetizing, but it is really good!

Tapioca in the Instant Pot
2 ¾ cups milk
⅓ cup sugar (you can use Splenda if you need to)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
4 Tbsp. small pearl tapioca
1 large egg

Spray the inside of the Instant Pot with non-stick spray. Add all ingredients except the egg and stir well. Put the lid on the Instant Pot, seal the vent, and cook on Manual High Pressure for 7 minutes. Allow for at least 5 minutes natural pressure release. (and be prepared when you do release the remaining pressure - the milk is likely to spew a bit!) When all pressure is released, remove lid and set pot to Saute. Blend the egg with a fork in a small bowl, then pour it very slowly into the Instant Pot while stirring. You don't want the egg to cook until it is mixed thoroughly into the tapioca. Stir for several minutes (about 5) until the egg is fully cooked and the mixture has slightly thickened. You may serve tapioca warm or chill it in the refrigerator. Simple and yummy!

Note - The first time I made this recipe, I doubled it. The second time I made it, I tripled it! A triple recipe fits in the 6 quart Instant Pot just fine. Time for cooking doesn't change.

If you are interested in purchasing an Instant Pot, you can click through this link (below) to amazon and I will receive a small referral fee (of a couple dollars). :)

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Mac and Cheese (IP)

Mac and Cheese in the Instant Pot

16 oz. pasta (I used elbow macaroni)

1 box chicken broth (about 4 cups)

16 oz. sharp cheddar cheese

8 oz. american cheese

1 tsp. dry mustard

½ cup milk

2 Tbsp. butter

Place pasta in the Instant Pot with the chicken broth. Put the lid on and set vent to seal. Cook on Manual High pressure for 4 minutes. (Note - cook pasta in the instant pot for ½ the time the box says you would boil it. So, if box says boil for 8 minutes, cook in IP for 4.) Do a quick release. Place the Instant Pot on Saute then stir in the milk, butter, and mustard. Stir in cheese and keep stirring until it is smooth and melted (about 1-2 minutes). At this point you can either turn off the Instant Pot and serve, or you can put the mac and cheese in an oven safe baking dish and pop in the oven for 5 minutes at 400 degrees to brown up the top. (that is what I did)

Note - I may have added more milk and cheese. I just put in until it 'looked right'. :D

Here are a couple photos of this mac and cheese after baking in the oven - anywhere from 5 minutes...

to 45 minutes (for a crispier version)

Oven Shrimp Boil

I love this recipe! An easy and tasty alternative to a typical shrimp boil. This is a keeper! I found the original recipe here but will post below what I did.

Oven Shrimp 'Boil'

3-4 ears corn, cut crosswise into 4 pieces each.

red potatoes, scrubbed and cut into large chunks (I used about 8 medium sized)

1 pound raw shrimp (I used one bag of Aldi medium size raw shrimp)

1 pkg. beef smoked sausage

¼ cup butter, melted

4 cloves garlic (I am pretty sure I used a bit more!)

1 Tbsp. Old Bay seasoning

lemon for garnish, optional

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly oil baking sheet. Boil salted water in large stock pot on stove. Cook chunked up potatoes for about 5 minutes. Then add the cut up pieces of corn on the cob and finish cooking for another 5 minutes. You want the potatoes and corn to be par-boiled (tender, but not fully cooked). Drain and remove potatoes and corn.

In a small bowl, melt butter then add garlic and Old Bay seasoning. Mix well.

Place potatoes, corn, shrimp (that you have peeled) and sausage (sliced bite-size) onto sheet pans in a single layer, then pour butter/seasoning mixture evenly over all. (I actually put them all in a large bowl and then poured the butter/seasoning mixture in to combine - THEN spread it all out on the baking sheets.)

Cook in 400 degree oven for 12-15 minutes or until the shrimp are opaque and the corn is tender. Serve immediately.

Megan's Bridal Shower

My first real venture out after my surgery was to attend dear Megan's Bridal Shower. What a lovely afternoon celebrating a special young lady. We look forward to the big event coming in May!

The shower was held at the old Manhattan restaurant - a great location for events. I need to keep that place in mind for the future.

We started out with an introductory activity. All the ladies gathered in a circle to tell their connection to Megan. As we shared, we tossed a ball of string to another person across the circle - ending up with a visible web of love and connection to dear Megan. I was a lousy throw (!) but it was a neat opener. :D

What a pretty location for this event!

Next up - Mad Lib wedding vows! :D Each table filled out their own Mad Lib wedding vows for Megan to read (and consider?) ;) Pretty funny.

Then it was time for Megan to open her gifts. :)

This was the moment that Megan learned the tradition of what breaking the ribbons on the packages at a bridal shower signifies! :D (each ribbon broken = # of children you will have)