Saturday Stirrings: Super Bowl Sunday Recipes

I'm back with a few recipes for Saturday Stirrings hosted by Carol at I Throw Like A Girl. It seems like party foods are in order as everyone gears up for Super Bowl Sunday.

If you like shrimp, you'll LOVE this spread. It's muy rico! I typically serve it with water crackers so the flavor of the spread really shines through and isn't overpowered.

SHRIMP SPREAD
8 oz. cream cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 cup seafood sauce
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
2 cans (4-1/4 oz each) shrimp, drained and rinsed
3 green onions, sliced
3/4 cup finely chopped tomato
bag of frozen shrimp (large), thawed (optional)

In a mixing bowl beat cream cheese, sour cream and mayonnaise until smooth. Spread on 12" round platter. Cover with seafood sauce. Sprinkle with shrimp, then cheese, followed by onion and tomato. If using the large shrimp, place all along edge in a decorative fashion -- by that I simply mean all the shrimp are going the same direction around the plate.

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If you're a fan of the chili but don't relish the thought of red splashed all over your living room, here's a very yummy AND very easy alternative.

WHITE CHICKEN CHILI
2 cups diced onions
2 cups diced celery
5 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 lb. chicken, cooked and diced
8 cups water
1 bay leaf
1 (7 oz) can chopped green chilies
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon basil
1/3 of a 7 oz can chipotle in adobo, chopped (optional for those that like more heat in their chili)
4 tablespoons chicken base
1 jalapeño pepper, chopped
1 large jar (or 2 cans) of white beans
1/2 cup heavy cream
16 oz. sour cream

In a large stockpot, sauté onion, celery and garlic in oil until tender, about 5 minutes. Add water, bay leaf, chilies, herbs, chipotle, chicken base and jalapeño and simmer for 1-1/2 hours. Add drained beans and simmer for additional 1/2 hour. During last 10 minutes add chicken and cream. Garnish with sour cream.

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Can't neglect our sweet tooth! How about a no-bake Peanut Butter Pie? I'm all about the easy and it doesn't get any easier that this.

PEANUT BUTTER PIE
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup natural style, reduced fat cream peanut butter
8 oz. low fat cream cheese (1/3 less fat)
14 oz. can fat-free sweetened condensed milk
12 oz. fat free whipped topping
2 graham cracker crusts (I like to use the chocolate ones)
fat free chocolate syrup

Beat powdered sugar, peanut butter and cream cheese until smooth. Add milk and beat until combined. Fold in whipped topping. Divide evenly between crusts and chill overnight (or 8 hours). Cut into wedges, drizzle with chocolate syrup.

*You can also freeze the pies and serve them only slightly thawed. Delicioso!*

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Almost makes you want to have Super Bowl parties every Sunday ☺

Don't forget to check out the other recipes over at Carol's.

Update on my FIL

Just returned home from dinner at our co-workers (yes, it really is almost 3 a.m.) and we had an e-mail about my FIL. He had a stroke 2-3 days ago but because he's so unsteady on his feet anyway, my MIL did not realize there was a problem until today when dad couldn't feed himself because he couldn't get his right hand to work. After being taken by ambulance to the ER, dad was admitted to the hospital and will be there for several days after which he will probably need rehab. But the family is encouraged that he's already showing signs of improvement and was able to feed himself this evening. Thanks for your prayers and please keep praying!

Why oh why did Adobe do away with PageMaker?!

Today's another hot sunny day here in Carlos Paz, Argentina. But I've spent the afternoon inside, trying to figure out how to use iPages on my Macbook since PageMaker is forever lost to me. Boohoo. I was sad beyond measure to learn Adobe no longer supports PM, my favorite desktop publishing software which I've used for nigh unto 20 years. And my old software is not compatible with my new computer. I could always "upgrade" to the new software they're peddling...for a mere $200. Ugh. And who knows how long they'll support that? About as soon as I spend the money, they'll switch to another new program and require more hard cold cash to upgrade to it. Pooh on Adobe!

Let's talk about something positive! Spanish was fun. We're working on business terminology and in the course of the conversation we touched on the subject of frustrating jobs. I think being a parole officer would be highly frustrating since you keep seeing the same faces as they revolve in and out of the prison system. So that led to talking about crime. Which progressed to the specific crime of robbery, a serious problem in this area.

We know Americans who were terrorized by robbers threatening to kill them a few months back and the experience so traumatized the wife and son that they've since returned to the U.S. That happened not too far from where we live, about two barrios over.

[Okay, so you're wondering where the fun comes in, right? Be patient! I'm getting there.]

Then my tutor told me about another woman who had kinder, gentler robbers. When she saw they were taking her computer she begged them to let her do a quick back-up. And they did! She was so thankful that she was all smiles as they left with her computer and assorted other items ☺

Tonight we're having dinner with our co-workers and another family they've gotten to know. I can't remember if the husband or wife is an architect, but one of them is, and since the hubby and I dream of someday building our own house we look forward to picking their brain about what's involved in such a project in this country.

Tomorrow I'm back with a recipe or three. I've been slacking on the Saturday Stirrings for a few weeks but am determined to get back on track tomorrow. Since I'm pretty sure we'll be out late tonight, it might be afternoon before I manage to post. This girl's gotta have her beauty sleep and if we don't come dragging home until 1 or 2 a.m. I'm NOT getting up at seven! Hasta mañana.

Edited to add:
Would appreciate your prayers for my FIL who's even now in the ER waiting to see what caused the numbness in his arm this afternoon. He's 87 and pretty frail. Thanks for praying!

I was Kreativ today and I have an award to prove it

Thursday mornings I get together with Graciela, a new friend who also likes to sew and craft. This week I was ready with a little project and we had so much fun! I may have mentioned I don't like to waste anything, so it will come as no surprise that I save snippets of fabric left over from projects. Yeah, a little OCD but it could manifest itself in worse ways.

Anyway, I had some snippets with Heat 'n Bond already on the back. I cut each of us a 12-1/2" square of fabric to use as our base and away we went! We cut and snipped and fussed until we liked our fabric "pictures" and then we ironed it all onto the background.

Here's what Graciela created... Isn't it fantabulous?! Graciela is a true artist who loves color and isn't afraid to use it ☺

I'm a bit more stick-in-the-mud and not as adventurous (but I'm working to overcome that!). I'd seen an episode of Simply Quilts some years ago about how to use snippets of fabric to create bouquets of flowers. Fabric for the vase caught my eye first and it was already the right shape and size for what I had in mind. It was quite freeing to just sit and snip, snip, snip little pieces and then put them together and voila! a flower! (photos are a little blurry, sorry about that; can't seem to hold the cell phone still enough for crisp pictures)

I do look forward to Thursday mornings! ☺

Lisa at The Owl's Nest nominated me for The Kreativ Blogger award, my very first one in Bloggyville! Thanks Lisa! I thought the timing was perfect since I'm actually feeling very "kreativ" today. LOL

Yesterday I couldn't have said that. After unpacking box after box of office things, I just felt hot, sticky and tired. There are still two boxes to go and half the stuff I'm just re-packing because we don't have anywhere to put it yet. Shelves/storage yet to come. But at least now I have ready access to a stapler and envelopes. Yay!

So back to the award...now I'm supposed to pass it on to ten deserving bloggers. I'd like to say I consider the clever use of words and language to be as creative and inspiring as art or design. While I like the bells and whistles on some blogs, what keeps me coming back is the writing. Writing that draws me in and makes me feel some emotion. Now that's worthy of a Kreativ Blogger Award!

And so I bestow this award on...

Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee is one of my favorites. Besides being funny as all get out, she's super Kreativ ☺ Who else would have thought up an "I See What You're Saying" carnival?! I love this girl and can't wait to open her blog each day to read/see what she's got to say -- you can pretty much count on it being hysterical.

6 Year Med whose stories of life as an intern make me smile, giggle, cry and cringe. All her posts are entertaining but this one had me laughing out loud!

Confessions of a Tired Supergirl is written in a lyrical style that's so refreshing. Yes, if I had to use one word to describe this blog, it would be refreshing, as evidenced by this December post. And don't we all need some refreshment now and then? (Oh, and Sue just published her first book! All I need is Jesus and a good pair of jeans is now available at amazon.com)

Fish In My Hair doesn't blog daily (or sometimes even weekly) but when she does post, it's worth reading! This woman is hysterically funny and can make you laugh simply describing a conversation with her parents.

Joy at Joys Of Home is a self-proclaimed do-it-yourselfer AND thrift store shopper extraordinaire and she has the most creative home decorating blog I've come across for those of us with non-existent budgets. I can't possibly pick just one post because she has great how-to ideas ALL THE TIME! If you're in need of decorating inspiration, Joy's your girl!

Dorcas is another published author with two books to her credit and a third one in process. Her blog chronicles her life and adventures as a pastor's wife, mom to both biological and adopted children, columnist for the local paper and she also happens to live on a farm. She's one of the women I'd love to meet some time...because she thinks a lot like I do ☺ I loved this post about Facebook.

Amy Beth's Ministry So Fabulous is a must-read-daily. Never know what AB is going to come up with next! The occasional videos show just what a lovable nut she is, and her blog is honest and funny and true. I've shared this post with you before, but it bears repeating. I *heart* Amy Beth!

Becky is a homeschooling mom to ten (well, four are grown) who writes from her farmhouse in the Midwest. Her hubby had a heart transplant a couple years ago and two of their kids are closely monitored for ongoing heart problems. Her sense of humor in the midst of the craziness that is her life keeps me coming back daily to see what's new Out Ioway.

Deb at Suburb Sanity is another that regularly moves me to emotion. Sometimes the fall-off-your-chair-while-snorting-your-drink-through-your-nose-and-spewing-it kind of emotion. So I am always careful to sit on the floor and far away from all beverages when reading her blog. Don't believe me? Then read this.

Donna's one of those amazing women who has a job outside the home but still finds time to make home-cooked meals. In fact her blog is all about being Way More Homemade. Every recipe of hers I've tried has been WONDERFUL. But it's not just a food blog. Oh no! Donna writes about all things home and mama-related.

This is by no means a comprehensive list of all the Kreativ Bloggers out there, but I was limited to ten. If I didn't include you, please don't feel badly -- I enjoy each and every one of you and you're all Kreativ in my book!