Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, Dolly Parton, and Pomegranate Cupcakes

Pomegranate Cupcake with Buttercream

This is my first post of 2012.

According to some (my friend Colleen for one) this could be a short year. I promise to get more out here on the blog just in case that damned Mayan calendar is right.

Last nights festivities were mild. I chose to stay in with Lawyer, try some new chili (I'll put the recipe below), eat some pomegranate cupcakes, and watch Masterpiece Theater (Downton Abbey - it's everything you want in British period dramas. Namely mild gay drama, the Titanic sinking and Maggie Smith. Oh and that woman who was in that Kevin Bacon movie about having baby. See. Everything you could ever want.) I am sure you are asking why was my night not filled with wild and crazy food/booze filled fun?!?! Well Boyfriend is traveling to San Francisco to visit our friend Paty. Sister and Future Husband were busy in their neighborhood and there was a Winter Storm Warning. For those of you in the Minneapolis reading area you know this was a big deal because as of two days ago winter had not yet hit our cold weather state. So I invited Lawyer over after her hard day of volunteering and we caught up over some well deserved chili and cupcakes.

I have now spent the majority of the New Year grazing over day old cupcakes, watching way too many movies on Netflix (9 to 5 has never been so entertaining - Thank you Dolly Parton) and cleaning my kitchen. Below is the recipe for Chicken Chile given to me by Just Joni who got it from Aunt Sharon who got it from Family Friend Donna who I am sure got it from that woman on Downton Abbey that starred in that baby making film with Kevin Bacon.

New Year's Chicken Chili

RECIPE FROM A FRIEND OF A FRIEND OF A FRIEND

Makes 11 (1 Cup) Servings.

ingredients

14.5 oz can diced tomatoes

16 oz jar of salsa

14.5 oz can of chicken broth

1 cup Barley

4 cups Water

1 Tablespoon chili powder

1 Teaspoon cumin

1 can black beans; drained and rinsed

15.25 oz can of corn

1.5 lbs cooked and shredded chicken breast

instructions

1. In a 6 qt saucepan combine first 7 ingredients. Bring to boil over high heat, cover and reduce to low heat. Simmer for 40 mins, stirring occasionally.

2. Add beans, corn and chicken; increase heat to high until chili comes to a boil. Cover and reduce again to low heat. Simmer for an additional 5 mins or until barley is tender.

3. If upon standing the chili becomes too thick, add more chicken broth or water until chili is desired consistency. If desired (and when is it not desired), top with shredded cheddar cheese and sour cream (and not that fat free kind!).

Pomegranate Cupcakes

RECIPE MADE UP ON THE FLY

ingredients (cake)

1 box yellow cake mix (and all items listed on box needed to make cake)

1 jar pomegranate jelly

ingredients (frosting)

1 stick butter

1/4 cup shortening

2 cups powdered sugar

3 tablespoons reduced pomegranate juice

3 tablespoons heavy cream (more if frosting feels stiff)

instructions

1. Bake cupcakes as directed on box.

2. Using a paring knife or melon baller, scoop out a small hole in middle of cupcake. And fill with pomegranate jelly.

3. Carefully frost cupcakes with Pomegranate frosting

I must sign off now and get back to Dolly, Jane and Lily. And maybe another rogue cupcake for dinner. Have a wonderful New Year and just think about Friday's Happy Hour when you get to work tomorrow! And I promise to update in the next few days as I plan to have lunch with Baby Mama. We hope to venture out of our food box and try someplace new.

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