Snow: Tiny Balls of Freezing Motivation

It snowed.

That sentence is all by itself up there to show you how emphatic I am about it. IT SNOWED. In Raleigh. What?!? I moved south to avoid this whole snow business. Good grief.

I've decided a good way to pass the time before I can wear sundresses again is to set small, attainable goals. For what? I don't know! I'm still figuring that part out.

I've been reading a lot more lately. My attention span is too short for tv, but I can concentrate on reading, which seems backwards, but there you go. I've been reviewing my list of books on Goodreads - a marvelous invention because I used to keep track with paper lists, but I am always losing lists. Grasping for organization is so futile sometimes. Thanks, goodreads.com for taking charge. Anyway. I thought, wouldn't it be stupendous if I could read 1,000 books by the time I'm thirty? I like the sound of that. So much for small, attainable goals.

But then I got all mathematical about it and realized I would have to read maybe 15 books a month. And I read fast, but that might be too much, even for me. Even if I count the "young adult" stories I read for an hour pick-me-up. So maybe I'll extend it to WHILE I'm 30. Because 7 books a month is probably do-able. I'm a high functioning insomniac, so I have twice the time to do it. Also, this is logical because (stay with me here), if I am the worst at small attainable goals, maybe I would be way way better at large, completely impossible goals! Insomniac logic! Yay!

On a side note - I just now realized I don't own a library card for the local library. Although I DO own library cards for libraries in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Oregon. This is starting to sound difficult. So I'm definitely motivated to do it and possibly spectacularly fail.

Now, a recipe for Three Sisters Stew. It's especially nice cause I'm one of three sisters. Also, the stew warms your belly AND your soul. I mean, assuming you're not a redhead, and consequently, soul-less. In which case, it might warm your little black heart.

Three Sisters Stew

INGREDIENTS
1 large butternut squash, cut up (about 2 pounds) *I suggest buying it cut up in the produce section, because butternut squash takes brute strength to cut up
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 medium green or red bell pepper, cut into short, narrow strips
14- to 16-ounce can diced tomatoes, with liquid
2 cups cooked pinto beans (about 3/4 cup raw),
or 16-ounce can, drained and rinsed
2 cups corn kernels (from 2 large or 3 medium ears)
1 cup homemade or canned vegetable stock, or water
4-ounce can chopped mild green chiles
1 teaspoon each: ground cumin, dried oregano
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Bake squash for 40 to 50 minutes, or until just done but still firm. When cool enough to handle, dice squash into cubes. Set aside until needed.

Heat the oil in a soup pot. Add the onion and sauté over medium-low heat until translucent. Add the garlic and continue to sauté until the onion is golden.

Add the diced squash and all the remaining ingredients and bring to a simmer. Simmer gently, covered, until all the vegetables are tender, about 20 to 25 minutes. Season to taste with salt
and pepper.

If time allows, let the stew stand for 1 to 2 hours before serving, then heat through as needed. The stew should be thick and very moist but not soupy; add additional stock or water if needed. I like mine extra soupy when I'm not feeling well.