History...Yuck, or not?

I NEVER grew up LOVING history.

However, for some VERY odd reason, I still remember the big 5th grade history project I had to do.  We were each given a president to write a report about.  We were to drum up facts, and add pictures as well.  (Remember, this was BEFORE computers, so pictures were copied, or in this case, transferred from a book using thin transfer paper.)  My President was the 14th...Franklin Pierce.  While I liked my 5th grade history teacher a little, I LOVED the picture part of this project, and the use of colored pictures, tracing, and just how it came out.  So, a history buff I wasn't, but a future art major I was.

Crazy memory, I KNOW.

But now we're in the present, and history is STILL not my favorite subject, save for one era.

I've read books about it, watched movies, and seen dramatized TV shows, and folks, I CAN'T get enough of it. 

I'm talking about the Tudor era.  King Henry VIII as a matter of fact.

I'm both intrigued and disgusted by it all. 

How cold WERE those castles?

How HEAVY were those dresses?

Were people really beheaded ALL the time?

And why was everyone so plain looking?

Brent thinks I am certifiably insane for all the things I've read and watched concerning this era.

He will walk through the room while I'm watching the Tudors TV series on Netflix, and just roll his eyes.

The only history that intrigues him is tractor history.  (insert rolling of MY eyes and snores.)

I REALIZE that what I've seen on TV and in the movies is highly overrated and made for dramatic effect.

I KNOW this, but I can't stop watching!

I've watched EVERY episode of the TUDORS (an HBO series) on Netflix.  (remember we DON'T have cable.)

No one is or was this good looking back in the 1500's in England.

I mean, King Henry VII really looked like this.

Yuck.

I've read this book (my pick for book club years ago)

and watched the movie.

Once again, the REAL King Henry VII was NEVER this good looking.

Now, I find myself hooked on the series Reign on the CW (Thursdays at 9pm).

Their costumes are BEAUTIFUL.  The drama and fighting and scandals were real I'm sure, but even more fun to watch on TV.

However, I'm sure the lady's in waiting to the queen were never this beautiful.  Nor did they wear lipstick.

The show is good.  I like it alot, but I watch it alone in my room because of the man with the comments and rolling eyes...aka my husband.

If I were you, I'd check it out, but remember, it's based only on some fact.  The real story from back that long ago is the most interesting.

But, sad to say, a history buff I'll never be.

Remembering

My 90 year old Grandfather died a couple months ago. 

He and Grandma had lived on their farm for 63 years.  My Grandpa raised MANY kinds of animals, and was a crop farmer as well.

He was a HARD worker.  And a man who knew A LOT about everything. 

I loved him dearly.

My Grandparents made plans before he died.  He wanted my Grandma to move off the farm, because it is too big for one person to handle.  They bought a house right in town, with easy access to everything. 

So, the other night, we went over and took one more walk through of the farm.

It made me remember so many things.

The times I was with Grandpa in his workshop (he made beautiful things out of wood), and the cats were swarming around our feet.

The times I played with my sister and cousins from Virginia (city kids!  :-) )out in the back shed.  We climbed for HOURS and had the best time.  Not caring how dirty or covered with spiderwebs we were.

The time my Grandpa rigged up a towing line to his tractor so me and my sister and cousins could sled down the hill to the pond, and be pulled back up.

The two doberman  dogs he kept that scared me so badly, I would fly from the car to the house everytime we visited, even though they were kept behind a fence.  (I just KNEW they were coming for me every time I went.)

And even when I would ride with him in the cab of his tractor and he would pop out his false teeth whenever I asked him to, just so I could scream everytime.

I drive past this farm every week when I go to get groceries.

It will forever be a part of my childhood.

Thanksgivings, Christmases, and Sunday afternoons visiting my Grandparents.

My children don't know this place like I do, but they had a little fun exploring the other night too, and posing for dramatic effect!

It really is a beautiful setting, my Grandparent's farm...

We had to keep pulling Brent away from all the equipment.  He kept exclaming, "Do you KNOW what this IS?"  Frankly darling, I don't, and I'm not sure that I care....

But HE was super excited!

At the time when I was a kid, I never knew any different, living on a farm was what I knew.  Visiting my Grandparents was just another HUGE yard for me to run around in.  The buildings were a place to explore.  When I got married, I wanted to move away from country living.  I wanted to be more worldly.
Little did I know, kids would change everything.  I wanted them to experience the freedom of being outside in a HUGE place like I had as a kid. 
I'm glad that kind of life was instilled in me, or I probably would've never come back to it.

It was nice remembering the other night. 

South of the Border

I could eat Mexican food EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK.

Give me Hacienda.

Give me El Camino Real.

Give me Taco Bell even.

Or, I'll make it myself.

 Its the go to meal when I can't think of something for a night.

Tacos.  Sure.

Enchiladas.  Even better.

Taco Salad.  Brent's favorite.

Tonight...chicken enchiladas with homemade salsa and chips (not homemade, but Tostitos makes cantina style thin chips, and they are TO DIE FOR.

I got home from picking up Evan after football equipment turn-in, and got ready to start making enchiladas, only to discover I was out of enchilada sauce.

Gulp.

Race to Pinterest I did to find a recipe for enchilada sauce.  Turns out, there are quite a few varieties, but I went with the one I had all the ingredients for.  It turned out pretty good, so I'll share...

Homemade enchilada sauce:
1T vegetable oil
2T flour
2T chili powder
2 c water
3 oz. tomato paste
1/2 t cumin
1/2 t garlic powder
1/4 t cayenne pepper
3/4 t salt

Mix the oil, flour and chili powder in a saucepan over med. until bubbly. Add the rest of the ingredients and still well to mix.  Stir until thickened a little, then remove from heat and use.

Chicken enchiladas:
10-12 tortillas (any kind, corn or flour, fajita size or regular)
2 cans chicken, or 3 chicken breasts cooked and shredded
2 c shredded cheese (colby or mexican)
enchilada sauce (1 jar, or above recipe)

Pour half the jar (or 1/2 above recipe) into bottom of 9x13 pan, and spread all over the bottom.  Mix chicken and cheese in large bowl, and then spoon into tortillas, roll up, and place seam side down on top of enchilada sauce in pan.  Repeat until all the chicken/cheese mixture is used up.  Top with remaining enchilada sauce and some  cheese.  Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.

Top with whatever you like, tomatoes, olives, sour cream, lettuce, onions, peppers, etc.

Homemade Salsa (like Hacienda restaurant)
1 28 oz. can tomatoes (diced or halved, doesn't matter), drained
1 6 oz. can tomato paste
5-6 cut up slices of jalapenos (I used the kind in a jar already sliced), and 1T juice
1t sugar
Blend everything together in blender until slightly creamy, but not pulverized. 
Serve with your favorite tortilla chips

Ah, this meal is GOOD.  Evan LOVES enchiladas and gets super excited when I put it on the weekly menu.  He eats his totally plain with no toppings, the rest of us add LOTS.

Its' an easy weeknight meal to make.  Go make yourself some!