Dreary Weather!

The weather has been depressing this week.  So dark and rainy.  It makes it terribly hard to get out of bed in the mornings, not that I don't have plenty enough trouble with that as is!  It's definately sleeping weather!  I saw some pink skies tonight though, so hopefully tomorrow will be a prettier day! 

To warm me up in the mornings I have been eating some Cream of Rice.  Very similar in taste and texture to Cream of Wheat without that pesky gluten!

Cream of Rice can be treated a lot like oatmeal.  Stir in anything you like.  In this picture I stirred in 1/4 cup of pumpkin, a packet of Stevia in the Raw, cinammon, and ginger.  Delicious! Yes I am one of those annoying people who go mad for anything pumpkin as soon as the weather cools!  I get even more excited about cranberries though! :)

Last night I had a couple of my friends over to catch up on True Blood.  They had both missed the last three episodes and a true friend couldn't let them go on without seeing the finale any longer!  Visits with your BFFs always require carbalicious foods, so naturally a batch of Chorizo Pasta was in order!  I've had this recipe for years and honestly I have no idea where I got it or else I'd give credit where it's due! I have made several changes through out the years so this recipe is continuously evolving. 

 CHORIZO AND MUSHROOM PASTA

1 package of chorizo (I used Johnsonville)

1 pint of mushrooms

1 clove minced garlic

Dash of Salt and Pepper

1 tsp paprika

1 large can San Marzano style tomatoes

2 cups of chicken broth

1/2 cup dry white wine

1/2 cup half and half

1 box of spaghetti (I use gluten free Ancient Harvest)

1/2 cup parmesan cheese, separated 

Remove sausage from casings (this looks perverse and amusing).  Crumble and brown in a large pot (the size pot you would boil spaghetti in).  Remove and set to the side.  Saute mushrooms and garlic using the drippings from the sausage.  Add the can of tomatoes and break apart with your spoon and add seasonings.  Simmer 2 minutes.  Add broth, wine, and half and half.  Stir chorizo back into pot.  Bring to a low boil.  Add the spaghetti (break into thirds).  Cook at a low boil approximately 8 minutes.  Stir in 1/4 cup of the parmesan cheese and turn heat to low.  Simmer for about 5 minutes or until sauce is thickened.  Serve with remaining parmesan.  This makes 6 servings and according to the Livestrong recipe maker each serving is about 455 calories. 

In other news I went to Walgreens tonight and saw this:

I'm usually the type to appreciate any gift whatsoever but seriously?  This is perhaps the worse gift idea ever! lol!