Amie Stuart ~ On the Back Porch

So, this weekend I cleaned house. No big surprise there–I try to tackle one big project every weekend the kids are home. This weekend it was #2 son’s pit room. I made him go through all his clothes and get rid of all but about 20 t-shirts/polos and 10 winter shirts. Along with all the baby hangers–you know, those little plastic hangers. He’s almost 13 and I finally made myself break down and go buy the kid some REAL Hangers. This wasn’t due to resistance toward him growing up as much as forgetfulness!

I’ve also been working on some mental housecleaning–also occasionally necessary.

This weekend at SFC we’ve got a Behind the Book double whammy! Including a Behind the Book with BD Dark (Julie Cohen and Kathy Love) today, and Jordan Summer onWednesday!

And Saturday, I made soup!As always, adjust to suit! Both my kids loved it and it’s got a mild flavor even with the onions.

Mexican Chicken Corn Chowder

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 pounds chicken cut into bite-size pieces (I boiled 2 breasts and 3 thighs –off the bone)
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 cubes chicken bouillon
• 1 cup hot water
• 1 cup broth from boiled chicken
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cumin (I couldn’t find and didn’t add cumin)
• 2 1/2  cups half-and-half cream
• 1/4 cube Velveeta cheese (the original recipe called for 2 c of Co-Jack)
• 2 (14.75 ounce) can cream-style corn
• 1 (4 ounce) can diced green chiles
• 1 dash hot pepper sauce
• 1 tomato, chopped (I skipped this)
• fresh cilantro sprigs, for garnish (optional)

DIRECTIONS

1. Put chicken in pot and cover with water. Cook until done.
   
2. While chicken is cooking add chopped onion and garlic to crock pot. Dissolve the bouillon in hot water; add to garlic and onion along with half and half and creamed corn.  
3. Once chicken is done, allow it to cool. Pull off the bone and chop into bite-sized pieces and add to soup, add to crock pot along with chiles and hot pepper sauce.
   
4. Cook about 3 hours on high. Stir in chopped tomato. Garnish servings with cilantro. Makes about 8-10 servings.
   

Kim Killion is our Behind the Book guest this week at SFC!

I made a fairly big (for me) decision yesterday that makes me very happy but a little sad.

Last week the cable broke. We missed Supernatural :(  But the cable guy was cute as a bug and I gave him a signed copy of NAILED!

In other news, I have nothing to report. Life is fairly quiet and slow and I’m liking it.  Okay I have edits coming tomorrow for HITTIN’ IT–hoping she’s got/enclosing a copy of the cover too. I’ve only seen it in B & W and even that made me want to lick it *blink* –and I have a really quick turn-around so that’s my weekend plan.

We had football last night–it was a tie game. Have i mentioned how much I HATE football? And I’m not sure what angry god took autumn but I was really enjoying that cooler weather people!

Today after work I’m going home to get my six or eight pages.  Then I have to return dress shoes and pants for son #2 and get the correct sizes. Son #2 has d-hall this afternoon.  Son #1 has Saturday school for 2 hours. I honestly do NOT understand the point of Saturday school for TWO FRICKEN HOURS. Otherwise, life is quiet and kinda boring so I honestly don’t see a huge point in blogging and boring you with my boringness

On to Wednesday Weirdness

1. Would you rather join the Ghostbusters to hunt ghosts or join the Sesame Street bunch? Why?

Ghostbusters. Sesame Street creeps me out. Muppets are weird–sorry.

2. What is the most you are willing to do to get out of a police officer giving you a ticket?

If he’s hot, I’m game for anything

3. What popular movies do you find to be overrated?

Hmmm I typically skip anything I think is overrated. These are usually chick films or artsy things. And I find that stuff that wins Oscars usually pisses me off so I’ve learned to skip them too.

4. What is in (and/or on) your bedside table?

Books (like that’s a shocker), a magazine that has an article I”m saving for a book (but I don’t remember what article), salt (don’t ask), probably a glass of water from last night, my nail care bag (polish, files etc), a list of doctors that take our health insurance and um books.  (Sorry all the good stuff is NOT kept around my bed)

5. Have you ever had or fantasized about having sex with a boss before? Have you ever acted on that fantasy?

Ew NO! Ok yes, but I was 16 and he was HAWT

6. If you had a personal assistant, what would you have them do?

Freaking EVERYTHING dude. Hellooooooo Personal assistants assist! File, make appointments, copy stuff, go pick up my kids and return those shoes and pants to target for me while you’re at it.

7. Have you ever faked static, loss of cell phone reception or anything else on the telephone line to get out of a conversation?

No……I just don’t answer the phone Frankly, I htink phones are evol not to mention a pain in the ass.

Feel free to play along if you want! 

The talented Carolyn Jewel is our guest blogger at SFC Today! I hope you’ll stop by!

Interesting conversation with small children on Saturday. We dropped the dog at the groomers and hit Borders. It was my b’day weekend and I wanted some new books. I’m standing in the romance section and #2 child makes fun of…the romances. I send him away and then he comes back a few minutes later with #1 child and they start up again. I send them away again. Finally, I’m getting ready to check out and I look at both my kids and say, “Those romances you were making fun of? They paid for the braces in your mouths.”

*headdesk*

Was digging through an old wip the other day. Can anyone tell me what’s wrong with this sentence and would you like to guess just how old this WIP is?

I wander the aisles with my headphones and CD walkman on, hoping no one will talk to me.  

On the happy side, I discovered this manuscript is actually in pretty good shape. The opening chapter needs work (as does the synopsis), but I think it’s something my agent can totally shop.  And somewhere I have the opening few pages of the second book (it’s a two-book project).

Otherwise known as Amie’s American Idel recap!

Did you watch? What did you think? I’m putting it below the cut for Amanda.

Ooooooooo Anne Frasier is over at SFC Today blogging behind the book
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