Chicken Cheddar Chowder

The best thing I’ve eaten this month. No joke.

4 cups (28 oz) vegetable, chicken or beef broth
2 cups diced, peeled potatoes
1 cup diced carrots
1 cup diced celery
1/2 cup diced onions
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup butter
1/3 cup flour
2 cups milk
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
2 cups diced cooked chicken

1. Bring broth to a boil in a large saucepan. Reduce heat. Add potatoes, carrots, celery, onion, salt and pepper.
Cover and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes. *

2. Melt butter in a medium saucepan. Add flour and mix well. Gradually stir in milk and cook over
low heat until thickened. Stir in cheese and cook until melted.
Add cheese mixture to broth and vegetables along with the chicken. **
Cook and stir over low heat until thoroughly heated.

*I boiled my veggies longer, I added the carrots and celery first and let them boil for about 5 minutes, then added the potatoes and onions, even after the 15 minutes I didn’t think they were soft enough, so I let them boil an additional 15 minutes and they were just about right. I also didn’t add any of the salt or pepper it asked for, and just had it on hand at the table, but I found that it did not need either, however Paul added pepper to his.

**I would add about another 1/4 cup flour and maybe 1/4 cup more cheese, as my chowder was not as chowdery as it was soup, but it was still delish.

Trust me on this one, you want to make this. And you want to eat it every day until you die. I made it this evening and was very, very pleased. And it helped that I already had all the ingredients in my fridge. This, paired with some Artisan Bread, boy howdy, what a treat. I, unfortunately, did not have the foresight to think of baking some Artisan Bread to g with this chowder, but I know deep down in my heart that Chicken Cheddar Chowder and Artisan Bread would be the best of friends.

Lots of things handmade.

Shalom update:
Done with bodice, 1/2 way through one sleeve. The sleeves are the hardest part to keep going on…you feel like you should be done already! But it’s still fun to work on.

Those crochet flower holders I was thinkin’ about making.. I tried a prototype. Turned out alright, but not quite how I wanted it.

I’ll definitly be making more, though. Hopefully for a wedding coming up this July (yipee!)

Also, been crafting a little for the besties. Although it’s a suprise and they’re not allowed to know what it is yet. But it’s knit and it’s got buttons, which automatically makes it awesome. Wanna see a sneak peak?

I love buttons.

And I decided since I had yarn all over the living room, I’d make it a bit tidier and I ended up really liking the look it made:

Sometimes I feel bad for Paul with all the knitting needles and crochet hooks I accidentally leave on the couch, just waiting for someone to sit on, and yarn trailed around the living room…

Ok. Off to do some other Saturday fun stuff.

Giveaway!

Another giveaway here on Knittybutton. Something I whipped up just today, in fact!

A powdery blue little scarflette with vintage buttons.

So, you know the drill. Leave a comment and you’re entered! Make a blog entry about it and you’re entered! (just make sure to enter another comment so that I know you’ve done so).

The winner will be drawn Wednesday at 5:oopm. Tell your friends!

A sneak-peek, plus Shalom update IV

So, I’ve got another give-away planned for early this week, not sure exactly when it’ll be up, either Monday evening or Tuesday (Scratch that, it’s up, take a look) I’m not saying what it is yet, but here’s a sneak peek:

And the Shalom is nearing the bottom:

Sorry, awful picture and awful lighting. I always wait until the evening to take the pictures. But its really a much nicer color than the picture shows, and not very bulbous at the bottom, that’s just cuz it’s on too small of needles… I’m completely in love with this sweater. I can’t wait to wear it!

Keep your eye out for the upcoming give-away!

Shalom Update III

The Shalom is progressing at a rapid rate. Just last night I got into the bodice part and I’ve already gone 6-7 inches. It’s so easy when you don’t have to count! But trying to make it into a few sizes bigger but only having the pattern in a size small, well, that’s a bit of math for you. You know, making sure the sleeves end up in the right spot and not coming out the middle of your back or something. It’s not quite at a stage where I can try it on yet, but soon soon. And if it doesn’t fit, well… well that’ll be terrible and I’ll have to start over. So we’re just going to hope it fits.

And here’s a picture of the back, you can see where I pulled off the sleeves and am letting them hang around on the white yarn until I am done with the bodice, then I’ll go pick up those lonely stitches with dpn’s (double pointed needles, for those of you not in the know) and make some sleeves.

Shalom update

Here is the latest on Shalom.

I obviously should have gotten longer needles for this project, but this was what I had on hand, so you make due, you know? I made Erika’s on this and it worked just fine, and although mine is about 2-3 sizes bigger it’s not too bad. But I got alot done over the weekend, despite it being pretty busy.

But the bad news is, my bum shoulder returned. I saw the MD again today and he said it’ll most likely be a chronic condition. He gave me an injection into my shoulder today, it hurt pretty badly, but he says it should feel better in a day or two, but it’ll probably keep coming back. It’s not necessarily due to one specific thing, but a combonation of stress and repetative motion. So if knitting keeps me de-stressed, but it aggrivates it by doing repetative motion… hmm. I’ll have to think about that one for a while.

Off to knitting night!

And we’re off!

I casted on this morning! Gotten 11 rows so far. The hardest part about this sweater is taking the time to ball up the yarn, because it comes in a big circle, and you’ve got to wind it all up without getting it into a huge tangled mess. I failed and it took me about 45 minutes to get the last 15 yards or so out of a huge tangle.

And just cuz he’s the cutest thing ever, Ezra:

And also, way to go Leanne, keep on knitting! She’s got a beautiful scarf started, go take a look and give her some knitting-love.

Also, Erika’s started her own scarf, too. Hopefully she’ll take some pictures and let us see her work!

If anyone else out there has decided to start knitting, let me know! I’d love to see what you’re working on!

Fickle fickle…

So, just as I was casting on for my new sweater I got cold feet. I looked at the pattern again, and again and again. I just couldn’t do it. I loved my yarn too much to waste it on a sweater that I didn’t love.

So, guess what. I’m making my own Shalom! I know it will seem that everyone has one these days, I am going to make a few modifications, it’s actually going to button all the way down, so it won’t look quite so… maternity on me. That’s not really the look I am going for quite yet.

via

So, I’m casting on tonight! I’ll keep you updated.