January, 2007

My great friends, Shannon and Molly, invited us to spend New Years Eve at their cabins at Lake Vermilion, Minnesota — close to the Boundary Waters. They have two cabins right on the lake surrounded by nothing but trees and nature.

We celebrated the weekend with 4 other couples. We skied across the frozen lake, went ice fishing (making the fishing hole was tough so I finally gave up and built a snow-woman and called her my "Fishing Ho"). We ate, laughed, saunaed then make snow angels to cool off.

It snowed 10 inches on New Years Eve coating everything with a fresh white blanket. It was spectacular. And the best way to see out 2006 and welcome in 2007.

This is a picture of Shannon and I on the lake at dawn on New Years day 2007. Thanks Shannon & Molly for such a great party.

Here's to a healthy and happy year! 

first step:
1 big red onion chopped
lots of garlic cloves chopped
4 serrano chili peppers, seeded and chopped (wear rubber gloves)
1 green, red, or yellow pepper chopped.
2 tsp paprika
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tofu cutlets (something i found at walmart–firmer than regular tofu)

next step:
2, 13 oz cans of chopped tomatoes with green chilis
1-ish  cup hot vegetable stock (i bought a veg soup mix and added water)
1 can black beans
1 can chili beans in sauce
salt and pepper

*serve with sour cream, grated cheese and fresh cilantro.

put all the chopped stuff and spices and chopped tofu cutlets and heat in
oil in large skillet until tender and fragrant.
add the tomatoes, veg stock and beans.  boil kind of hot (while stirring
constantly) to reduce and thicken.