More Chicken Please

One of the perfect meals for a cold day usually involves chicken.  So, just like last week, I made some chicken soup.  However, I'd been making the traditional chicken noodle soup.  This time, I opted for the one I grew up with-caldo de pollo.  I used both dark and white meat but rather than eat it with the bones still intact, I deboned all of the chicken pieces.  I think it makes it less messy, and certainly less work, to enjoy while you watch a little TV and talk about your office bullshit. 

Caldo de pollo is accompanied with rice which is made separately.  Adding a few mint leaves really brings it home.  I couldn't be any happier with this meal.  It was perfect for a cold Monday.  And now I really miss my Ama whose caldo de pollo is legendary.  Everything she makes is legend-wait for it-dary.

Papas con Huevo y Frijoles con Chorizo

Potatoes with egg and refried beans with Mexican sausage, typically a breakfast dish, would have tasted so much better with some flour tortillas but, they get me in trouble and since the BNC has appointed himself Team Diabetes Warden, we had none. I am only allowed 2 but who can only eat 2? He's a tough one. He doles out the light ice cream in controlled scoops (3 small ones) as well as snacks (none) and diet soft drinks (none). We keep fruit in our home but no snacks such as chips, pastries, etc. Soft drinks are only purchased in 2-liter form and only 1 at a time. It can be tough being a diabetic as well as having PCOS but, I know it's for the best that I abstain from eating the stuff I know, and have proven via much testing, is bad for me. My Grandma, who celebrated her 87th birthday yesterday, the same day as Tupac, was recently diagnosed as diabetic. I beat her to the punch. Diabetes just doesn't run in my family yet I was lucky enough to win the award. However, I keep up with my testing, diet and my doctor appointments. I'm working on the exercise more but oy, that heat. I know, excuses. So, I'm doing the best I can and thank goodness for insurance cause this stuff, even with it, just isn't cheap.

However, if I ever make it to 80 and everything is all good, you best believe I'm going to throw up the deuce and go all out. As much as I want my beloved Grandma to live forever, I think they (her kids) should stop riding her so damn hard about her diabetes. Let her eat that piece of cake cause you know I am. This woman, my Ama, has put up with so much and I feel that she should just have a little more room to indulge as opposed to me. I, hopefully, have a lot of living to do as a diabetic. So, as favorite granddaughter, I buy her the beer she likes (cause that's how Mexican grandmas roll) and her favorite coffee. My Grandma made the above meal, most of the time without the chorizo, every morning, with flour tortillas made from scratch, while we were there spending the summer with her and the cousins. Every morning. She no longer makes breakfast since she retired herself from it, but I blame the Parkinson's. It's ok though since it's my turn to "pay her back."

And if she were here and I were to ask her, "Right Grandma?", she'd reply with a, "Claro que si, mija." which translates to, of course!

My Grandma, my Ama this past Christmas

Hugs, Grandma!