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All Good Things Must Come to an End…Or Must They?

Retirement Reflections

For the past six Wednesdays, my friend Deb and I have been taking a course together, which we usually follow by having leftovers for lunch at my place. And, for the past 12 months, we’ve been playing the Universal Yums Snack Box Game once a month (or, in the case of our crazy summer, several snack boxes snuck into a single month).

For our last After-Course Lunch (at least the last for now), I went not with leftovers but with a crockpot meal suggested by Janis (Retirementally Challenged). Although Janis frequently uses this particular recipe, she did mention that there were similar versions online.
Janis’s recipe can be found here.

A quick search on Google proved Janis’s statement to be very true. Although this alternative recipe and Janis’s are very similar, I went with this one as I could cook the chicken and the soup all at once. Less cooking steps? I’m totally in!
You can find this recipe here.

Both recipes call for these basic ingredients: Chicken Broth, Canned Black Beans, Canned/Frozen Corn, Diced Jalapenos/Chilies, Onion, Garlic, Cumin, Chili Powder, Cooked or Uncooked Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts and Corn Tortillas. Optional Toppings: Cilantro, Shredded Cheese, Sour Cream.

Learning from experience, Deb quickly took a seat at the counter to avoid being used as cheap labour for the final preparations. Wise woman!

The results were colourful, aromatic and very flavourful. This version was not too spicy, but you could spice it up quite easily.

And for dessert: Universal Yums Goes to Italy. This was close to being my favourite snack box (but the Korean box still wins)!

Must all good things come to an end? Not always. Deb and I have signed up for a few more local courses (some on Zoom). And, we will have one more Snackbox that we will create ourselves. Watch this space….for the upcoming ‘Oh Canada’ version!

Want to use up some of your leftover ingredients from this recipe?

Why not try this Corn Tortilla and Egg Scramble? It will use your extra tortillas, peppers, tomatoes, onion, garlic, cilantro and shredded cheese. And if you sneak in some black beans – I promise not to tell.
Delicious!!

What’s been on your plate recently? Please let me know in the comments below or via InLinkz. I look forward to hearing from you. You can check out Deb’s post here — it is a very entertaining read!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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On a closing note, this past New Year’s Day marked the 7th anniversary of Retirement Reflections. Thank you for following along.

Published by Retirement Reflections

Prior to retirement, I lived and worked in Beijing China for fourteen years (Middle School Principal/Deputy Director at The Western Academy of Beijing). Leaving international life behind, my husband and I retired to Vancouver Island in June 2015. To document both this transition and our new adventures, ‘Retirement Reflections’ was born. I hope that you enjoy reading these reflections, and will be willing to share your own.

75 thoughts on “All Good Things Must Come to an End…Or Must They?”

  1. Pingback: What’s been on my plate lately? #WOYP – Deb's World

  2. I love how you and Deb have become such firm friends with your hiking, your courses, and your eating. I always get a laugh knowing the back story to some of the photos – especially about leaving poor Deb to do all the work 😀

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    1. Hi, Leanne – The deep connections that can be made through blogging still amaze me ..and makes me incredibly grateful. I first met Deb via The A-Z Challenge. She was living in Ontario at the time. The blogging universe definitely works in mysterious ways!

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  3. You and Deb have too much fun Donna! I love how you immerse yourself into things and make the most of every opportunity. Such a fun and colourful post 🙂

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  4. I love the fun friendship you have with Deb,Donna! I enjoyed your post and you inspire me with your creative writing but also with all that you do. We love a slow cook and this spicy one will be one we will definitely be trying. Here’s to friendship, fun and good food.x

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  5. What a sweet photo of you and Deb, Donna! Oh yum! I’m definitely going to make the chicken tortilla soup. That’s always been a favorite of mine! I love the bright colors in this post. It’s perfect on this stormy and dreary morning!

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  6. I’ll echo previous comments – you & Deb do have some fun. Friends serve so many roles. I don’t know where I’d be without my circle of friends. Putting my WOTY “forward” into motion, I’ve booked a walk beneath the full moon for Friday with a walking companion and a lunch date with 2 friends to catch up in the new year. Gatherings inevitably include food; always an excuse to eat. I spent 4 days at my son’s and was spoiled with the meals they presented without me having to lift a finger. It’s always a rude awakening to come home and have to do the meal planning & prep. Meals this past week have used up what’s in the fridge/freezer: beef dip & raw veggies; stuffed meatloaf with home-baked beans; fried rice with ginger beef & dry ribs; pickle soup; pork chops with fried cabbage. I want to practice my bread & cinnamon bun making, another project as I move forward in the new year. I’m curious to see what’s in your Canadiana snack box.

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    1. Hi, Mona – Were your ears burning earlier this past week? I was mentioning your insightful comments, along with your delicious food descriptions, to Deb. Your comment today once again proves what I was saying. Enjoy your moonlit walk and your upcoming gathering with friends.

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  7. That soup looks so good! What fun to get together and cook and eat. Also, really like the idea of cutting tortillas in strips, baking them, and then using them as a soup topping. Lots of crunchy yum.

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    1. Hi, Kate – There was a “pizza flavoued” treat in the Italian Snackbox. It was fine but nothing near the satisfaction of biting into real pizza.
      Deb and I are still brainstorming our Canadian Snackbox. I will definitely keep you posted!

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  10. Donna, I make a very similar soup, but instead of chili seasoning, I add a can of RoTel, (chili-spiced tomatoes). Another time saver is to use leftover roasted chicken. Any way you make this dish it is always good.

    You and Deb have developed a special friendship since she moved to your island. It’s nice to have a compatible gal pal who shares so many of your interests. I’m curious about the class you just finished. Anything fun?

    Congratulations! Seven years of blogging and still keeping it fresh.

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    1. Hi, Suzanne- The course that Deb and I were taking was about Land Rights in BC – Contact and Conflict. While I would never describe it as fun, I learned a great deal. The prof was excellent. Deb and I will be tallking a different course with him this coming Spring.
      Wishing you a wonderful new year!

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  11. Happy blogoversary, my friend!!! I’m so glad you started this here blog or else how would we have met? The soup was delicious, the company was fab…and I’ll be sitting at your counter from now on…LOL!!!

    Deb

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  13. Thanks Donna. I love that you two do this together and share it with us. This soup especially looks like something I would enjoy…maybe it’s the cold, snowy weather we are having. Whatever the reason, I am going to make it this week.

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  14. I love the idea of cooking the chicken in the crockpot… I’ll have to try your version soon. I’m going to be very interested to read about the Canadian snack pack. Years ago, I flew on Air Canada and they served the most delicious cookies. I haven’t been able to find them since. Wouldn’t it be great if they were in your snack box!?

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  15. Wait — did Deb blog the Italian box and I missed it? Anyway your lunch sound amazing as per usual. It’s so cool that you started this blog and then you and Deb connected via it and moved to the same basic area and voila are now besties!! How cool. Happy blog anniversary. I also am glad I tracked my way to you. Hoping to get my act together to do a post… should stop reading other blogs and commenting and get back to writing! Bernie

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    1. Hi, Antoinette – I truly am addicted to using my slow cooker. I am currently visiting my parents (who live 500 km/310mi away from me) and I brought my slow cooker with me (they don’t own one). I made Chicken Cacciatore tonight. I was a huge hit. Thank you for being a regular commenter. I always appreciate reading what you have to say.

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  21. Many sweet desserts have been on my plate lately. It was December after all. The best one was a mango pudding that doesn’t photograph well, but tasted great.

    I’m charmed by your little logo saying how old your blog is. Very cute.

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  23. Congratulations on your blog anniversary. Could those of us who have been around for six to ten years be called old-timer bloggers? Long-term bloggers? Whatever, it is always a pleasure to visit your blog and see what you are up to. Using leftover ingredients is a great idea towards sustainable cooking! And even lovelier to share it with a good blogger friend.

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    1. Hi, Amanda – That’s a great question. I wonder how long one needs to have been blogging to be considered long-term? Ally from The Spectacled Bean lists her blogrolls in chronological order. Mine (which started in 2016) is 50th on the list. Her earliest blog-follower began in 2002 (zazamataz)!

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      1. I am glad you discovered blogging, Donna, as I have always enjoyed reading your posts. I started blogging 11 years ago, but got serious in the third year, I think. I stayed following Zazzy via Ally’s blog and am glad I did. Zazzy was unwell some time ago so I hope she is doing okay now.

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      2. Hi, Amanda – Thank you for your kind words. I feel the same about your blog. I am sorry to hear that Zazzy was not well. I am not familiar withi her blog — I saw it at the top of Ally’s Blog Roll and was impressed by her blog’s longevity.

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  24. Hi Donna, I love chicken tortilla soup. In fact, that’s what I ordered at a restaurant at Vince’s and my first date. I make an amazing tortilla soup with the surprising ingredient of sweet potatoes added to the rest of the delicious ingredients you’ve included. My best friend’s daughter has been a cook since she was a teen. When I was working, she started a business delivering home-cooked meals to homes in the area. One of our favorite meals was her chicken tortilla soup. Her mother spilled the beans about the secret ingredient.

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  25. Pingback: WQ #2: Tips to Pique Someone’s Interest – Marsha Ingrao – Always Write

  26. The thriving friendship you and Deb have developed must have been part of the reason it was meant to be that Deb moved north. You gals have had such fun together. Wish I had a buddy here to take online courses and EAT with!! Have signed up for a writing course and have pledged to make 2023 I finally sit down to write.

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    1. Thanks, Laurie – This is so kind of you. My apologies. I had pressed publish by mistake so tried to unpublish it quickly. It is part of a linkup and I didn’t want to mess it up for the other cohosts. I will publish again (at the proper time) next week. Once again – my sincere apologies.

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  28. Hi Donna – I’m way behind, but looking after me comes first as I help with organisations that need things at the start of the year … not difficult – but not keen on dark evenings etc etc … so ‘retire from doing much’ – also now getting my mojo back.

    I always use up left overs … that concoction sounds and looks positively very appetising … and I’m so looking forward to reading the new O Canada dishes you’ll create for us.

    Congratulations on your 7 years … amazing how time flies … Happy New Year to you, Richard and family – cheers Hilary

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    1. Hi, Hilary – Thanks so much for dropping by despite your busy schedule. I wholeheartedly agree that winter and its dark evenings is a perfect time to retire from doing much. Sending warm thoughts your way and wishing you a very happy 2023 ahead!

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  30. Yours & Deb’s culinary adventures are delightful and I am so glad they will continue in some form … looking forward to more excitement in the kitchen with you both!

    P/S i am a huge fan of using up leftovers #zerowaste

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      1. You are so funny! But I hear you about horrifying one’s mother – it’s all about different styles of home management, isn’t it?

        Funny thing though, my fridge & freezer are always packed too full because we are loathe to throw things away – odds & ends & bits & bobs find their way in there! (we can’t store any perishables in room temp as it is so hot & humid here!)

        Liked by 1 person

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