Dragon Chili

My tried and true recipe for chili.  It’s great in a bowl or in a baked potato. (serves approx. 10)

What you need:

• 1lb Jimmy Dean Original/Regular Sausage
• 1lb Ground Meat – Chili Grind is best but not mandantory
• 6 slices of bacon
• 1 large onion – chopped
• 1 green bell pepper – chopped
• 2 cloves – minced OR 3 heaping Tblspns minced garlic
• Optional – 1 Jalapeno pepper diced
• 1/4 cup Worcestershire Sauce
• 1 cup Wine – Burgandy preferred but really, ANY will do
• 2 tsp dry mustard
• 2 tsp celery seeds
• 3 Tblspns Chili Powder
• 2 LARGE cans Italian Pear Tomatoes/Whole Tomatoes
• 1 can Pinto Beans (15 oz)
• 2 cans Dark Red Kidney Beans (15 oz each) – (Do NOT use the creole/new orleans/cajun ‘style’ that has that groddy sauce in them!)
• Papa Guys Seasoning
• Kosher Salt
• Shredded/Grated Cheese
• Sour Cream
• Optional – Baked Potato (1 per person)

What you do:

In a large Dutch Oven fry up those 6 slices of bacon, drain well and set aside; crumble up the Jimmy Dean Sausage and fry – breaking it apart as it cooks so it’s smallish, drain well and set aside; now crumble up the ground beef and fry, again, breaking it apart so it’s smallish, drain well and set aside;

Now, take your chopped onion, bell pepper, diced garlic and optional diced jalepeno and throw it in the dutch oven, saute 5 minutes, then stir in the mustard, celery seeds, and chili powder, simmer for 10 minutes.

Mash the tomatoes in a large bowl then pour into dutch oven with the vegetable spice mixture, along with the wine and worcestershire sauce. Heat to boiling, then reduce heat to simmer, now’s the time to bring your seasoning up to taste with the Papa Guys and the Kosher Salt, this is one of those things where measuring just doesn’t do the trick, but I’d start with a teaspoon or two of the Papa Guys and a tablespoon of the kosher salt; stir that in well and taste, add more seasoning if necessary, otherwise let that pot simmer for 30 minutes while you go check your email.  Pop back into the kitchen occasionally to stir.

When the timer goes ‘ding’ it’s time to add the three cans of beans (DO NOT DRAIN THE BEANS! ADD WITH THE LIQUID IN THE CAN). Stir those suckers in well and bring to a boil, reduce to simmer and continue stirring occasionally over the next 60 minutes as it simmers. (Now is when YOU go check your Facebook, email, and check the latest HBO Game of Thrones season two News & Updates)

Serve in bowls or fill hot baked potato;

Top with shredded cheese (I prefer cheddar) and a dollop of sour cream.

Well, not *terrible* but ‘terrible’.  Is it my fault that pre-adolescent boys that try to shoot cats with projectiles piss me off?  That I lose it when said pre-adolescent boys *explain* they do this because they don’t *like* cats?  Is it because I asked these same pre-adolescent boys what I should do to them since I didn’t particularly *like* pre-adolescent boys?  That maybe I should just find an appropriate projectile to send their way?

I’m still not sure.  But then, maybe that’s why I’m not invited to the housewarming……

It’s one week from tonight that Change Of Plans premieres on FOX @ 8pm(EST).  I already have the DVR set to record it just in case something happens and I’m not near a television next Saturday night.  Of course Joe Flanigan being in it is the main reason I’m looking forward to watching this family friendly movie (back-end pilot), but, it looks like it will be a cute, fun thing to watch regardless.  I’m also trying to win the viewing ‘bundle’ that OurKidsMom is offering at her blog; check it out.

Because it is damp, sorta cool, sorta warm. I need to blow leaves but feel more like taking a nap. The Hubby called from Frankfurt about 2:30 this morning to let me know he’d landed safely… no word about taking off for the next leg of his trip =S.

Groddiness and nap-time aside, I was able to accomplish a bit this morning:
Got my own special homemade from scratch cornbread made (= health)
Corned Beef Brisket and Cabbage (= wealth) is simmering;
Hoppin’ John is simmering as well (black-eyed peas = good luck)

New Years Menu - Cornbread, Hoppin' John, Corned Beef, Cabbage, Rice

Good Luck, Good Health, Good Wealth!

So I’m set for my midnight pea-party tonight even if I am having to spend it alone. It willl *not* turn into a pity party… unless I drink too much merlot…

This bottle of ‘Sweet Bitch’ is awesome… a Chilean Merlot; gives a sweet bite to your nose as you inhale right before experiencing it’s smooth, fruity flavor as it races over your tongue.

Sweet Bitch Merlot

Just kidding.  But I *have* been horrible about blogging over the last year and a half.  For some reason life always seems to get in the way =S

I promise; I’ll try to be more consistent.  And yes, I hear you laughing in the background.  But a flea market find of all things has inspired me.  At least it’s not another recipe.  But, a new project always seems to be inspiring; besides keeping my hands busy. Besides what else am I going to do while I download a website & forum database backup, ftp all the files for upgrading said website & forum, and run the upgrade scripts?

Anyway, last Friday I spotted two awesome wrought iron rockers (not sure whether you’d call them ‘fan backs’ or ‘peacock backs’, they sorta look like the latter to me) and I knew with a bit of cleaning up and some pretty seat cushions they’d look fabulous out on the deck.

My Find

Of course the husband didn’t care for the idea and came up with all sorts of excuses.

“We came up here on the four-wheeler”

I reply “We can go back and get the truck”

“They won’t fit in back of the truck… not with the cover it has”

I reply “So… we have a trailer we can hook up to put them on”

“I don’t feel like doing all that”

I reply “So, fine.  I’ll wait till you go back to West Africa on Sunday, and *I’ll* come back and get them!”

He throws his hands up in the air and moves to the next vendor down the row as the lady sitting at the cash register bursts out laughing.

Since the flea market is only open Thursday through Sunday I had to wait till today to run back up there in the truck.  All the while hoping someone else hadn’t beat me to the punch errr purchase.  Luckily, no one had.  When I walked into the place the vendor started laughing; remembering the exchange she had witnessed on Friday.

I made a good deal on them, loaded them up and brought them home.  The have a few rust *stains* but no actual rust and I figure a bit of rubbing with some fine steel wool will take care of that; then a fresh coat of some Rustoleum Spray Paint will freshen them right up.  Of course I’ll have fun hunting down some outdoor seat cushions for them at this time of the year, but maybe I’ll get lucky and find some on close-out/clearance.

After scrubbing, repainting & adding cushions

Ingredients:

• 2 Flour Tortillas
• 2-3 Tblspns Chorizo
• 1 Egg beaten with a splash of milk
• 1/2 Cup shredded potato
• 2 Tblspns chopped/diced onions
• 1-2 Tblspns butter/margerine
• Taco Sauce (to taste)… or Pico de Gallo
• Finely Shredded 4-cheese blend

Heat both sides of tortilla in cast iron skillet or pop it in the microwave on a microwave-safe plate for 15-30 seconds depending on microwave;

In skillet heat butter margerine, add onions and potatoes;

cook till done, turning occasionally; when done put in small bowl & set aside;

In skillet cook chorizo till it separates;

add beaten egg-milk mixture;

cook till done stirring occasionally;

when done put in small bowl & set aside;

Now, take your tortilla and spread some taco sauce on it (to taste),

add 1/2 of the potato-onion (per taco), then shredded cheese

and top with 1/2 the chorizo-egg (per taco); add Pico de Gallo if you like

From ‘bottom’ fold tortilla 1/4 way up,

then fold each side over,

finishing with ‘top.

Enjoy!

• 2 – Rock Cornish Game Hens
• 2 – finely chopped scallions
• 1/4 cup chopped green onion tops
• Fresh or Dried Rosemary
• Fresh Ground Pepper
• Kosher Salt
• Melted Butter/Margerine
• 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup White Wine (I used Columbia Winery Cellermasters Reisling)

Preheat oven to 350F.

Place cornish game hens in a baking dish, breast side up. Season with Fresh Ground Pepper and Kosher salt, then drizzle some of that melted butter over them.

Season with Fresh Ground Pepper and Kosher salt, then drizzle some of that melted butter over them.  Add the rosemary, chopped scallions and green onion tops on and around the hens, drizzle a bit more butter over the tops again and add some more of the pepper and salt if you wish.

Pour the wine into the baking dish around the hens.

Now bake for approx. 1.5 hours, basting frequently with the juices in the dish.  When the hens are a nice golden brown/meat thermometer reads 180F as soon as you insert it, or tug on one of those tiny wings and if it just about pulls off  then they are done.

Place one hen on a plate, drizzle some of the wine/juices from the baking dish. (If you really feel like it, and aren’t starving to death by now, you could put those juices in a small pot, bring to a near boil and add a bit of flour… whisking it in well… for a thicker sauce).

I used sides of Minnesota Wild Rice (cooked in low fat/low sodium chicken broth) and brussel sprouts;  asparagus would accompany this quite well also.

• 2 cans sweetened condensed milk
• 1 graham cracker or chocolate cookie crumb pie crust

Use a *small* crockpot

Pour in the 2 cans of sweetened condensed milk

Cook for approx 4-6 hours (depends on the crockpot you have) stirring & scraping sides every 15 minutes until thick and the color of peanut butter.

Pour into pie crust

Let cool, then refrigerate to set up till firm

Slice &  Enjoy!

You can top each slice, or even the whole pie, with whipped cream:

• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1/4 cup sugar
• Beat/Whip with mixer until thick and spreadable
• Spread on top of pie!

(Will add pictures in the next few days)