Lumpy Bumpy Chili

We had a chili cook-off at work a couple months back. I was excited to test my cooking skills. Most of the staff decided to take on the challenge and so now it was on.

When I hear the word chili, I think of my grandmother. My grandma was an excellent cook. She even cooked for various organizations as a job for awhile. Although she had no formal training, she could take a few simple things and make a masterpiece. She had so many great recipes in her repertoire which she kept solely in her head. Good for her, bad for the rest of us after she passed. One of her great dishes was her famous chili. It was beany and hot. It was best to eat it after it was refrigerated and still a little cold. It was just that hot, but the only way we wanted it. It tasted wonderful and it was always made with her love for us. Definitely, it was the best kind. Luckily, I spent quite a bit of my childhood with grandma, including endless hours in the kitchen. Over time, I gained some skills of my own from her. Although I never perfected her exact recipe, I have learned to alter what I did witness her do to my tastes. And over the years, I have made changes to it to create new versions of my family chili.

It was now time to up my game. It was a challenge and I have a rep to protect so to say. That's when one moment in the grocery store, shopping for chili supplies, changed my mind to create a new version of chili for my family and co-workers. Just a moment in the meat department caused the creation of Lumpy Bumpy Chili.

The day of the cook-off was busy. It was a parent-teacher conference day. There were so many crockpots plugged in the kitchen. We even had three bread makers working their magic adding to the wonderful aroma in the building. It was a little nerve-racking waiting throughout the day. I tried to watch people's reactions as they tasted to see if there was any clue as to their favorite. Even our school board members came and voted on their favorite chili. At the end of the day, after all the parents and students had left, the annoucements came. Much to my enjoyment, Lumpy Bumpy Chili was the winner! Yeah!

Well lately, the weather in Too Cold has been just that...too cold. I figured today was definitely a chili day. After eating a bowl of wonderful chili, I decided to see what other chili competitions were out there. Maybe I really had a winner. That's when I found the International Chili Society. Now, I could really test my chili. I was so wrong. After ready the rules, I learned that what I considered was chili and what they considered chili were two different things. Chili must have beans in my book and topping make it complete. So, since I can't become Internation Chili Champion, I decided to share my recipe here. I cook often by sight and taste so I don't have exact measurements. Good luck and enjoy!

Lumpy Bumpy Chili

Cut up celery, onion, green peppers, yellow peppers, red peppers. You need enough to fill 1/4 of your chili pot. Cook with some butter/margarine (I use I Can't Believe it's Not Butter.) until the onions shine and the veggies just start to get a little soft. Next, I add many cans of beans. Usually, it is 3 cans of chili beans, two cans of dark red kidney beans, two cans of light red kidney beans, and a can of any other bean I have.....usually vegetarian beans. After the beans, I add Ialian style stewed tomatoes. At least one can should have green chiles in it. The kind I get is usually sliced. Before adding them in, I squish them by hand to break them into smaller pieces. This should bring the contents of your chili pot to the half-full level. I use the tomatoe cans to add water. I fill the pot a little past 3/4 full. Next, I add my seasoning....2 chili seasoning packets (usually low sodium), garlic salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, Lawry's Seasoning Salt, basil, cumin, parsley, thyme, a couple bay leaves and chili powder. I stir it well and leave it on medium heat. Then, I use a cup of the chili liquid and begin to cook a frying pan full of some cubed chuck steak and some ground chuck. I season the meat with more Lawry's, Worcestershire Sauce, garlic salt, and a special seasoning that I put on everything called Nebraska Steak Salt, which is made and sold by the actual Mannheim Steamrollers. Don't cook it all the way. Just begin to brown it. Then, add it to the chili pot. This should bring your level to full. Let it cook on medium for a couple hours. Continue stirring every 20 minutes or so. Add more seasoning to suit your tastebuds as needed. I try not to add more seasoning until the last half hour.

While it is cooking, it is time to make the cold topping. Take a container of sour cream and a small container of french onion chip dip. Add some chives and mix well. Next, add shredded colby, montery jack, cheddar and mozzarella cheese. It should be heavy on the cheese that when you mix it, the cheese pokes out like quills in a porcupine. In this recipe, cheese is good. Keep in the refrigerator until it is time to serve.

Finally, when everything is done, remove the bay leaves from the pot and add chili to a bowl. Then, add a spoon of topping. Mix just a little, but not overly. It should look like winter has arrived in your chili, not just orange liquid. Eat with cornbread, crackers or fresh bread. Enjoy!

Stay sweet 'n smile............................Mz.

Not Laughing

I got an email from classmates.com recently. It said that someone had signed my profile there and was thinking of me now. I read that and wondered who it could be. I had just been back home and wonder if word had spread. I always try for the low profile, but sometimes that doesn't work in a small town.

I clicked the button to see who was peeping me out. Boy, was I surprised! I mean damn, the heavens and earth are moving for this one! It was Benji, my first love. Awww, how sweet, you say, right? Wrong! It's how sick.

Benji died in 1988. It was one of the most tragedic moments from my high school memories. It's ok now. I survived, made peace and kept rolling with life. But no matter what, it never takes away the fact that he was my first love and will forever reign with that title and that moment in my past.

I wonder who did it. I still don't know.

Classmates is investigating. They sent me their apology and that they would take care of this matter. I hope that whoever posted it is blessed with some awareness. I am sure I am not the only surprised one to see Benji making online connections since a whole profile was created for him.

My initial sadness faded quick. Many memories of happy times flooded my mind. Somehow, he still manages to be part of my life and thoughts. That's cool. It's nice to be reminded that I have someone special out there.

Somehow through prank or wondering down memory lane, I have realized that I am not alone or forgotten afterall.

Stay sweet 'n smile............................Mz.

2 out of 4

Yesterday was a day for journeying home. It reminds me of a collector's plate I bought long ago painted by Vel Miller. It was titled "Journey Home" and it always reminded me of me and the rugratz. Wherever I go, they follow right behind....big sister and little brother. This journey in the sky represents us going home in both directions. One to our former and future home and second to our current adobe.

Well, the flight home was interesting. Let's start with the flight from Cleveland to Minneapolis. We were suppose to leave at 7:00 a.m. promptly. We boarded the plane like we were leaving at 7:00 a.m., but that didn't happen. I noticed after getting on the plane that it was dark and cold. After a little while the captain announced that we had no auxillary power. He said the people who flew thw plane the night before did not inform maintenance of this issue. It was ok for now, but that we would have no heat, cold air, lights, and some small systems were not running. He said he would get things going soon as we started the engines and could move over to have our wings defrosted. That was all he said. It was about 7 a.m. that time. During this time, a sound like a car horn was going non-stop. I wondered if this was a warning that we had no auxillary power. As we sat there with over a hundred people, we listened to the luggage people scream and yell and bang beneath us. Then, there were some really big bangs and some quietness outside. The car horn sound still blaring. As the airplane began to get stuffy, the captain spoke again. He informed us that an airport truck backed into the plane and hit the luggage door which would no longer close. He said maintenance was working on it and we would be ready soon. About 7:45 a.m., we heard alot of banging going on outside near the jet engines by the rear of the plane. We heard clanking and some beat up engine sound. Five minutes later, we hear the same thing again, all while the car horn is still blaring. At about 7:55 a.m., the captain announces that this machine which is like a vacuum hose and is used to start the engines is broken. He said a new guy did not put it on right and it flew off. The second time he tried, it broke off and can no longer be used. He said this was an outsourced crew that did this. He said that they were calling around to get another one. He said looking out of his window was like looking at the keystone cops with everyone running around all over the place. Meanwhile, the stupid horn is still blaring and the plane is hot and dark. People are starting to panic. Luckily, calmness reigns or maybe it was sleep. Most had somehow started to doze off. Not me....that horn sound is still driving me crazy. Finally at 8:15 a.m., we leave Cleveland. We are only 1 hour and 15 minutes behind schedule.

Arrival to Minneapolis was not joyous. Our delay caused us to miss our connecting flight to Too Cold. They rebooked us on the 1 p.m. flight out and gave us discount coupons for our next flight. Fine! We decided to head to a foodcourt and eat breakfast. We had 3 1/2 hours to burn somehow. We settled on brunch at various restaurants in the foodcourt. After eating and resting a few, we heading to our new terminal. We figured we could crash there since it was only 10:30 in the morning. We found it quickly. My son and I decided to catch a few zzz's as my daughter sat and read her magazines. We were up at 12:30 p.m. to get water before they began boarding instructions. We watched at the pilots went on board and waited to be called. At 12:45 p.m., the captain came out and spoke with the woman at the counter. She annouced that there was a mechanical problem and it would take 30 minutes to fix. She said the flight was delayed until 1:30 p.m. as many people groaned. A few minutes later the other pilot came out and sat down with the captain in the waiting area. At 1:oo p.m., the mechanic comes out and speaks to the pilots and the woman at the counter. She makes another announcement. The mechanical issue is worse than thought and would not be fixed for over an hour or more. People are getting upset. A few minutes later she anounces that we are being transferred to a new plane at another gate on another concourse. Everyone picks up their stuff and starts walking. Upon our arrival to our new gate, we learn that we are scheduled to leave at 1:35 p.m. for Too Cold. I am feeling grouchy and tired. I just want to go home. Take-off was really wobbly. It felt like we were going to crash. I started to say every prayer I could think of. Landing was the same way. It felt like we were out of control, but somehow we made it safely.

The van was still there and it started immediately. We were all happy. After a pitstop for dinner, we headed home. We munched on BBQ ribs, mashed potatoes, veggies and garlic bread. After a few minutes of tv, it was off to bed.

It wasn't smooth or easy, but the van was there and started so we are running 2 out of 4. I guess 50% is better that 25% anyday.

Thanks for all the warm wishes.

Stay sweet 'n smile............................Mz.

Another Year - Version 2007

I hope all of you in bloggerland had a happy time. I spent mine at home with family. It was cool. No shebang, but then there's always next year. I decided to check out my 2007 forecast on one of those horoscope sites. I got some pretty good news. It seems like I will be moving away from Too Cold this year. I already knew that because I already have been apartment hunting. I will be getting a raise in early fall. That is wonderful since I most likely will be starting a new job in June. A raise in September will mean I am doing great. And finally, I will make some permanent changes to my health and fitness lifestyle. That's my favorite one. I need to prepare for my new life in Buckeye land, plus the swimsuit season countdown has begun. Time to overhaul my diet and exercise routine. Overall, it said my 2007 would be a very good year, but that is was only a preparation year for the great year I will have in 2008. Sounds good to me. Hopefully, the stars are right.

If you would like to check your free 2007 yearly horoscope click here!

Tomorrow, we make the big journey to Minnesota. Hopefully, everything will be smooth and easy. I pray that the van is right where we left it and it actually starts. I'll update you and let you know how many out of the four we hit. Until then....

Stay sweet 'n smile............................Mz.