Thursday, September 15, 2011

Promise of Cooler weather inspires Hot cooking!

Autumn is knocking at the door. Can you hear it?
There are signs everywhere! Here at the pond I see the netting is
up to help keep out the falling leaves. This netting also serves
to keep the Herons from mistaking my koi pond for...
A sushi bar!
So it's been stinkin' hot here lately. Like too hot to even drive home with the
top down hot. So... When I heard that tomorrow will deliver temperatures
that are a full twenty-five degrees cooler, and that the chill will last through
the weekend... I knew I would be making a big pot of my chili this evening!
Oh, and bonus... It's supposed to rain too!
I pulled all of the throw blankets out of the closet and washed them...
And, the fireplace pilot light has also been lit!
We're so ready for snuggle-weather, I can't even tell you!
Oh, we were talking about making chili... Right!
If you want the particulars of my special recipe, you can find it here
The only things I've begun to do differently since that last post is to
add 4 Tsp. butter to the veg, (in addition to olive oil) and now I wait
to let everything simmer a full two hours before I add the beans
Waiting to add the beans ensures they retain a bit of texture
I'm also using cannellini beans in addition to the red kidney beans typical in chili-making
I like the contrasting color they add and they taste good too!
I love this chili! He likes it over rice - I love it over tortilla chips...
And of course, right out of a bowl from a spoon works too!
Low and slow... That's the rule here!
Another rule is to stop yacking on the phone long enough to
remember to add the spices. Whew... I almost missed that!
So many distractions tonight... Huh, Bing!?
Time for beans!
Another hour low and slow and into the refrigerator it goes!
Until tomorrow evening when the chilly weather arrives!
How about you? Are you ready for Fall like we are?

6 comments:

  1. Great looking chili. Noticed your hospital pitcher on the counter :)
    Today the wind and the drastic drop in temperatures came here. Sweaters and fleece jackets, socks and long pants. So sad to see the Summer end. I love the summer season. Fall is pretty when the trees are at their peak of colour but then it's dull till the first snowfall.

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  2. Fall is HERE! We had to close up the windows and bring the patio plants inside. I, too, have been planning a cool weather menu, and chili tops the list. Along with lasagna, and butternut squash mac & cheese, and a casserole or two.....

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  3. Paula, I so agree with you... I find it dull after the leaves have gone too. ENJOY your fall, and Love to you, my friend!

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  4. FPS - Butternut squash mac and cheese!? You must share that recipe! xxoo

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  5. I love it when cold weather cooking starts. There's something so comforting about it. I did a beef stew in the slow cooker the other day.

    The linky for the challenge is now up on my blog, so don't forget to link up your goal post

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  6. I'm really enjoying the design and layout of your blog. It's very easy on the eyes which makes it much more enjoyable for me to visit more often. Did you hire out a developer to create your theme?
    Fantastic work!

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