National Chili Day - Today is National Chili Day! Dinner - The weather yesterday afternoon was overcast and windy. It foretold of stormy weather soon to beset us. I determined that a big, hearty bowl of homemade vegetable soup would be a perfect dinner for such weather. I produced a wonderful vegetable soup that Laura later photographed and described to her Facebook friends as "stellar." In the News - They walk among us! Enjoy - Relax and enjoy these images and videos!
The first documented recipe for chili con carne is dated September 2, 1519, according to Wikipedia.
Hot chili peppers burn calories by triggering a thermodynamic burn in the body—speeding up the metabolism.
As enthusiasm for chili grew so did the competition to make the best chili. It is believed the first one took place in Texas in the early 1950s, although some accounts say it was in Terlinga, Texas in 1967.
Whether we are talking about the chili that includes meat, the vegetarian version, or the many other variations of this deliciously comforting food, chili holds a prominent spot in our culinary hearts.
When it comes to the story of chili, tales and myths abound. While many food historians agree that chili con carne is an American dish with Mexican roots, Mexicans are said to indignantly deny any association with the dish. Most historians agree that the earliest written description of chili came from J.C. Clopper, who lived near Houston.
By the 20th century chili joints had made their debut in Texas and became familiar all over the west by the 1920s. By the end of that decade, there was hardly a town that did not have a chili joint.
The soup consisted of baby carrots, spinach, white onion, green onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, garlic, potatoes, and an assortment of herbs and spices.
Thursday, February 27, 2014
National Chili Day, Dinner, In the News, and Enjoy
Friday, February 14, 2014
Happy Valentine's Day, Dinner, Breakfast, In the News, and Enjoy
Happy Valentine's Day - Happy Valentine's Day! St. Valentine's Day began as a liturgical celebration of one or more early Christian saints named Valentinus. Dinner - We enjoyed an excellent salad for dinner last evening. It consisted of mixed Italian greens, pear tomatoes, cucumber, green onion, white mushrooms, red bell peppers, baby carrots, marinated asparagus spears, and artichoke hearts. It was absolutely delicious! Breakfast - Laura surprised me sweetly with a beautiful Valentine's Day breakfast! She created a wonderful breakfast of oven fries, fried eggs, and tri-tip steak! What an excellent way to begin the celebration of Valentine's Day! In the News - They walk among us! Enjoy - Relax and enjoy these images and videos!
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Dinner, In the News, and Enjoy
Dinner - Last night's dinner was simple yet superb: Laura selected an especially fine-looking tri-tip at the market. I seasoned it with garlic-pepper seasoning, ground black pepper, and Pappy's. Laura washed a large Idaho potato, wrapped it with a damp paper towel, and placed it in the microwave. I preheated a Calphalon grill pan to medium-high, sprayed it with Pam, tossed the steak onto it, and covered it loosely with a "tent" of aluminum foil. Laura washed a quantity of broccoli and tossed it into a Calphalon pot of boiling water. She cooked the potato for five minutes while I tended to the steak. I had shopped and cleaned the kitchen prior to Laura's arrival at our nest, and I felt weary. She gracefully assumed the completion of the dinner preparation. She cooked the potato for an additional 5 minutes, drained the broccoli when it had cooked for 7 minutes, and finalized the grilling of the steak. The dinner was superb. In the News - They walk among us! Enjoy
- Relax and enjoy these images and videos!
Tuesday, September 03, 2013
Skyscraper Day, Teriyaki Mushroom Burgers, Asian Chicken Salad, and Relax!
Skyscraper Day - Skyscraper Day is a day to appreciate and admire the world's tallest skyscrapers. Teriyaki Mushroom Burgers - Laura produced some incredibly tasty teriyaki mushroom burgers Sunday afternoon. She made patties using 85% lean beef, to which she added minced garlic, minced Jalapeños, and several spices and seasonings. While the patties grilled, Laura sautéed sliced, poached mushrooms in teriyaki sauce. She poured the mushrooms atop the patties and placed Swiss cheese atop them. Asian Chicken Salad - Yesterday was Labor Day. While many traveled great distances and placed themselves in peril on crowded roadways, Laura and I stayed home and produced an enormous quantity of Asian Chicken Salad. Laura poached sliced mushrooms and prepared the noodles. I did the slicing, dicing, chopping, and mincing. Laura combined the ingredients, added seasonings, extra-virgin olive oil and Oriental rice wine vinegar, and slowly stirred everything together. Relax! - Relax and enjoy these videos!
Skyscrapers are truly engineering and architectural marvels. In many crowded cities, space is in short supply, and real estate prices are ever increasing. Building "up" becomes more and more logical. As technical capabilities in construction improved, skyscrapers have become taller and taller. In addition, there is a certain prestige to have one of the tallest structures in the world in your city.
Here are the world's tallest buildings:
She also produced an excellent batch of oven fries.
She placed the patties atop fresh Kaiser rolls from a local deli. There was no need to add condiments! The burgers were incredible.
This is a recipe I developed many years ago and with which I have brought intense pleasure to a great many.
Laura took a quantity to work with her this morning. She is gifting it to a co-worker. This afternoon, when she arrives at our home, she will travel to the home of a member of our home church (Harvest Christian Center) who is recovering from an injury at home. Laura will bless her with an offering of this delicious treat.
The balance shall be savored by us throughout the week. Asian Chicken Salad is excellent as an entrée or as a side dish. It is extremely healthful and very low in sodium, fat, and cholesterol. It is also very time- and labor-intensive to produce. If you wish to make some, you will find the recipe on this blog under the Recipes link on the left.
Friday, August 09, 2013
Book Lovers Day, Chicken Livers, and Enjoy!
Book Lovers Day - Book Lovers Day encourages one to find a place in the shade to relax with a good book. Chicken Livers - Laura and I enjoy chicken livers. I made our favorite chicken liver recipe for dinner last evening. Enjoy! - Relax and enjoy these images and videos!
Book reading is a great hobby. It is also an important one. Employers look for it on résumés. Reading is educational, informative, and relaxing.
Book Lovers Day is a great day to celebrate. Celebrating Book Lovers Day is pleasurable on the deck, under a shady tree, poolside, or in a cozy hammock. If you fall asleep while reading, that is okay. It is all part of the relaxing benefits of being a book lover.
I generally read 3 - 5 books weekly. I read them in eBook format, using the Amazon Kindle Reader on my Nexus 7 2013 or my Samsung Galaxy S4. I often hear people espouse the superiority of experience holding and reading a physical, paper book. I fully disagree and find it more intimate and compelling reading by electronic means.
I cook Jasmine rice in the microwave: I place one cup of rice and two cups of water in a casserole dish. I cover with a damp paper towel and cook on high for five minutes. I stir the rice and cook for another five minutes. I rinse the chicken livers and coat them with panko bread crumbs. I sauté the chicken livers in extra-virgin olive oil until brown and crisp. I add chopped green onions and crushed red peppers, stir to incorporate, and pour over the rice. I place the lid on the casserole dish and take it to the table.
We use generous amounts of sriracha sauce as a condiment. This is a wonderful, delightful meal!
Sunday, April 21, 2013
One Is What One Eats
One Is What One Eats - Laura continues her vacation in Tucson, where she is visiting with friends and family. I miss her, of course, as do the kitties, Zeus and Thor. We must eat, however, and with Laura away, dining chores fall fully upon me. Last evening’s dinner was tasty indeed. It featured a New York strip steak that I marinated overnight with minced garlic, extra-virgin olive oil, ground black pepper, red pepper flakes, granulated garlic, and ground basil. As the steak grilled, I sautéed sliced white mushrooms and baby sweet peppers in extra-virgin olive oil, minced garlic, and Pappy’s seasoning.
The kitties enjoyed their usual dry cat food. For a dinnertime treat, I gave them a serving of Seafood Medley kitty treats. I have no photograph of this to offer. I did, however, photograph last evening's dinner!
This morning's meal was not nearly as succulent as last evening's meal, yet it was very healthful and tasty!
I enjoyed a banana, four huge strawberries, and a toasted Jalapeno bagel with cream cheese.
Saturday, April 20, 2013
The Perfect Burger
The Perfect Burger - Laura is visiting family members in Tucson, Arizona. The kitties, Zeus and Thor, and I are bonding. I gave them an extra portion of kitty treats. They began devouring the kitty treats with great fervor. The sight made me realize it was time for me to dine. I had the butcher at the local market grind a filet mignon. From this, I produced The Perfect Burger.
I am certain we have all joked about "taking a road trip" using Google Maps' Street View. I tried and soon tired of the amount of work and time involved in creating such a road trip. The team at T+L Labs put in all the work for you and created this amazing, mesmerizing road trip video using street view. It careens down roads at warp speed, often panning the view as if you are in the backseat looking out the window. This is an amazing journey! Get comfortable and ride!
I poached and minced a dozen garlic cloves, a medium Jalapeño, and a small habanero. I added Pappy’s seasoning, ground black pepper, granulated garlic, and ground basil.
I grilled this on a Caphalon grilling pan. I smeared Sierra Nevada Stout mustard on a toasted sourdough bun and placed sliced tomato and sliced red onion to the bun, sprinkled the tomato with red pepper flakes and ground black pepper, placed pepperjack cheese atop the burger patty and placed it on the bun when the cheese had melted. I turned the fries to broil for the last two minutes, prepared a dip with catsup, mayonnaise, Jalapeño relish, and Crystal Extra-Hot Louisiana Sauce.
It was indeed The Perfect Burger.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Details at Eleven
Details at Eleven - Today is a particularly good day for those who enjoy stupid criminals, bad parents, high-speed chases, shootouts, riots, and bizarre news. While each day certainly finds such stories spewing forth from the media, today is particularly replete with such items.