National Chili Day - Today is National Chili Day! In the News - They walk among us! Enjoy - Relax and enjoy these images and videos!
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.
Enthusiasts of chili say one possible though far-fetched starting point comes from Sister Mary of Agreda, a Spanish nun in the early 1600s who never left her convent yet had out-of-body experiences in which her spirit was transported across the Atlantic to preach Christianity to the Indians. After one of the return trips, her spirit wrote down the first recipe for chili con carne: chili peppers, venison, onions, and tomatoes.
Another yarn goes that Canary Islanders, who made their way to San Antonio as early as 1723, used local peppers and wild onions combined with various meats to create early chili combinations.
Most historians agree that the earliest written description of chili came from J.C. Clopper, who lived near Houston. While his description never mentions the word chili this is what he wrote of his visit to San Antonio in 1828: "When they [poor families of San Antonio] have to lay for their meat in the market, a very little is made to suffice for the family; it is generally cut into a kind of hash with nearly as many peppers as there are pieces of meat—this is all stewed together."
Thursday, February 26, 2015
National Chili Day, In the News, and Enjoy
Thursday, February 27, 2014
National Chili Day, Dinner, In the News, and Enjoy
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.
Monday, December 03, 2007
True South, Police State, -and- Monkey Business
True South - Chuck Norris blasts "The Golden Compass"
Police State - cops test surveillance system at tree lighting
Monkey Business - young chimp beats college students
On this day in history: December 3, 1974 - Civil aviation authorities in England issue a warning to pilots to avoid a 40-foot-long inflated pig. The aeropork had escaped its tether during a Pink Floyd photo shoot.
Born on this day in history: December 3, 1930 - Jean-Luc Godard (1930 - ____) director. He was a founder of French New Wave cinema; his controversial films include "Breathless," 1960 and "Hail Mary," 1985.
Scripture of the Day: "Then Jesus declared, 'I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.'" (John 6:35)
Video of the Day: Terry Fator, Ventriloquist - Part 1 of 5 - submitted by Frank
Here is a photograph of the new Nikon D3 professional digital SLR. I am impatiently awaiting mine to arrive. Click to enlarge.
Recommended Site: Corning California Net - A free forum for Corning, California!
Recommended Site: Nikon Photographer - A free forum for all photographers (NOT just Nikon users!) and anyone interested in photography!
Friday evening, we had six-cheese ravioli for dinner. Laura brought this treat home from Sierra Nevada. It was delicious. We also enjoyed some of Sierra Nevada's fresh bread and wonderful dipping oil.
Saturday morning, I arose at 7 AM. It was 28 degrees when I started making a giant batch of chili. AccuWeather is a Sidebar Gadget on my Vista Ultimate Desktop, and I checked my email just before I began preparations for making the enormous batch of chili. I used 6 pounds of ground sirloin, 4 white onions, 12 Jalapeños, 4 stalks of celery, 2 Habaneros, 8 Roma tomatoes, 1 red bell pepper, 2 packages of Carroll Shelby's chili seasoning, 8 tablespoons of Gebhardt's chili powder, 4 tablespoons of ground Cayenne pepper, 2 tablespoons of ground black pepper, and 2 bottles of Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale. The chili simmered all day, and we enjoyed it for dinner. At the table, we added fresh cilantro, chopped green onions, grated cheddar cheese, and sour cream.
Sunday morning, Laura sang in the choir at Harvest Christian Center. We attended the early service. Laura stayed to sing in the choir at the late service. I scurried home and made a scrumptious frittata, with five small white potatoes, two small white onions, two heads of whole, peeled garlic, six Jalapeños, six jumbo eggs, a package of New York-style link sausage, and cheddar cheese. It was a treat, and half remains for a future meal.
For dinner that evening, we enjoyed some beef tamales. These tamales were produced by a lady who attends Harvest Christian Center. She and her daughters produced 48 dozen authentic, traditional tamales for a fundraiser for one of the young members of the congregation. He will soon leave to attend a Christian college in Texas. The church has been holding fundraisers to help defray the costs he will encounter. We are having a large yard sale for this purpose on the 15th.
Tell Wal-Mart, "Thank you"!
- for ending corporate contributions to national homosexual activist groups.
- for resisting pressure to treat homosexual partners the same way as married couples for purposes of giving employee benefits.
- for not censoring the word "Christmas" in marketing materials during the Christmas-shopping season.
- for supporting the Salvation Army's Red Kettle campaign by allowing their bell-ringers to solicit contributions on Wal-Mart property--and for throwing a $1 million donation in the kettle.
No corporation as large as Wal-Mart will ever be perfect in all of their corporate practices. But in the last year and a half, Wal-Mart has shown that it will listen to the concerns of its customers who hold to traditional values and that it has the backbone to resist at least some of the demands of "political correctness."
So when you shop at Wal-Mart this season, tell your local store manager, "Thank you and Merry Christmas!"
Family Research Council
801 G Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20001
Family Research Council
Monday, June 04, 2007
Bad Apple, Fight Club, -and- To Serve and Protect
Bad Apple - personal data found hidden in iTunes tracks
Fight Club - private schoolboy bashing filmed for Internet
To Serve and Protect - first transgender cop on Kansas City police force
On this day in history: June 4, 1967 - The Emmy for best comedy TV series is won by "The Monkees."
Born on this day in history: June 4, 1911 - Rosalind Russell (1911 - 1976) actress, philanthropist. Her films included "His Girl Friday;" "My Sister Eileen;" and "Auntie Mame."
Today's Video: "'Walker, Texas Ranger' Theme"
VIDEOS: The videos are now available via the link "Amazing and Amusing Videos" in the Links section, below the visitor counter.
Ultimate List of Car Songs! View the list and submit your favorite car song(s)!
We took Mr. Nitro to Chico yesterday after the early service at Harvest Christian Center. The weather was beautiful—sunny and warm, with a gentle breeze. Mr. Nitro averaged 21.9 mpg for the journey. He has now traveled 575 miles. Laura's new car, Mr. Yaris, has traveled considerably farther—well over 5,000 miles—since she commutes to Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. each weekday. Laura exclaimed that she enjoyed being a passenger for the journey.
Saturday, I made black bean chili with shredded grilled chicken. Laura made cornbread. It was a delicious meal. Laura scurried off to work this morning with a quantity of chili and cornbread in tow.
Sunday, I made steamed green beans. Laura grilled a London broil perfectly. I made a red-wine sauce for the meat with Merlot, sliced white mushrooms, sliced white onions, minced garlic, and Cajun seasonings. It was a delightful repast. There were no leftovers.