“If the waitress has dirty ankles, the chili is good.”
The back rooms of my house are always dark and cool in the morning. I have to turn on the lamp in the den to read the papers. The cat sticks her head under the lamp shade, her way of staying warm. When she comes to get patted, the fur on her head is always hot to the touch. Henry doesn’t care whether it’s hot or cold. He goes out, comes back inside and falls asleep on the couch.
When I was a kid, the living room was the coolest room in the house all summer. My mother kept the shades down. It was also the darkest room.
I have a stash of Necco candy: Necco wafers, tropical wafers, a box of Clark Bars and a box of Sky Bars. I know better than to open any package. I used to have two packages of Clark Bars.
My brother-in-law Rod shared his chili recipe with me. It said beans were an optional ingredient. I never have beans in mine. I hate beans. Rod always has beans in his. I told him no beans was more traditional. We still go back and forth on that. I told him I had proof. “The ICS (The International Chili Society) defines traditional red and green chili as “any kind of meat or combination of meats, cooked with red chili peppers, various spices and other ingredients, with the exception of beans and pasta which are strictly forbidden. No garnish is allowed.” Rod said that was only one opinion.
I have to go out today. Henry needs dog food. He still insists on eating every day.
Today is another lovely day. Rain is expected tomorrow. After that it will get cooler, even as low as the high 50’s at night. The autumnal equinox is in five days, but that really doesn’t change anything. The calendar doesn’t determine the weather.
I am down to my last book. I’ve put a trip to the library on my dance card.
Explore posts in the same categories: Musings
keepthecoffeecoming.blog 
September 17, 2018 at 6:29 pm
We’ve had a lovely warm summer day too. Perfect to do anything. Unfortunately I had to spend the afternoon in a dentist’s office. Ouch. No hot chili for me at the moment. Whatever the International Chili Society says chili has to have red or white beans, I love them.
September 17, 2018 at 7:42 pm
Birgit,
Nope, I still contend that true chili is beanless. I think beans were added to extend the servings.
Today stayed lovely all day. It is still warm even right now. The rain will start tomorrow then the cold. I want a few more summer days!!!
September 17, 2018 at 7:01 pm
Chili like Pizza has as many variations as their are people who cook and eat the stuff. Texas Chili is always made without beans. After all it’s ‘Chili con Carne’ not ‘Chili con Carne y frijoles’. 🙂 In Cincinnati they make chili five ways. That’s chili, beans, spaghetti, onions and cheddar cheese. You can order it with any of those combinations. It was invented by a Greek immigrant and doesn’t sound all that good.
My wife is from Chicago and makes the stuff with beans. I’m not a purist and eat her chili but I wouldn’t serve it to a real cowboy. The chili mavins in Terlingua make their chili way too spicy for my stomach even with added beans. All chili cook offs seem to turn into ‘buffalo wing’ hotter than hell beef stew.
Today was sunny, humid in the low 90s. A very slight chance of rain tonight.
September 17, 2018 at 7:48 pm
Bob,
I knew all that about Texas chili. I often use its name, chili con carne, to defend my no beans.
Nope, I’ll also pass on Cincinnati chili. Pasta does not belong with chili.
My chili is mildly hot. When I serve it, I have to consider the heat index my friends can handle. I do offer a couple of different hot sauces if added heat is wanted.
Maybe torrential rain coming tomorrow.
September 17, 2018 at 10:21 pm
I like my chili mild with cheese and oyster crackers. I don’t like raw onions nor broken saltines which are traditional. Adding hot sauces is a great way to increase the heat and vary the flavor with different versions. Tobasco is from Avery Island Louisiana and Chulula is made in Mexico.
September 17, 2018 at 10:35 pm
Bob,
I’m okay adding cheese and even sour cream. I have three or four different hot sauces. I know I don’t have tabasco but I do have a real glass tobasco bottle. It was manufactured during WWII.