Tonight, we are going to try to get the house set up for Christmas. My rice cooker is going with organic brown rice, some frozen edamame beans, a few slices of ginger, a garlic clove and a green onion.
Over the weekend I made some chili. I had a great weekend, but am keenly aware that most of the law students didn't get one. They are cramming for exams, finishing off papers due shortly, finalizing projects that they committed to months earlier and TO BE SURE wishing that they had done more, earlier in the term.
So. I thought I'd pull together a chili for some of them, even if just to take the dinner pressure off a meal or two, and rob Subway, Pizza Pizza or the dreaded Mc-Entity of some profits.
Having said this, the holidays are always a budget crunch, whether you're Faith Hill or Josh Groban, or just a regular person trying to survive until January 1st. So - even though my generous spirit is in full gear, the budget just doesn't magically expand to fit my heart's desire. Remember what happened to the Grinch!?? That's my budget right now.
So - as I have preached all year - I go to my cost saving measures once again. Veggie retrieval, a well stocked pantry, some time and some effort. To a delicious result, according to Andy.
Chocolate Chili:
"Some" (I just dumped a bunch in....) dried red kidney beans.
"Some" (ibid) dried black beans
1 diced green pepper
4 stalks diced celery
2 diced red onions
2 or 3 garlic cloves
Cumin, Garlic Powder, Cajun Spice, Paprika, Salt, Pepper, Mustard Powder and Thyme.
The beans boiled in separate pots (since they are different sizes, and cook for different times). For HOURS. This always takes much longer than I think it will.
Then I combined everything in a massive slow cooker and left it on overnight. I adjusted seasoning this morning, with a final addition of a whole grated sweet potato, a good handfull of chopped cilantro, the zest and juice of an entire lime, and about 12 dark chocolate squares.
Dark Chocolate ROCKS chili. It is a heavenly match of complex, deep, core deliciousness. Add it at the end, or you'll ruin this perfection.
Andy and a few others got the first batch. He's already eaten it, and thought it was delicious - and I live for compliments like that.
I have some of my favourite female students next on the list. We talked about something tropical, coconutty, and comforting.
Stay tuned.
THANKS JENN for finally commenting on the blog. It kills me to see so many readers and so few comments, but I am really glad that you are all checking out this cyberspace every once in a while.
K
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