The Camera Shy Journal

I’m a little embarrassed to admit how much I like chili.  Silly, I know, but chili is just so…un-feminine.  Ah well, who cares, right?  Chili is awesome.  The way I make it, it combines three of my most favorite food ingredients:  beef, beans and tomatoes.  Throw in some garlic, bell pepper and onion (a new love of mine), and it’s nothing but yummy homey goodness.

I’m making a huge vat of it tonight because it’s snowing.  That’s a little silly, too, considering I’ll be the only one eating it (kids will likely get snowed in at Dad’s tonight).  I dunno, there’s something romantic and fun about making a huge vat of something to last through a snowstorm (however mild that snowstorm might be)…

Anyway, here’s my snow-day super chili recipe (still in progress):

• 1/2 medium onion, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• olive oil
• 2 lbs lean ground beef (or turkey or chicken or whatever meat)
• 28 ounce can of Red Gold crushed tomatoes (yes, only Red Gold will do)
• 10 ounce can of Original Rotel (yes, only Rotel will do)
• 1/4 cup cheap red wine (today’s secret ingredient - warning - experimental)
• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• 2 tsp salt
• 1/2 black pepper
• 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
• 4 cups prepared beans (home-cooked or canned - it’s up to you - I added home-cooked small red beans this time)

Grab your best stockpot and glub some olive oil in it.  Heat it at medium-ish and throw in the diced onion and bell pepper.  Saute until tender and add the garlic.  Continue sauteing until the smell is just heavenly (doesn’t take long).  Add the ground beef (or turkey or chicken).  Saute and stir frequently until meat is browned.  Drain.  Return to heat and add crushed tomatoes and Rotels.  Stir.  Add cheap red wine if you happen to have some left over.  Add chili powder, cumin, salt and crushed red pepper (amounts given, but really, if you want more/less, you’re the cook!).  Simmer for 30+ minutes.  Add beans.  Continue simmering for 15 minutes.  Adjust spices/herbs as necessary.

Enjoy with fresh cornbread.  Especially delicious cornbread.

Happy Snow Day!!

When I first came across this song, nearly exactly one year ago, I spent an entire morning listening to it. If memory serves me correctly, I think I listened to it 26 times. Or maybe 34. Something like that. I’ve only listened to it a handful of times since then; I think it will forever be set in my mind as the early-April-wake-from-hibernation song.

The band, Great Lake Swimmers, will be in Asheville on Saturday night…I’m just a little tempted…

So, patience has been on my mind a bit today.

I think that patience has everything to do with paying attention to the present. That’s something I’ve always had trouble with…I’m much more likely to be analyzing the past or worrying about the future. If I’m so busy analyzing and worrying, what am I missing that’s going on right now?

Plenty.

Oddly enough, I’m presently listening to an old compilation tape from high school. Liz Phair, Rusted Root, ‘the dresses song.’ All from a very distinct, unique time in my life; hearing these songs has a wonderful way of bringing that period of time into clear focus.

What does that have to do with today? I’m not entirely sure, except that back then, I’m fairly certain that I did not appreciate the present; it’s only in hindsight that I can see that that was an amazing part of my life.

And oh my, now I feel old.

; )

Our elementary school got a new art teacher this year, and she’s awesome.  She lets the kids call her Ms. Cockroach, she organized a school-wide art show, and she’s actually teaching them different art techniques.

Spotz brought this self-portrait home a couple of days ago.  I just love it.  Ms. Cockroach helped him on the eyes a little bit, but the rest is all from 7 year-old Spotz.

BTW, congratulations to Spotz, who won the Hard Worker of the Year award for his 1st grade class.  Woot!