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It’s Chili in Here!

Here is a good question for trivia lovers: In 1977, what state designated chili con carne as their official dish?

Stay tuned.

According to The National Calendar Day website, every day is a special day, and you are invited to

“Join us as we #CelebrateEveryDay!”

As with every fourth Thursday in February

today is

National Chili Day

It’s also National Margarita Day, but we won’t talk about that.

 

Most chili recipes include such ingredients as beans, tomatoes, tomato sauce, jalapenos, chili powder, red pepper flakes, black pepper, salt, garlic powder and sometimes corn

 

 

However, my cave girl recipe is SIMPLE. And plain.  And occasionally lacking in flavor.  To compensate I have often over-seasoned my chili and brought LB to tears (and a runny nose).

Today LB and I are celebrating National Chili Day at home with my recipe for turkey chili from the cave girl diet I often follow: Cavewomen Don’t Get Fat: The Paleo Chic Diet by Esther Blum.

This is dinner on day 2 of that diet:

“Turkey chili: In large skillet, brown 1 pound ground turkey in 1 tablespoon coconut oil. Add 32-ounce jar organic tomato sauce. Simmer 30 minutes and remove from heat. Stir in spinach leaves from 1 bunch, cover, and let steam for 2 minutes and serve hot. Serves 4.”

Excerpt From: Esther Blum. “Cavewomen Don’t Get Fat.”

Of course I’m going to add onion, cumin, cayenne pepper, minced garlic, and a little salt.

This particular photo is an example of how LB enjoys my cave girl chili… complete with shredded cheddar, crushed corn chips, and sour cream.  And no spinach.And who wouldn’t enjoy chili this way?

 

The National Day Calendar suggests the following recipes on to observe NATIONAL CHILI DAY

Enjoy the following recipes:

Three-Bean Vegetarian Chili
Chili-Corn Chip Pie
Spicy Slow-Cooked Chili
Spicy Chicken Chili Stew
Biscuit Bowl Chili

Then take a picture and use #NationalChiliDay to post on social media.

 

 

 

What state designated chili con carne as their official dish?

Texas

 

 

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

 

Lunch Lady Brownies

Since baking is my superpower, I don the cape every other week or so and bake up a sweet treat using a recipe I’ve found on Pinterest.  Last week I made brownies, but not just any brownies.

I made

Lunch Lady Brownies

I don’t remember having brownies prepared by the Lunch Lady from my school cafeteria, however I’m fairly certain that there was nothing to be found in the school cafeteria that remotely resembled the brownies pictured on this page.

 

This is more like what I remember…and I don’t see any brownie.

If you search “Lunch Lady” on Pinterest you will discover many Lunch Lady recipes, and several variations of Lunch Lady Brownies.  I adapted (and by adapted, I pretty much mean copied) my recipe from one published by Holly Lofthouse.  The recipe on her blog Life in the Lofthouse is simple and the photos are more appealing than others I’ve seen.

The following are not the aforementioned photos.

But my cameraman took them for me and I like them.

My giraffe inspired KitcheAid makes short work of the brownie batter

The frosting is the best part… spread while the brownies are still slightly warm

It is a good idea to use foil for easy lifting from the pan

 

Here’s the recipe

Ingredients
  • 1 cup butter, melted
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 4 large eggs
  • 4 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350° F. Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with foil and spray foil with non-stick spray.
  2. Combine the melted butter and cocoa powder; blend until smooth.
  3. Add the flour and sugar. Beat together then add eggs and vanilla. Mix just until combined. Don’t over mix. (Batter will be thick)
  4. Pour batter into prepared baking dish and spread out evenly. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove brownies from oven and let stand 15 minutes before frosting.
Chocolate Frosting
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/4 cup softened butter
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Beat together all the frosting ingredients until smooth. Pour and spread over warm brownies. Let cool completely before cutting and serving.

No kidding… these are the best brownies I’ve ever tasted!

 

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Kim

XO

“For the whole world is Irish on the seventeenth o’ March!” – Thomas Augustine Daly

St Patrick’s Day is celebrated annually on March 17. The day honors the patron saint of Ireland with celebrations around the world.  There is no exception here in North Florida where we have celebrated St Patrick’s Day for as long as I can remember.  Most recently at the block party in Five Points which ended this year with the closing of O’Brothers Irish Pub

The block party was great fun and it is disheartening that I now have no place in which to wear my green wig.  But alas…

All is still well…  I may have no where to go on St Patrick’s Day but I still have baking skills.

Since I make preparations to have a dessert of the month for my LB (pictured above in the green top hat) March typically calls for the Bailey’s Irish Cream Cake.  LB loves his evening dessert… whatever it may be it must have Reddi Whip and a maraschino cherry on top.

This cake is right out of the oven before glazing.  Boy Oh Boy is it tasty!  (hence the smile)

Every March 17th I’m styling a green wig, an “Irish for a Day” tee, green star sunglasses, countless beads and other paraphernalia , and my everyday jeans and shoes.  Surely most of you have collected these things in your travels.

Happy St Patrick’s Day!

 

Here’s a tasty Irish treat:

Reuben Sliders

 

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