This is my maple tree, up close and personal-like.
I love this tree.
We’ve got lots of pretty fall color here, but the weather has been rather relentlessly gloomy (except when I don’t have my camera).
Made the first pot of chili over the weekend. You know summer’s over when the chili and jambalaya go into the menu rotation.
Somehow I horsed up the first pattern row of the Traveling Woman shawl and wound up with an extra stitch. Counting, re-counting and copious headscratching (with maybe a little soft swearing) didn’t take care of that extra stitch, so I’ll be taking that row out later, when I have time, light, and a steady hand. Sigh.
What’s random with you?
15 Comments
October 21, 2009 at 5:45 am
Bummer about that extra stitch. I hate it when that happens. We’ve got warm sunny weather again. It’s a welcome change after last weekend’s snow!
October 21, 2009 at 6:02 am
Nora–how timely! I lost your jambalaya recipe. Any chance you’ll post it here?
October 21, 2009 at 7:46 am
horsed-up=my new favorite expression- I’d like to put it on my side bar of favorite quotes at beckyknitstoo.blogspot- just send a note if you disapprove.
October 21, 2009 at 7:49 am
Mmmm. Jambalaya.
October 21, 2009 at 8:22 am
We’ve been talking about making chili, too. It’s crockpot time!
October 21, 2009 at 10:25 am
Love the maple tree! It’s getting to be crockpot time here too – yum!
October 21, 2009 at 10:49 am
there’s not room enough in your comments for all my random, but I love your maple tree. every year at this time I mourn the fact that leaves don’t change color here.
October 21, 2009 at 10:56 am
I’m with Carrie. Too much random. Not enough space. Sorry about the extra stitch. It’s a shame you couldn’t just set it aside for a time when it was needed.
October 21, 2009 at 4:50 pm
Do you have a good chili recipe? I need one.
Random enough for you?
October 21, 2009 at 7:24 pm
Cookie–what sort of chili do you like? Now, I don’t like it too spicy, do like beans. If that appeals, I’ll send you my chili. If you like 8 million ingredients and fire, I’m not your gal.
October 22, 2009 at 11:02 am
Send me your recipe, Beth!
Please.
xo
October 22, 2009 at 7:40 pm
Heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add 2 chopped onions (I buy them chopped), 1 chopped seeded red bell pepper (ditto), 1 tablespoon cumin, 1 tablespoon or more chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon cayenne, and some salt (maybe 1/2 teaspoon–you are adding more later). [The recipe calls for 1/4 cup chili powder, which I think would be outlandish]. Cook until the vegetables have softened–around 7 or 8 minutes.
Stir in 6 minced garlic cloves and cook for a minute or so.
Add 2 pounds lean ground beef (I get chuck) and increase the heat to medium-high. Cook, breaking up the beef with a spoon until no longer pink.
Stir in 2 cans of dark red kidney beans (rinsed and drained), 1 28 ounce can of diced tomatoes, and 1 28 ounce can of tomato puree. Add another 1/2 teaspoon of salt.
Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook 45 minutes. Remove the lid and continue to simmer another 45 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper (and more chili powder if you think it needs it).
We have this with shredded cheddar, sometimes sour cream. It completely rocks.
Now, if you have access to a Penzey’s, I am firmly convinced their chili powders (they have different kinds) are the absolute best.
Let me know what you think!
October 22, 2009 at 9:22 pm
Completely random after traveling today. I love your tree. Haircut tomorrow. Maybe some spinning. Heading to Dallas on Sunday.
October 22, 2009 at 10:26 pm
Our weather is a bit of the random–heat and a/c both this week.
My thoughts are often random–except when they are obsessively focused.
Mmmm…chili.
xo
October 23, 2009 at 9:22 am
I want Nora’s jambalaya recipe! Give it up!