Sunday, November 24, 2013

Baby It's Cold Outside

Chili Stuffed Baked Potato
I think we are as ready as we can be for the big cold front moving in.  It's supposed to be bringing us high temps in the 20's and lows in the OMG ITS FREEZING.  It looks like most all of the country is going to be affected by this front as it moves to the east.  There are already deaths associated with this storm.  So batten down the hatches, check your supplies and make sure your all your critters are taken care of as well.

   I truly hope we don't loose power as our main heat source is electric.  It's something that we need to take care of as money allows.  A secondary heat source I mean.  If worse comes to worse we can always use the oven for warmth as it runs on propane.  We sure don't have to worry about ventilation as this old RV has very little insulation.  No matter how much we try to insulate it  will never be "air tight".  If the power does go out for an extended period of time there is always the wood stove in the barn That sucker can put out some heat and we've got wood stacked for it too.


 Do you have some meals that you like to make when it's cold out?  I always think of a big pot of chili when the weather turns cold. And this is definitely chili weather.  I made a big pot yesterday along with a pot of beans.  I wasn't sure if I wanted chili or chili beans so I made some just in case! Today I think I'll make some cornbread to go with the left-overs. I made a big pot just so we could have it for a few meals.  I like left over chili on a bed of rice. Or Chili Con Huevos.  Or chili stuffed baked potatoes. There are many takes on chili around the country.  Neither of us believe that chili should have beans in it. If you want beans in your chili then its called chili beans not chili!  I'm just sayin..... 


So how do you make chili in your neck of the woods?   Beans?  No Beans?  Red Chili?  White Chili?  Hot? Mild? Big pots or Small batches?  Winter meal or year round? 
    

23 comments:

  1. Chili has to have beans. At least red chili. These days I just make mine in a crockpot and let it simmer all day.

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    1. You can heat cheaply with two clay flower pots, a cookie sheet, some sand or gravel and tea candles. I think you can find out exactly how on Herbs and Oils World or DIY. Apparently it can heat a whole room.

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    2. PP you can make chili beans all day long iffin ya want. Although I can see using the crockpot. Sure would make the house smell good simmered all day.

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    3. Momlady, it seems I saw that somewhere too. I might have to take a look at it. The idea is intriguing for sure.

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  2. I love chili year-round but mostly cook it in winter. I make mine with beans. Yea, the cold front reached here in 'Bama' too! The cold is not so bad; it's the wind I don't like! Interesting what Momlady said! Have to check that out! Thanks for sharing, sci-fi chick! Stay warm! Blessings from Bama!

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    1. I am in Bama, too, and am happy and excited about cold weather. First time in several years it's been this cold this early this far south. And I am happy.

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    2. Felecia I like chili year round too. But it always seems to hit the spot on a cold day. As for the wind... I'm with you. I don't like it either. Ya'll stay warm guys.

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    3. Hi Cristy. I just love Bama accents! It's pretty cold here already. It's a bit early but there's not much we can do about that.
      Thanks for stopping by!

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  3. I love homemade chili on cold days and love it over rice too! I still have quite a bit of chili canned, sounds like supper to me! Although I am in Florida in the Twilight Zone area...LOL Our temps are dropping today. We are expecting our second freeze tonight. We had one last week and then the temps climbed back up near 80. Stay Warm!

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    1. Woo hooo a fellow chili and rice lover!! I can never get any chili canned, it always gets eaten up before I even have a chance to break out the canner.
      Your weather is pretty nice there year round as far as I can tell. I lived in San Diego for a little bit years and years ago. They have some awesome weather there too.Our first freeze here was early this year. You just never know what to expect.

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  4. Stay warm! Heaven knows it's cold outside here in Hoosieropolis.

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    1. Hi Tam- I feel like a wiimp whining about the weather here when compared to you guys I'm living in the tropics! Bundle up and stay warm and Thanks for stopping by.

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  5. Got to have a few beans in my chili, but not TOO many. I also like pimento cheese sandwiches to go along with mine which my Sweet Thing thinks is weird!

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    1. That's why I made beans in another pot. Sometimes I like a few in my chili but then that automaticly makes them chili beans! LOL!!! But then we are talking about someone who eats pimento cheese sammiches with it. hehehehe Your Sweet Thing isn't alone on that one!

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  6. We use a propane heater right now. One of those little tank top ones that shuts off automatically. No insulation in old farmhouses either.
    Eventually we'll have gas lines run under the house; but since hubby does everything himself everything took a back seat after he tore his rotator cuff last summer. Surgery went well and he is doing much better now; so hopefully by next winter this old house won't be so cold.
    Stay warm!

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    1. I've seen those propane toppers but I didn't know they made them with auto shut off. I can remember the old "home place" my S-mom grew up. There was newspapers around the window sills and she would tell me about how cold it used to get and how the wood stove always kept the kitchen warm. Sorry to hear about your hubby's shoulder. That's an awful thing to recover from. Seems like every time you forget about it you try to do something the pain says HEY STOP THAT!

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  7. SCI,

    I hope you don't lose electric. It's down right cold here, we got plenty of rain and then ice. Temperatures dropped to 18 degrees with a wind chill on top of that making it feel like 7 degrees. Hunker down, enjoy your chili and watch a movie or two.

    I make my chili with pinto beans and ground beef and to add a Mexican touch, I add masa to thicken my broth.

    Stay safe and warm!!! Sending hugs to you and Mars.

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    1. Sandy,
      It seems that you got all the bad weather over in ya'lls direction. We didn't get any rain and no ice to speak of. The temps were pretty dang cool though. I like masa in chili too. It lends itself to another kind of chili. Oh, I had chili and cheese wrapped in a hot tortilla today for lunch. Mmm mmm good.
      Hugs to you and yours!
      Sci

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  8. It must feel so satisfying to feel ready for winter. I didn't know regular chili doesn't have beans in it. I've been calling chili beans by the wrong name all my life. lol Thanks for straightening that out. Keep warm!

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    1. Sue,
      I think I should have made my sarcasm more apparent. It's a long standing thing I have about chili and chili beans. Wayyyy back when I was a kid my dad came home from work and asked what was for dinner. So Daisy (my other mother) told him "Chili" Well he looked in the pot and told her "Woman don't you know the difference between chili and chili beans?" She didn't know if she should laugh or get mad there for a minute. Anyway.... it's also a Texas thing. There's always been a sort of a feud between Texans as to what REAL CHILI is!

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    2. Oh! Haha! I didn't understand it was a Texan thing. That's a really funny story about your dad. :-D

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  9. Tho I'm soon to be moving to a north-semi-west state, Here in Kalifornia we were in shorts this weekend working outside on our still-producing garden. But, please, don't be jealous. It is Kalifornia, after all.The only thing I'll miss is the weather. Official chili-cook-off chili is without beans, but I like it both ways.

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    1. Awesome that you are still working in the garden out there. LOL I promise I won't be jealous though. I was really really ready for the garden to be done this year!
      Good luck on your move!

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