Recipes: Chili

So, on New Years Day, I made a batch of chili to munch on while we nursed our mild hangovers, at it was pretty good. So I figured I'd post it here.
Maybe I'll add pictures at some point.

I borrowed the recipe from a co-worker. Below is the recipe verbatim. I tend to go heavy on the cumin, and a bit light on the tomato paste. I also top with chopped onions, cheddar cheese, white rice, and/or oyster crackers. You can top with anything you want.

Oh, and if chorizo is not available, any sausage will do (although the spicier the better.) Andouille works well, as well as hot italian sausage, hot links, etc. Experiment and let me know how it goes.

Enjoy!

New Year's Chili

Ingredients:
4 Garlic Cloves - chopped
1 Green Pepper - chopped
1 Red Onion - chopped
1 Large can of diced tomatoes with liquid
1 lb Round Steak - chopped into small pieces
1 lb Pork Roast - chopped into small pieces
1 lb Chorizo (Mexican Sausage) - chopped into small pieces
1 1/2 tbsp Chili Powder
3 tbsp Olive Oil
1 tbsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
1 tsp Cumin
4 tbsp Tomato Paste
1 can Red kidney beans
1 can Black beans

In three tablespoons of oil cook sausage, onion, pepper, and garlic about 5 minutes. Remove from pan with slotted spoon and set aside. Add meats (beef and pork) and cook until well browned. Remove from pan with slotted spoon and set aside. Place in large pot, add all ingredients except beans, cover with lid and cook for approximately 1 1/2 hours stirring occasionally. Add beans and tomato paste. Cook on low for another 15 minutes.

Jaime and Luis get spoiled; A cousin gets married.

It's been a while since the last post, but there is a good reason for this: I've been out of town twice over the past few weeks. This tends to happen around the holidays, as most of my family lives away from here, and someone must go visit them.


So, a few weeks back, I spent time in Indianapolis visiting my brother's family. It was great to see his wife and kids - the nephews are growing up - as well as their energy level. I had a great time playing with them (as well as spoiling them as much as I can.)

That's Luis and Jaime, posing for their uncle.

Rene and I did find time to change the clutch slave cylinder on my brother's Miata.








So you see, there's always a bit of car stuff going on.

By the way, that's Rene, Jaime, Luis and Jane on the picture on the left.









After the Indy trip, I stayed in Seattle for a week, then headed south to Mexico for my cousin's wedding. Who gets married in Mexico? Well, if you want to have a good time, it is definitely a good way to get hitched.

I stayed at one of those all-inclusive resorts in the Riviera Maya (Bahia Principe Hotel Coba.) The whole wedding party totaled about 60 people, friends and family of the groom and bride.

Along the way, we visited the Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza. The first picture is the main ball court, where the participants would apparently guide a small rubber ball up that small stone ring, without using their hands. This place was built about a thousand years ago - go figure!


We walked the whole complex for about three hours. This was not nearly time enough - the place is huge, with lots of old temples and buildings to see. One can easily spend a whole day exploring the place.

Or just pointing at things...


And yes, the wedding went well, too (both the groom and bride said "yes"; that's all that's needed for a great wedding ceremony, in my opinion.)




















So, all in all, we had a great week indeed. The weather was perfect, the pool and the beach were relaxing, the food was great, and the company was even better. I can't wait to head back for another wedding...