Yesterday around here was about bringing in plants before the forecast storm, including the ficus, which I wrangled myself, nobody available to help. But she hadn't put down big roots this year, so I didn't have to saw through them. She fell on me a time or two, but we came to an understanding.
Outside I grouped the chairs, stacked, and the folded lounger, under the butterfly bush, which you see through the patio window, against the high winds and rain
I subbed ground turkey for their beef, leeks for their scallions and long pepper for their black, because it's related and much better flavor, and cannellini, aka white kidney beans, for their red kbs. Otherwise I pretty much followed their recipe, the family size, not the mass size they give for all their recipes, for hundreds.
Anyway it is really good. I can't remember the last time I made chili. It was one of my American epiphanies, when, that first winter in Wisconsin, a new friend took me to Rennebohms Drugstore, in Madison, on the main street, for their lunch counter chili, first I'd ever had. A flourish of trumpets with the first lovely taste!
It seems as if our HOA is in tune, too, in their latest email about storm prep, which arrived after I'd made mine
Speaking of food, I really owe you all who comment with info, because I learn something new all the time from you. Here's a bit of information on the golden berries, after F. gave us the botanical name and Chris confirmed it.
Happy day everyone, take care if, like your humble blogger, you're in the path of the storm. Make chili, move furniture, whatever floats your boat.
You get onto fall chores right quickly.
ReplyDeleteThe weather is the impetus, finally cool enough.
DeleteYou brought that big ficus inside all by yourself? Yowza! I think maybe next weekend I'll wrangle all my balcony furniture back into their storage room. At least I don't have to worry about moving any real plants!
ReplyDeleteFurniture is a bit more predictable and sturdy, there's that.
DeleteThat tree is going to go through the ceiling pretty soon! We are supposed to have rain later today. I'll believe it when I see it. I use black beans in chili, next week is supposed to be cooler so maybe some chili? Now we know about the golden berries!
ReplyDeleteI used black as well as kidney beans. Bean rich! Try the golden berries from misfits, and let us know what you think?
DeletePerhaps Ms. Fiscus was simply giving you a hug for bringing her in out of the weather. Stay safe and dry!
ReplyDeleteShe's over 50 years old, so she might be getting cranky in her old age!
DeleteThanks for the additional info on the goldenberry. It's blowing my mind that I've never seen or heard of these things.
ReplyDeleteHope the storm doesn't amount to much. And good on your for wrangling the ficus. That is not a small plant! (Reminds me that I need to start thinking about bringing in our avocado tree.)
Me too, on the golden berries. They're so good, why haven't we seen them? They evidently travel well, too.
DeleteThe ficus and I have a somewhat combative relationship, over decades!
Hope the weather wasn't too nasty for you after all
ReplyDeleteIt's a several day event, so we don't know yet. I hope so, too.
DeleteHOW did you get that ficus in yourself? Plant moving is quite a task.
ReplyDeleteI bet your chili was so good. I love chili too. All different kinds. Sometimes I make it with beef and pinto beans, sometimes with chicken or venison and white beans. Always good. I made a version last week with rotisserie chicken and white beans and it, too, was very fine.
Those Peruvian Ground Cherries are most definitely related to tomatillos.
I am woman! Watch me move plants! I have a strong back, no aftereffects at all today. The chili is so good, perfect for stormy weathah, trala
DeletePrayers the storm doesn't cause flooding. I see on the weather radar it is a massive storm system.
ReplyDeleteYes, the rain has eased up but this might only be an interlude. We'll see.
DeleteCongratulations on wrangling Ms. Ficus back inside, despite her attempts to take you down with her. Stay safe, and tell HS to stay safe too, through the storm.
ReplyDeleteChris from Boise
Thanks for the concern about HS, at work till 7. But probably not driving home in the dark, though it might be circuitous from closed flooded roads. Around here it doesn't take much!
DeleteOur garden looks worse than I ever remember it has been after the winds. Broken stuff and debris everywhere.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear that, Tasker. It's sad work, cleaning up the aftermath of storms.
DeleteThat’s a huge plant to have carried in on your own. Well done you
ReplyDeleteI had a little golden berry plant. But it died while I was away. Hubby just didn’t see it he said. 😔. I’ll be on the hunt for another Now I have to botanical name it will make it easier
Yes, you can search accurately now. Lucky you, having at least had one!
DeleteI substituted every ingredient but it's basically the same recipe. that gave me a chuckle. I stopped eating turkey a couple of years ago. my afib had been acting up even on the medication and a friend told me that turkey always triggered her afib due to some chemical. so it's been better since I stopped eating it.
ReplyDeletegood job getting the plants in. it will be two months probably, unless we get a hurricane, before I bring mine in and one of them I have to dig up. and the golden berries. our grocery store had some of them last year I think. had never seen them before so bought some.
As long as you substitute like for like, recipes still work! Odd about turkey triggering afib, never heard that before.
DeleteI chuckled at securing small dogs.
ReplyDeleteGarofalo, the police chief who writes those alerts, is a funny guy.
DeleteWe haven’t had chili in ages. Great idea!
ReplyDeleteGo for it!
DeleteIs your chili the same as Mexican chili?
ReplyDeleteWe don't have to winter plants here but I can imagine it must be lovely having a house full of green when it is cold and white outside.
I've no idea what Mexican chili is like, so maybe another blogista will tell us! Yes, looking through greenery at a winter landscape is cheering.
DeleteI hope you did well in the storm and are safe and dry. I make a veggie and bean chili which I put over rice. If that appeals, let me know.
ReplyDeleteYes, let me know your recipe please. The storm is a several day affair, but up to now we've escaped the worst.
DeleteHappy to know you are okay. Will send the recipe later in the week.
DeleteThanks so much. I think this will be the winter of chili.
DeleteI carried several potted plants under the portico before the most recent rain - or maybe it was the one before that? they come on each other's heels - but not all the way into the house, because they'll be going back out by the barn if we get more rain-less days. How I hope!
ReplyDeleteI also love chili. The first time I drove back to New England from NM/CO, I carried a little tin of chili pepper so I could add flavor to the increasingly wan chili available at every stop along the way.
And the rain just started again. Must be time for chores.
The plant dance is under way! I'm really enjoying this batch of chili, better each time I eat it.
DeleteI am so looking forward to getting my proper tastebuds back (post chemo). I hope they come back quickly as I'm hankering for all kinds of things. One of the first things I want to make is chili and a lentil soup (I don't know which first). With wonky tastebuds, I don't dare make anything I truly love right now as it would be a serious disappointment, and I might just conclude it's not edible. That would be sadder than sad.
ReplyDeleteI hope the taste comes back soon. It's such a pleasure, let's hope not too long. My neighbor went through this and was so happy when food tasted good again.
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