The past week has been one of numerous calls and texts with the same message – “your dogs are out.”
Winter Storm Fern – which as I said last week spared me more than most, I only had to deal with a few days of lost power and some fallen limbs that damaged my fencing – has given my dogs a newfound experience within the neighborhood.
Charlie, my 10-year-old white Labrador, is no stranger to the neighborhood, but our younger Lab Delta and now 1-year-old Golden Retriever Stetson, are less familiar and we are more concerned when they follow Charlie on one of his adventures. We have another 10-year-old Golden Retriever Max, but he’s more interested in a good afternoon nap than following Charlie anywhere.
Some large, fallen oak limbs damaged multiple areas of my fence which forced me to piece them together as best I could. Turner Shaw installed my fence which I love, but getting replacement parts for it (the only down side to a non-wooden fence) takes some time. I used a combination of duct and Gorilla tape to strap the pieces back together best I could, but not so much that Charlie didn’t find a crack and decide on some cold afternoons to push his way through to go for a neighborhood stroll. Delta and Stetson, somehow still not aware Charlie doesn’t set the best example, followed him out most times.
After numerous roundups, the back seat of my Blazer looks like a cattle trailer. My fence is a disaster and the inside is supported with lots of patio furniture and fallen tree limbs to keep Charlie from leading the other two back out into traffic.
Thank you to all who have notified me of their numerous escapes over the past week.
The bright side of the storm for me is that my wood rack, that was getting quite low, will soon get a burst of new wood as soon as I can fix my fence and then start sawing away on the many fallen limbs.
It’s been years since I’ve had to buy any wood. The storms each year prune the many oaks surrounding my property that I can crank up the chainsaw and replenish the rack with regularity. I had one moment, several years ago, that I got very low and ordered a cord from John Tucker. I thought I might be getting close again, but not now. I’m flush with firewood as soon as I can saw it up.
In between dog chases over the weekend, I cooked one of my cold weather favorites – chili. This time I used my friend Layne Bruce’s recipe and it was one of the best I’ve made.
I tend to make it with a lot of heat and spice when I use my own recipe. Layne’s is much more aromatic and flavorful. I’m including his recipe below. I will note because of my love for spice, I replaced his ketchup ingredient with Tabasco and added a little cayenne as well. I always add a cast iron skillet of Mexican cornbread with my chili as well.
1 tbsp olive oil
1 lb lean ground beef
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
2 tsp minced garlic
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 14 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 14 oz can kidney beans, drained
1 14 oz can diced tomatoes
1 can regular Rotel tomatoes
1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
3 tbsp ketchup (or to taste)
In heavy bottom Dutch oven or cast iron pot, brown ground beef in oil, adding 1 tsp of salt to season beef. Drain, reserving one tbs of drippings. Cook onion in reserved drippings on medium to medium-low heat for 10-15 minutes until they are tender and translucent. Be careful they do not burn. Add garlic and bell pepper and cook for another 1-2 minutes, stirring mixture.
Add cooked beef, beans, tomatoes, tomato sauce, salt, pepper, chili powder and cumin, mix well. Bring mixture to a slow boil and then reduce heat and simmer several hours. During simmer add ketchup to taste to boost tartness.