Don’t stir the pot!

 

Don’t stir my pot!

 

Ok I’m really talking about my pot of chili but this could also apply
to people who stir up other things.
 
I recently was working from home writing blog posts.  It was going to
be a productive day because  no one was home and I would not have any
distractions or interruptions.  It is hard to write blog posts at work
because I apparently have a swinging door that everyone feels
compelled to come through every 10 minutes with problems.  Writing
is something I love to do but find difficult with too many
distractions.
 
It was a rainy, cold day so I decided to start dinner while home  i
got out my big ole’ pot and started my grandmothers famous chili. All
ingredients in the pot, heat on low and let it simmer for hours. When
my grandmother made chili like this and she’d usually bake a cake
at the same time. I always remember her saying “don’t stir my pot and
don’t open my oven -in fact just stay out of my kitchen”. It was
always accompanied with her lovely smile – however she was dead
serious!    I guess I took after her. Whenever I’m cooking I hate for
someone to come in and mess with what I’m doing. It just gets under my
skin and interrupts my thought process – just like when I’m writing.
 
This same day a friend dropped by to bring me something I had left at
work. He went immediately into my kitchen and took the lid off my
chili and stirred the pot.      NO!        I almost took his head
off. Lol. Sounded just like my grandmother – but without the smile.
 
I only have a few little quirks – well maybe more than my share – but
just a few that really get under my skin. Empty ice trays, clothes
laying on the floor, unmade beds, people starting trouble, and
STIRRING  MY POT!
 
What are you’re quirks?  Care to share them with us so we all feel
normal for having them?
 
Oh BTW – here is my chili recipe – care to share yours?
1 c. chopped onions                           1 lb ground beef
1 lb. pork sausage                              1 c. water
28 oz can whole tomatoes                 1 can kidney beans
15 oz can tomato sauce                      12oz can tomato paste
 
2 tbsp. chili powder                           1 tbsp. basil leaves
1 tsp. oregano leaves                         1 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. salt                                         3 tbls Dijon mustard
1 tsp. curry powder                             1/2 cup chicken stock
 
In 10″ skillet cook onions, beef and sausage over med. heat until meat is browned.  Pour off fat.  Meanwhile, in Dutch oven combine remaining ingredients.  Cook over med. heat stirring occasionally for 15 minutes.  Reduce heat to low; add browned meat.  Cook, stirring occasionally for about 20 – 30 minutes.  Sometimes we add a cup of rice or server it over pasta.  But this is a chili recipe that has been in  my family for over 80 years.
 
Enjoy!