Rain, damn you! Rain!

[elfs]

Whatever I did yesterday, it completely shagged me out today. Omaha, Kouryou-chan and I have all been just looking at each other all day going, "blah." We have done mostly paperwork; I got caught up on my insurance work (we're switching providers at the office, what a pain in the neck) and checking all my birthday and anniversary schedules to make sure I've got everything. We ran out to hit a few stores and do groceries, and Kouryou-chan passed out on the way home and would not be roused for an hour. We suspect a tummy bug; she wouldn't eat her peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

For lunch, I made Caesar dressing and pasta salad (real 90-second egg, anchovy paste, garlic, olives, the whole nine yards), and for dinner I made chili. Instead of chili powder, I boiled four seeded dried anchos in a pan, saved off the chili broth and cooled the chilis in ice water, peeled off the skins and put the broth and chili flesh through the blender, then added the whole thing to the chili. The flavor is very full and mild, not at all flat like commercial chili powders. Kouryou-chan still wouldn't eat it, but we did manage to get a hot-dog into her.

I keep hoping it rains; the grass seeds need rain soon or they'll dry out before having a chance to sprout. It seemed to be drizzling shortly before nightfall.

Comments

Chili

[velvet-wood.livejournal.com]

Better than chili powder or dried anchos is to get some nice plump fresh anchos and fire-roast them, then peel off and discard the skins, pop em in the blender, and add the resultant paste. It's slightly...um...sweeter, I guess. That's not _quite_ the right word, but it's as close as I can come. It's a richer flavor, with no bitterness and a touch of smoke.

My kids won't eat homemade chili at all, of course. They'll only eat Wolf brand, out of the can. It's a horrible sight. If you're interested, I have a recipe for very traditional, very, _very_ spicey chili. It's got a good flavor, and my husband loves it, but as it's too hot for me, I can't really say for sure if it's good or not. I'd happily trade for the Caesar dressing recipe. :)

Velvet