Not for the Calorie Counter

Miranda just called from Lafayette, Indiana.  She and Abby are visiting with a the Hawards this weekend.  I guess a chocolate urge has surfaced; she asked for the recipe for another regional favorite, Derby Pie.  Of course, I really can't call it that because that is a copyrighted name.  So, she actually asked for the chocolate pecan pie recipe served at Derby time.  It is sweet, rich, and a real diet killer.  You gotta love it :)

Almost Derby Pie

Make sure you use a regular size pie crust; a deep-dish won’t work.   

Derby Pie is a copyrighted name (just like Oreos) from the Melrose Inn, near Louisville.

Preheat oven to 350°

Melt:

            ½ cup butter

Add:

1 cup sugar

½ cup flour

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

Stir in:

¾ cup chopped pecans

¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Pour into an unbaked pie shell.  Bake for 30 to 40 minutes.

Regional Cuisine - Cincinnati Chili

When we moved to the midwest one of the "strange" foods was chili with spaghetti as one of the ingredients.  I have never been able to bring myself to like the spaghetti version.  I have compromised by serving it in the "Cincinnati way".  The cooked spaghetti noodles are served as an optional addition rather than cooked in the chili. 

Our ward provided the meal for the missionary zone conference yesterday.  I provided one of the pots of chili (without spaghetti).  I talked with one of the couple missionaries last night.  They are from Idaho.  My question was, "what do you think of spaghetti in your chili?"  Her response, "Spaghetti in chili? We didn't have any chili like that!"  That is a first for me in this area.  The evidence says, everyone who prepared chili for the activity was from the west.

Here is my recipe for chili the midwest way:  

Cincinnati Chili

Cincinnati, Ohio is one of the most chili-crazed cities in the country.  The Cincinnati interpretation has is sweet and spicy, but not hot.  Cincinnatians enjoy their chili spooned over pasta (spaghetti) and topped with any combination of chopped onions (I prefer green onions), grated Cheddar cheese, warmed kidney beans and crushed oyster crackers or Fritios style corn chips.  If you choose “the works” you’re eating what they call ”Five-Way Chili”.

Makes about 14 cups

Brown and drain:

2 lbs. Ground beef

Add and cook until onion is translucent:

3 cups chopped onion (1 ½ large onions)

3 cups chopped green pepper (2 large green peppers)

1 ½ Tbs. Minced garlic

Stir in:

            2 - 32 oz. Cans whole or diced tomatoes

            1 - 6 oz. Can tomato paste

1 Tbs. Sugar

            ½ cup chili powder (start with ¼ cup and add to taste; some chili powders are more potent)

            1 Tbs. Sweet  paprika

            2 bay leaves

            1 Tbs. Oregano

            1 tsp. Ground cumin

            1 Tbs. Salt (or to taste, I use less)

            Pinch of Cayenne

Simmer 30 minutes and add:

            2 - 16 oz. Cans red kidney beans, rinsed and drained

Cook an additional 15 minutes and serve with condiments listed above.  For best flavor make the day before and reheat.

Callings vs. Choices

     I have had a milestone birthday this summer.  It has given me cause to do a great deal of thinking retrospectively.  It seems our lives are formed by experiences that are not what we would have chosen for ourselves, but are the result of callings the Lord has placed in our path.  Living in eight different states with wards or branches with little depth of leadership, has given me the opportunity to grow tremendously in areas I never would have chosen to be part of my life.  I have had to learn much and push beyond my levels of comfort.  I am truly grateful for the Lord's direction for my life.  My chosen path would have been a very different one.

     I worry about getting to the point where my contributions are less "give" and more "support".  I am not sure that I can make that transition gracefully.  That is a pride thing and I will have to repent of that one.  Oh well, . . . enough musing.

Back on the face of the electronic world . . .

It has been a year, so I guess I should post again. 

Last night was a RS meeting on electronic "journaling" and I decided to try again.  During the past few months I have created a blog for the Stake Primary and that has been fun, challenging, and rewarding.  So Blog World has not been totally ignored.  I am excited about trying blurb.com for photo journals.  I'll report on that later.

I thought it was time to jump into the world of blog. I don't like to not know how to do something. I'm not sure what that says about me (probably not anything good), but it is a trait that has enabled me to accomplish a lot of new things in life. My most recent endeavor was creating individualized DVD's for my mom and grandchildren from the wedding pictures (Mike and Rachel's). It was fun to add music and captions. I am sure it is something I will do more of and want to learn more.

Today I should be working on painting or cleaning projects. Craig, Miranda, and Abby are all out of town. Instead I am doing something fun just for me. Guilt will overcome me soon and I'll be off to clean the bedroom carpets. In the mean time, I'll play blog a little longer.