- cozy sweaters
- my Ugg boots (although there is a new pair I've got my eye on...hint hint, hubs)
- football games (GO DAWGS!)
- Chai Lattes
- pumpkin flavored treats
- snuggling with my ruggedly handsome husband on the porch
- and hearty comfort foods!
What better way to recoup from an AMAZING weekend of tailgating and friends than with a nice, filling chili on a rainy monday night?!
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| You know you want to eat at "Cafe du Wing." Maybe I need a better name than that... |
Now, before we get into the nitty-gritty of tonight's delish dish, I have to give a few shout-outs.
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| Deidra is in the spirit of Fall! She's practicing for her Halloween Costume! |
Deidra, my awesome assistant manager, thank you for working 2 weekends in a row just so that I could make the trek to Athens to tailgate with my bestie and her family. Getting to initiate Evan into our college-era shenanigans was so fantastic for me! I can only hope that Salina and I get to share the joy of UGA football with you over the next couple of months. (And since someone let me create the schedule of what color we wear each day, you have no choice but to wear the treasured Red and Black every Friday that we play. You're welcome!)
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| Our tailgate crew! |
Gen, Brett, Emily and Jesse, thank you for organizing this past weekend and letting us be a part of it. Jesse, the key to the Geology building was crucial and the fact that you were ready to go at 5:30 in the morning, waiting until you were allowed to set up the tailgate...yep. It was awesome! Emily, you kinda cracked me up all weekend. And your whoopie pies were delish! Brett, aka Dad, thanks for making sure I didn't go home with that puppy those homeless people really weren't trying to get rid of. Gen, thank you for that dance. It's on facebook, but I'll spare you the embarrassment of putting it on here too...maybe.
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| Ha...I have no words for this. |
Ben and Phyllis, thank you for hosting Sunday Funday! You guys are so generous and welcoming and we always have the best time over there! (Ben, thanks for always including my husband in your touchdown shots. I'm sure his headache thanks you too.)
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| I don't have a photo of B&P that I think they'd appreciate... So here's a picture of their dog! Complete with Falcons jersey! |
Last, but not least, I need to say a HUGE thank you to the Georgia Bulldawgs and the Falcons for winning this weekend! It kinda would have sucked if you had lost.
If you're still reading this, you are a real trooper for sticking through all that. I promise, you won't be sorry. If you read the whole post, there might be something in it for you! Just maybe...
So...all day, it's been pouring down rain. I mean, buckets. I felt like I was driving through a lake on the way home. It was ridiculous. I was soaked to the very core of my body and I just felt crappy when I got home. I needed something hearty and warming and meaty.
My mom always made chili when it started getting cool outside. I didn't feel like eating regular, plain old chili though, so I scoured the pages of my Rachael Ray Book of 10 cookbook. That woman rocks. I found the Indian Summer Turkey Chili. I kinda want to rename this dish "Comfy Pants and Sweater Weather Turkey Chili," but Rachael didn't consult me before publishing her book.
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| Get out your magnifying glass and maybe you can read the recipe. Or you could just go here. |
As I'm currently on the verge of a food coma from eating so much, I'll keep it brief. You can spruce this recipe up any way you like, but here's the core of it:
Heat a pan with olive oil and brown your ground turkey in there. Add your spices. I opted for chili powder and whatever grill seasoning Evan bought a long time ago that has no onions or onion powders in it. Oh yeah, I'm allergic to onions. This makes eating with me, cooking for me and basically being my friend super fun.
Anyway. Once that smells pretty delicious, throw some Worcestershire sauce and a hefty helping of hot sauce in there! We prefer Texas Pete...simply because my dad's name is Pete and he's pretty cool.
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| Yep. I put my dad's face on the Texas Pete logo. It's poorly done, but I don't care. |
After a while, throw some minced red bell peppers in there. This is a pretty crucial ingredient, in my opinion. If you're not a freak like me, you can also add some onions in there. Enjoy them for me.
After those have simmered for a good bit, you're gonna want to toss in about half of a bottle of beer. WHAT? Beer in chili? Yes. Just do it. So good.
After that, throw in some BBQ sauce, tomato puree (or tomato paste, if E is doing the grocery shopping because, apparently, they're the same thing...), and a cup of frozen corn.
Simma down now. Or just simmer for about 10 minutes (or 20, if you're like me and get distracted by things on the internet. I mean, I occasionally browse the Fulton County Mugshots to see if I know anyone who got arrested this week. So far nothing, but I'm pretty sure my friends are up to no good).
Top it with whatever you like. I highly recommend Fritos, cheese and sour cream. Because I couldn't have a healthy-ish meal without some corn chips. Yum.
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| So yummy...so very yummy. |
If you want the actual recipe, go here. She does a better job of giving you measurements and such, but I fully support the "get the essence of the recipe and do what you want after that" school of thought. But only with cooking. Baking is different. I learned that the hard way.
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| This is the face of perky. If she wasn't such a good cook, she'd annoy me. Actually, if there was no mute button, she'd annoy me. But I've got to be honest; she knows how to cook. |
I'm going to go now. I've got my comfy pants on and my cozy quilt wrapped around me and I slowly feel myself drifting off into dreamland. Hopefully Evan will do the dishes. Otherwise, the cat will feast tonight.
I was going to add the video of Gen dancing. She threatened my life. So here's something else instead.
This is the grumpiest cat in the world. I would like to own him. He's too cute.
And, Evan, if you're still reading this, I'd like these boots for Christmas. In black. Size 5 (in kids, it's the same as a 7 in women's). Love you.
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| You can buy them here. |
Goodnight.
