Can A Soup Be Chilli?

broderic on January 19, 2014

I distinctly remember saying that I was worried that my chilli was going to be too thick when asked why I bought tomato sauce instead of paste. The last time I had made chilli, it was pretty thick, and I was worried that it wasn’t going to be runny enough. Boy did I have it wrong.

I used a can of beer as the liquid base, but there were also plenty of tomato-y liquid going in as well. Along with the tomato sauce, I added the liquid from the canned whole tomatoes and another cup of water as well.

It simmered all night long. In the morning, I took one look at it and realized I had soup instead of chilli. I quickly went about thickening it up by adding corn starch, but that’s not doing it any good.

Lesson learned. Forget about the water. Use tomato paste rather than tomato sauce. Thicken it with corn starch if necessary.

Anyhow, here’s what went in the slow cooker last night to make chilli soup:
3/4 lbs. ground beef browned
2 andouille sausages browned as well
2 jalapeños diced
2 cans green chilis
1 can whole stewed tomatoes
1 can tomato sauce
1 yellow onion diced
1/3 cup of white beans

For seasoning: cumin, paprika, mexican chili powder, texas chili powder, black pepper, salt, pinch of cinammon

Liquid: can of beer, a cup of water, and a dash of patis.

Throw in a slow cooker, and next thing you know you’ll have chilli soup. Next time replace the can of tomato sauce with tomato paste and forget the cup of water

Wait, WHAT?! Who? I mean ME?

broderic on January 15, 2014

Because @margeemateo asked, here’s the dream. It occurred this morning between 4:30 and 6:00. I know because I woke up twice, and perhaps it was the second sleep wherein I went into REM.

Anyhow…

We were at a bar, or at a restaurant, or in a park, somewhere where we can gather. It was the usual crew, including @margeemateo, and we were all drinking beer. I think I knew a guy amongst the crowd at the bar.

I slap him on the back! It’s the guy from when I worked at Ruby’s. Not the short blonde fellow, but the bus boy. I think. Perhaps. Maybe.

“What’s up!” I say.

“Drinking! Long time no see.”

Then I spy a girl amongst the guys at the bar — a familiar face. “Who’s that there?”

The guy says, “My girlfriend. You know.”

It’s S! And she’s gotten old. As have we all. More round in places, but still the prettiest smile and the prettiest brown eyes. I’ll recognize her the same. Or is this a dream and it’s wish fulfillment on my end?

She goes, “Hey, howdy!” and gives a kiss hello except it’s on the lips and like we were never separated for these 17 years.

How the heck is she going out with that guy? How the heck is she still around? How did I miss my chance at this? I could’ve been that guy. Why was I a chicken to even try to be that guy? I suck!

Then they both talk about Neil, the blonde guy. His name isn’t Neil, and S’s name is Mary in this dream.

And then I remembered I had been out drinking with Neil recently in another dream! In that one, we were hanging out in the park drinking. That’s how I remember Neil.

Yeah, we were having a fun time. It was good to see her. Then I started thinking that I can have her. I’m better than that guy! I haven’t missed my chance yet. I’m still a chicken because I have to begin scheming and plotting.

“How are your kids doing?”

“We don’t have kids.”

I can still do this.

That’s when I introduced my friends. They were sitting in a car and I had to do it through an open window. @margeemateo was there too.

Then I woke up and wondered what the hell this dream meant? Or does it mean anything. It means nothing.

Variations On A Theme

broderic on January 12, 2014

Let me tell you about my first attempt at Beef Barley soup. Usually, I stick to vegetable or chicken featured in the soups I make, but I need to learn more about beefy soup. So, I choose to make barley soup this time with the classic beef.

Here’s what I did to prepare — diced a half a white onion, sliced a half a cup of carrots, measured 2/3 of a cup of frozen pea and corn, and soaked over night white beans. Finally, I used the beef marked as ‘stew meat’ and cut it into smaller sizes.

I threw it all in the slow cooker to cook overnight for about 12 hours.

It turned out alright. Edible, but not awesome.

I should’ve found more herbs and spices in my cupboard not just bay leaf. I should’ve cooked the beef before throwing it in the pot. Maybe get it a nice brown color to be more appetizing.

Yeah. It’s got to be better. This will be categorized and memorized.

Link of the Day [1.10.14]

broderic on January 11, 2014

I use to lament that I couldn’t watch any anime, but now that there are plenty of sites streaming anime, I lament that I don’t know which is good. First, I relied on Random Curiosity’s seasonal preview. It was good to know what’s coming each season. Unfortunately, it couldn’t tell me which streaming site to visit for the ones I wanted to see. I just also used Anime News Network to corroborate the shows. Finally, I used today’s link to find out where they are all streaming.

Now, I’ve got a plan to see tons of anime. I’ll revisit which is good.

http://kotaku.com/your-complete-winter-2014-anime-guide-1497637393

Sylvester!

broderic on January 8, 2014

On this cold, cold morning, how about dancing beatniks?

Scene straight out of ‘Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.’

American Hustle

broderic on January 5, 2014

American Hustle is all about the 70s look. Amy Adams’s plunging neck lines, Jennifer Lawrences’s hair, Bradley Cooper’s perm. You’ll be too busy being amazed by the costume design to really appreciate the film.

American Hustle purports to tell the tale of the ABSCAM scandal in the late 70s. It was an FBI scam to trick congressman and senators into accepting bribes to make a fake Arab sheik an American citizen.

Amy Adams and Christian Bale play the original con men caught by the FBI and ordered to run the scam. They were small time players, but Bradley Cooper’s ambitious FBI agent wants to make a name for himself by going after big fish. The big fish was a Jeremy Renner’s simple Jersey mayor looking to help his constituents. He wanted to bring jobs back to Atlantic City helping people — a good guy? Cooper, a good guy? Bale and Adams good people? Jennifer Lawrence, Bale’s wife, not so good as she plays a loud, no class girl who when she finds out about the scam tries to needle her way into the action and when she gets blocked out takes it upon herself to destroy everything.

I think Bale did a fine job at portraying a small time hustler caught in a too large scam hustling his way out of the jam. Cooper was good as well playing the FBI agent looking to go big time. He was out of control. The girls, Adams and Lawrence, did well too with Adams and her cleavage edging out Lawrences’s Jersey girl nonsense in the heart of this viewer.

This movie is a Golden Globe nominee for best comedy. While there was a lot to laugh at, I don’t think this started out as comedy. It’s just that the con men got themselves into laughable situations. This isn’t an Adam Sandler film. The funniest part is ‘science oven’ — you burned the science oven!

It’s a good flick. Maybe better than the rating I’m giving it.

3 of 5 stars.

Quote of the Day [1.05.14]

broderic on January 5, 2014

Good King Wenceslas looked out
On the feast of Stephen
when the snow lay round about,
deep and crisp and even.

Good King Wenceslas, Traditional Christmas Carol

Roasting Chestnuts

broderic on January 5, 2014

Slow and easy. It’s cold out there, and I have a cold. I’m just eating soup and lo mein hoping to be ready for work on Monday. Sucks. We’re almost done here.

Resolution [Rewound]

broderic on January 3, 2014

Are you planning on any? I’m not except for the weight loss thing and getting healthier. That’s it. Or perhaps learning a language in programming or in speaking. Nothing revolutionary just evolutionary.