Texas Fall/Winter thread!

[txdon]

We are now into the Winter part of the Fall/Winter Texas thread.
Have a Happy Winter Solstice day.

 

[pacerron]

I agree. I've tried just about every brand of canned chili I could find. I do think Wolf Brand might be the best of the "canned" chilis but still hardly good enough to be worth buying.

Well I'm still a virgin when it comes to canned Chili, but I thought I might give it a try since you guys like it and it is supposed to be from the late 1800's. Not sure if it fits Jim's definition of real Texas Red though?
Jim says:
" Texas chili has neither tomatoes nor beans. Now, you can fix it anyway that suits you, but a pure Texas bowl-o-red is made from chili paste and course ground beef, no beans nor tomatoes."

I have so much Scotch/Irish blood in me I just may have to add potatoes to get it down.:laughing:

 

[Lou66]

Ron,, I do like to take my chili, homemade, spoon it over a nice big baked tator,, add couple of chopped jalapeno and some onion may be a little sour cream on top,, mix all together with fork and knife,, little cornbread on the side,, with ice cold shiner (two),, It'll have you saying,, "Hey there maw you got any more of them there tators left?":laughing: Lou

 

[pacerron]

We are now into the Winter part of the Fall/Winter Texas thread.
Have a Happy Winter Solstice day.

First day of winter 2013 here. 60 deg. 2" of rain overnight, tank is full and coming out the overflow.
Time to sit on the front porch and listen to the rain dancing in the spouting.

 

[Bird]

We had a misty, overcast, day yesterday, but the temperature stayed in the 60s and our total moisture was maybe .02". But then the light (and welcome) rain started about 1 a.m. this morning. And now it's up to nearly an inch of rain in the gauge. So far only one thing unusual. I hadn't seen any lightning or heard any thunder until about 8:35 a.m. when I first heard one very low rumble, as if there was thunder a long ways off. And then a couple of minutes later, one single clap of thunder that had to be the loudest I ever heard; unbelievable!

 

[farmgirl19]

First day of winter 2013 here. 60 deg. 2" of rain overnight, tank is full and coming out the overflow.
Time to sit on the front porch and listen to the rain dancing in the spouting.

I had completely dried out, from the ice week, and have now had over an inch of rain, with this system! Looks like I might get a little run off into my stock tank, of this continues! It isn't warm enough to sit outside and listen to it, without extra clothes, so I will just watch it from the window, while I sit in front of the fire!

Ron; I tried to warn some of you, there isn't a canned chili worth buying. It has to be homemade! Anyone that thinks any canned chili is good, either doesn't like to cook, or doesn't have a good homemade recipe. (Or maybe grew up on canned.) I always make a big pot of chili, and put some in pint and half pint containers to freeze, with each pot. Can be enjoyed in the winter, when one has no time to make a pot, or enjoyed over hot dogs during the summer!

 

[Lou66]

First day of winter,,:shocked: I hope I have enough time to do everything I need to do. if not,, I will have more day light tomorrow,, Lou

 

[pacerron]

Ron; I tried to warn some of you, there isn't a canned chili worth buying. It has to be homemade! Anyone that thinks any canned chili is good, either doesn't like to cook, or doesn't have a good homemade recipe. (Or maybe grew up on canned.) I always make a big pot of chili, and put some in pint and half pint containers to freeze, with each pot. Can be enjoyed in the winter, when one has no time to make a pot, or enjoyed over hot dogs during the summer!

As I said, I'm a virgin when it comes to canned chili, never had such a thing before. Tried beef ravioli in a can once. The dog got most of it.
My wife is warming up the rest of the chili I made the first of the week, right now. 3rd lunch and it is gone.

FG. you can wear clothes sitting outside listening to the rain or dancing in it, this time of year.
I sat out up here in shorts and T-shirt drinking coffee after doing the treadmill to cool off this morning.
Won't be many days like this for a while.

 

[Bird]

Tried beef ravioli in a can once. The dog got most of it.

It wasn't Chef Boyardee, was it?:laughing: As much of their stuff as the grocery stores stock, someone must really like it, especially kids, I'd guess. But I can sure do without their products myself; just doesn't suit my taste.

 

[Lou66]

I got all of my Christmas shopping done,, with the exception of one.. Well I only have one to buy in the first place.. Okay so I lied,, But if I had bought that one,, I could have said,, I got it all done,, what do you buy for a woman that has everything,, She has children/grandchildren/ great grandchildren and husband that loves her very much,, what else could she need,, she keeps talking about a washing machine,, but I hate to do that,, that's what keeps her upper body in nice shape,, using that wash board.. Toting those tubs.. I'm glad Christmas only comes around once a year to much thinking.. Lou

 

[pacerron]

I got all of my Christmas shopping done,, with the exception of one.. Well I only have one to buy in the first place.. Okay so I lied,, But if I had bought that one,, I could have said,, I got it all done,, what do you buy for a woman that has everything,, She has children/grandchildren/ great grandchildren and husband that loves her very much,, what else could she need,, she keeps talking about a washing machine,, but I hate to do that,, that's what keeps her upper body in nice shape,, using that wash board.. Toting those tubs.. I'm glad Christmas only comes around once a year to much thinking.. Lou

I know what you mean!
Just offer to carry the clothes back and forth to the creek for her. She will say never mind you might drop them on the ground after they are washed.
Surprise her once in a while by putting the lid down.
Tell her how much you enjoy her cooking while your eating it.
And most of all remind yourself to look her in the eyes every day and tell her how much you love her.

Works for me

 

[Western]

Still raining and over 1" in the gauge. Temps dropped to 30* last nigh, but went up to 34* when the rain came in, so I guess that is a "bonus". I have seen pictures on the hunting forum along the Red River of ice,

We need this for sure.

 

[Western]

Lou, you will change you're mind if she starts washing clothes for only Christmas time!! 11 months of wearing britches that can stand up on their own and you'll be at sears getting an "automatic" washer!!:laughing:

 

[Lou66]

All good points Ron and well received,, but she don't have to go to the creek no mo,, no mo,, no mo.. hunhun mommy,, anyway she has her own well to draw water from.. no walking,, We have a two holer in the outhouse,, and I all way look her in the eyes and tell her how much I love her cooking.. two birds with one stone,, I can eat her Christmas cookies all day long.. like I said the woman has everything.. Lou

 

[Lou66]

Lou, you will change you're mind if she starts washing clothes for only Christmas time!! 11 months of wearing britches that can stand up on their own and you'll be at sears getting an "automatic" washer!!:laughing:

Nice selling point Dennis,, what you work for Maytag on the side now?.:laughing:.Lou

 

[pacerron]

It wasn't Chef Boyardee, was it?:laughing: As much of their stuff as the grocery stores stock, someone must really like it, especially kids, I'd guess. But I can sure do without their products myself; just doesn't suit my taste.

I don't know how the groceries in Texas compare to the ones up here, but up here about 80% of the rows are loaded with junk food, pre-cooked
meals in a box,frozen stuff, pop, beer, wine, whiskey and specialty foods from who know where.
The fruit, veggies, cheese, meat, raw foods, etc. that you have to prepare for a meal are getting less and less cubic footage.
I think it is indicative of the waist lines you see of people popping in and out of the junk food rows with carts full of it while yaking
on their cell phones.

 

[Western]

Nice selling point Dennis,, what you work for Maytag on the side now?.:laughing:.Lou

What Lou!! You aint seen the commercials??? us repairman have nuth'n to do!!!:laughing:

 

[Lou66]

commercials?? next thing you will be trying to get me to get her a TV box.:laughing:. Lou

 

[TomSeller]

First day of winter,,:shocked: I hope I have enough time to do everything I need to do. if not,, I will have more day light tomorrow,, Lou

Yes, winter solstice. Longer days are in front of us now. The northern states have 2-3 hours less daylight this time of the year than the southern states so it is even more acute. Not to even mention Alaska.

 

[jinman]

It wasn't Chef Boyardee, was it?:laughing: As much of their stuff as the grocery stores stock, someone must really like it, especially kids, I'd guess. But I can sure do without their products myself; just doesn't suit my taste.

Yep, Chef Boyardee anything, Chun King "divide and concur", and Wolf Brand chili are all just over-priced cans of YUCK! I've tried and tried to make some burritos using Wolf Brand chili and can't get anything acceptable without adding spices, refried beans, and cheese. Even with all that, the best one I made was smothered in my homemade salsa. I think I'd probably been better off just having tortilla chips to dip in my salsa. My Wolf Brand is on the shelf waiting for a hot-dog opportunity. Sorry two-bit-score, if you like it, more power to you. However, I agree with Bird and FG that WB is never something I'd put in a bowl and waste good crackers with.

I've got all my fixin's for chili. I thought I'd make it this week, but my meds have made my mouth so sore I cannot bear spicy foods. I'll have to wait until between Christmas and New Years to make up my pot-o-red chili. When I do, I'll try to take pictures of all the ingredients and each major step along the way. I even have fresh poblanos and dried chili peppers to add instead of chili powder. Cumin is the primary spice that gives chili it's flavor. That and fresh ingredients should do the trick.

Rain, rain, glorious rain! Yesterday morning, early, we got 1/4" from several showers that moved over. They didn't make it very far south, but the ground here was very wet. Last night, we got 1-3/4" and it is still showering some. The rain was so nice on my metal roof this morning that I got up for a potty call and then went back to bed and fell soundly asleep. 10:45 folks! That's the latest I've slept in years.::ashamed: But hey! Since I got up to go to the potty, can that just be called a morning nap?

Yesterday, I drove down to Decatur, Tx to our Wise Electric Coop office. Their "briskets for charity" function every year is just too good to pass up. I picked up my two briskets and a ham plus made a small extra contribution since it's for charity. You pay in the business office and then drive around to their maintenance yard where they have two big (huge) smokers set up. There was one rather large fellow there (6'6" and about 300 lb). He encouraged me to stay in the car because it was a bit muddy, but I wanted to see inside the smokers just so I'd have a mental picture of all those briskets in there. They were all covered in foil, but there must have been 100 briskets. What a sight! Each brisket was huge. As he picked up my briskets to put into individual aluminum pans (gigantic 12" x 20"), the juices just came flowing out the bottom. The inside side of my car smelled like a BBQ delivery vehicle.:licking: The pit-master was so helpful and so jolly that I thought he'd look great in a big Santa suit. He really made me feel like his only customer.

I drove home with the briskets and ham. Since they were still hot and steaming, I decided there was no better time to deliver the Christmas gift to my neighbor. I needed to make a Walmart run, so I wrapped the brisket pan in new foil and took it to the neighbor. To say they were shocked is putting it mildly. When I walked in with the brisket, their eyes got as big as saucers. This is the same neighbor who brought us the big pan of delicious cinnamon rolls earlier in the week. I needed to get going to Walmart, so I excused myself and headed out. About half-way to Walmart, my cell phone started going crazy. Since it was noon, they had decided to slice some of the brisket and try it. My text message was full of OMGs and WOWs. I could not wait to get back home and sample our tasty "little" morsel.

After Walmart, I got home and found my wife had not done anything with the brisket. She was making cookies, so our counters were filled with delightful little "fat pills" all calling my name. I resisted and only had one coconut macaroon. After finishing that, I told my wife that I wanted to section the brisket so it would be in more manageable pieces. I cut 1/3 off the end and discovered it was so tender and juicy that only a very sharp knife would cut it without tearing the meat loose. I put the section on a cutting board and trimmed away the fat before slicing. I had to carefully slice to keep from turning slices into chopped brisket. It was just incredibly tender and juicy. My wife commented that she had never seen a brisket so juicy. That grill master must really know his business. The meat was just perfect. After having a sandwich, I had to go back for 2nds and eat a few more heavenly sliced slabs.YUM!

I apologize for this being such a long post. I haven't posted much in the last few days because I just haven't felt my best. I guess I saved up a lot. Oh well, you all know I'm long winded anyhow.