An Old Favorite

I wonder if anyone can remember this guy.

Morning Glories Finally Bloom

I went out to stomp around in the garden this morning and out of the corner of my eye I caught this Morning Glory Blossom. It's the first one of the year.


Most of my morning glories are a really pale color and I was surprised to see the dark blue color. It was worth the wait.

3 Kids Slain In Newark NJ

3 kids where killed last weekend here in Newark New Jersey. They were black kids that had just graduated high school in one of the most disgusting school districts one could imagine and where getting ready to start college. A total of 4 kids were lined up against a wall and the each was shot in the head execution style. One of the kids survived and has been in intensive care all week long and has been able to give cops a little information regarding what happened.


To date about 150.000.00 has been offered as a reward for anyone with any information regarding this crime to come forward. It seems that the good people of Newark are living in such fear of street gangs and the safety of their families that no one will come forward. How ironic. If a police officer looks cross eyed at a black person in Newark all kinds of fuss starts to take place. All the Al Sharptons and Jessi Jacksons come out of the wood work and all the fun starts. Riots start, marches are formed, the Governor steps in, new laws are passed, looting becomes legal for the first few weeks of the incident. Can I get an AMEN, I don't think so. Come on Al, you too Jessi, here are some honorable black people that were just shot gang land style and your big mouths should be there to step up to the plate and help when help is really needed. I think that the two of you should be walking the streets of Newark right now with all your want to be like you's and helping this community out and help the grieving for their loss. I think that the two of you and your kind had better hurry before Bill Cosby shows up first. It's really sad that these young people where murdered and I feel that their deaths should open the eyes of everyone in this country. Street gangs and illegals are taking control of this country and something has got to be done about it... I hope the Civil Rights advocates are real happy with the results of their accomplishments in these past few years.

Ironic Chef 4 Chili Weekend

I saw the Simpson movie yesterday, lol. Yes I paid over 50.00 for admission and drinks and pop corn for something that was no more than that what I see on TV in rerun after rerun. And the kicker, Homer called me stupid for doing it in the 1st 30 seconds of the movie. Now that that is out of my system, lol.....

The Ironic Chef Chili Weekend

I know that some where on my profile a certain subject regarding me liking a good chili dog has got to be there somewheres. I love a good chili and I know that there has got to be a different Family Favorite Chili Recipe out there for everyone. I know everyone has a favorite Mom's Chili recipe and I would love to see them so come on and lets see how it's done around the world.

I guess I'll start with one of mine and I promise, it's not the Cincinnati Chili recipe from a few months back,.

Mac's Chili

Ingredients

1 lb of ground beef chuck

1 lb of ground pork, sometimes I cheat and use breakfast Sausage that comes in the big log.

2 large onions roughly chopped

2 large green bell peppers roughly chopped

1 can of tomato paste

4 cloves of garlic minced

2 tablespoons of cumin

3 tablespoons of chili powder

1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes

a splash of vinegar

1 1/2 teaspoons of oregano

1/2 teaspoon of Cinnamon

1 tablespoon of cocoa

1/2 cup of red wine

2 cups of spicy V8 juice

2 16oz cans of tomato sauce

1 can of stewed tomatoes

1 can of diced tomatoes

salt and pepper to taste

Directions

In a large deep skillet saute the onions and the peppers in some olive oil. add the garlic, cumin, chili powder, oregano and red pepper flakes. When the fumes are pretty potent add the tomato paste and allow it to caramelize on the bottom of the pan. Add the red wine to deglaze the pan.

Add the rest of the ingredients except for the meat . Bring to a simmer. Break up the meat and add it stirring constantly. I don't like any of the meat to be in chunks so I stir it pretty well and make sure it is broken down very well. As the meat cooks the fat will come to the surface. I do my best to skim this off. I let the chili cook for about 2 hours or until it cooks down to the thickness that I like. If it won't flow off a hot dog bun then it's perfect, lol.

I like to serve my chill as I said, with hot dogs, over rice, by itself with toppings like raw onions. You have to have raw onions with chili. Other toppings are green onions minced, scallions, cheeses of ones choice or sour cream. If one is in the mood for some beans in the chili they are an easy addition.

I hope you have enjoyed the recipe and will take the time to share one of your own.

A Few Pictures Of The Coliseum I Am Building

The topping off of the rear wall and the final window openings. Pictures of this wall and the windows is below. Notice that there is no floor. That is scaffolding along the inside of the wall.

The topping off of the front walls and window openings.

The roof has been framed and sheathed and windows and doors are going in. I don't know if you can tell by looking at the picture on the right but the entire front of the home has a radius wall. Inside the front entrance you are standing inside of a circle.

If you can zoom in on the door openings like the one on the far right you will see the stone railings being installed.

All of the windows installed here over the courtyard were put in off of scaffolding. The monster trapezoid top center was the most difficult to get off the ground and into the opening. Again, no floor on the inside at these windows level. If you look at the court yard photo under the center windows a future fountain will be installed and the hole above the fountain is where a flue will come out for the inside fireplace.

This center window that is installed is over 12' tall and is all tempered glass. The weight was well over 500lbs and believe me, it was a challenge for us to lift it into place. I actually used the lift in the picture to hold the top of the window and to guide it in place while 3 others lifted from the bottom and set it into place. On the inside of the opening it's a 24' drop. No floor at the window level.

The 2 side windows are well over 16' tall and they will be set Monday. These windows are in the stair wells.

I hope you have enjoyed the pictures.

MacIII

A Deep Dish Pizza

Now this is a deep dish pizza, lol.


Now one couldn't confuse this for a tomato Pie.

I called this my Deep Dish Lasagna Pizza that I invented and did a blog about last summer I do believe, and it turned out to be the ultimate pizza even if it was a tad short on the pepperoni..