FYI

My NEW blog address is
bj-sweetnothings.blogspot.com

and I have a link to where you can receive
SWEET NOTHINGS posts in your EMAIL ACCOUNT.

Please go to the NEW BLOG.
thanks, bj

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

This weather is CRAZY.....

Hello everyone...
Our weather is sooo crazy right now.
Yesterday was 84 degrees and WONDERFUL.
TODAY, however is another story.
36 and COLD...a tiny bit wet...just sprinkles, off and on most of the day.

Mr. Sweet decided it was CHILI WEATHER....

Now, I have several recipes for CHILI...
and all of them are good...
not all are FAST, tho.

Daughter, Stacy, taught me how to make chili FAST.
And, it is, by far, Mr. Sweet's favorite of all chilis...
and I love it, too.






 So, out came my olden crockpot...


( I need to ask Santa for a new one next Christmas)





 
 l lb. LEAN Ground Beef
fried to TOTALLY DONE...

...following instructions on the back of a package of
McCORMICK ORIGINAL CHILI SEASONING MIX.
1 can diced tomatoes....we always use FIRE ROASTED.
beans, if you want....we don't care for beans in our chili so I don't use them.
I DO add about 1/4th can of water for more sauce.
I ALWAYS double the recipe....

 THIS is a really good chili....

...however, as we all know, every section of our country seems to like THEIR chili
better than any other.
We ALL seem to make it differently.....so, what I am trying to say is
IF you like YOUR chili, STICK WITH IT....

Just because Mr. Sweet and I will climb the highest mountain for a bowl of THIS chili
doesn't mean that you will like it, too.

No matter where you live, this bowl of chili is BOUND to look good to ya. :))

NOW....
I am going to show you how I like a bowl of chili.....

guess it might look....
"red neck" to some people..

and maybe a little crude and
bad manners....
but,
I LUV crumbled crackers and a nice, healthy heaping of Ketchup in my
bowl of chili....

When I was about 10, my daddy owned a small cafe and the SPECIAL was his 
HOMEMADE CHILI.
He taught me to eat it with crumbled crackers and ketchup and I LOVED it....

and I love it that way to this very day.

(and, have you ever noticed that you miss your loved ones sooo much on cloudy days..?
I sure have and, right now, I sure am missing my daddy.)

*****************************************************
Of course, we ALWAYS have a dessert here at Sweet Nothings....
and if you've never tried
EDWARDS FROZEN PIES in you frozen food section of your grocery store....

 RUN.....don't WALK
and pick up a LEMON MERINGUE 
OR
KEY LIME PIE
 Either one is OUT OF THIS WORLD....

 Thick, delicious MERINGUE...
lemon filling that is just right in their amount of lemon juice....
and a GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST that is just PERFECT...

 This cloudy, rainy, COLD day has been such a good one.
We've both slept off and on...
watched some good olden movies...
ATE every time we thought about it.
All in all, a perfect day....
which we are so thankful for.

LOTS OF LOVE,

joining and supporting these parties:

39 comments:

Sarah said...

BJ, we are finally getting some good rain from this weather. It's chilly here and your dinner would be perfect. '-)

Trisha said...

Your crazy weather sounds like Idaho weather! I love my chili with lots of crackers, my husband loves his with ketchup!

~Trisha

The French Hutch said...

We usually get your weather so if it is chilly there it will be here thursday! The forecast is for storms, that’s about right since it was hot here today. It’s funny how we love food we grew up on. We love chili here too bj. I think I have everything I need to make it when your bad weather arrives.....
Hope you have a pretty spring day tomorrow.

~Emily
The French Hutch

Stacey said...

Hi BJ. :) Keeping our fingers crossed for some of that rain that's floating around here in Rockwall. I don't love dark days but we do need the rain.

Your chili looks wonderful. I like ketchup in pinto beans sometimes. :) Love me some pie too!

Sylvia said...

I'm with you on the crackers but no thanks to the ketchup. We also like to serve chili over rice sometimes.

Beth said...

I love chili with beans and shredded cheese and a dollop of sour cream. I crumble my crackers in too.

The pie sure looks good too.

Blondie's Journal said...

I have used this package mix for a long time but never in the crock pot...have to try that. I once tried Rachael Ray's chili and it had 1000 ingredients and took forever. Never again.

Never heard of ketchup in chili, but we love crackers, We also sprinkle cheddar cheese on it. And that dessert looks awesome!

XO,
Jane

susie @ persimmon moon cottage said...

Looks like you had a wonderfully cozy day. I like chili just the way you showed it. The pie looked delicious, too.

Patty said...

I am really hungry now bj. I have to tell you I am from Cincinnati and I wonder if you have heard of Cincinnati or skyline chile? I don't make it myself because there are too many ingredients. I have a good recipe we like. Yours looks delicious. We eat crumbled crackers on it too! What a neat day you had. You made the best of a cold dreary day.

NanaDiana said...

Well, it is almost 2am here in the Midwest and now I am drooling and craving a piece of that pie! Darn you!!!! xo Diana

Lynn said...

Looks like a hearty meal BJ! Crazy weather here too, back down to 31 degrees at night... Have a great day:@)

chateau chic said...

Chili is perfect when it's cold and damp out!! Your recipe looks yummy!
Mary Alice

Debbie said...

We're having the same up and down weather.

And I would never tell a Texan how to eat her chili. Uh-uh... I will just file the ketchup and crackers in the "to try" file.

Vee said...

That really was a weather shift! Hope that it's returned to something more temperate. Always fun to see what treats you've been enjoying! Now when you get your new crockpot, don't get rid of the old one. Every home needs several to cook many things at the same time, especially at party time or over the holidays.

craftyles said...

That chili looks great. I remember putting oyster crackers on mine. I'll have to look for those at the store. Hope it warms up for you soon.

Barbara F. said...

That is a crazy change in temps, BJ.
I am making a pot of turkey chili today! I prefer all meat too, but I am trying to eat healthier so I was going to add in some kidney beans, now not so sure ha ha. Edwards' pies are good, and I love that I can buy just one or two slices. (I have to save me from myself sometimes). xo

Madeline's Album said...

Chili hits the spot on cold days. I can see the crackers but not so sure about the ketchup. The pies look so good but they have to be sugar free for me. Have a blessed day. Madeline

Irene said...

It's wet and cold here in Houston. You've convinced me, I'm making chili this evening. (Sending Hugs)

On Crooked Creek said...

BJ,
Heard of tornados in Texas and thought immediately of you, dear friend!!! Do hope all is well in your part of the State!!!
We had rain most of the day yesterday with sleet mixed in! Today we are predicted to have rain, but instead every so often we have these huge...like duck down feathers...SNOWflakes!!! Guess what's for supper??? "Chili"!!!
Do you see Spring on your horizon, dear one???
Fondly,
Pat

Gayla said...

This looks delicious! My daddy and I always put just a little sweet pickle vinegar in Chili... Now when I have chili and pour just a little in, I think of him... Mom doesn't like it when I do that because she takes it personal about her chili, but I do it when I make a crockpot full, too, so she feels better about it! haha..

Have a fun spring day. Your pies look good.... everything sounds good because I'm stuck here at school with a protein bar for lunch.. Boo hoo!

Audrey said...

hi BJ ... we got the storm last night with ½" of rain and cool and raining today. Texas is thankful for every drop. Nothing better than chili on these cool days. I like mine on a bed of Frito ... grated cheese on top and salsa. I will have left-over potato soup and corn bread today. That pie looks so good ... will have to look for that.
Hugs,
Audrey Z. @ Timeless Tresures

Lisa @ Texas Decor said...

Hi bj! This Texas weather IS crazy, isn't it? We were trampled by rain last night. I guess it's good for the grass though. At least we're not in a drought anymore. :) I will definitely try this chili recipe. I love that there's not a ton of ingredients. With all this rain, it seems like the perfect time for chili. I too love those pies! I actually have one in my freezer right now. :) I love lemon pies. I'm off to explore more of your recipes now. :)

Mary@mydogsmygardenandmary said...

Our weather has been great in the 70's. I also love chili with crackers. Have been wondering what to make and I think I will get the fixings when I go to the store.
How did your Open House go?
Mary

kitty@ Kitty's Kozy Kitchen said...

It's chilly over in our neck of the woods, in the DFW area, bj. Your big bow of chili would taste sooo good right now. It's making me hungry. I'll have to try the McCormick chili seasoning and those fire roasted tomatoes. That slice of pie sure looks good, too. You make everything look tasty.

Tina said...

Hi BJ,
Thank you so much for stopping by my blog and leaving such a sweet comment. Following you in return.

That chili looks so good. I love cornbread with my chili, sometimes I will do crackers, but I have never tried it with ketchup. :)

Anonymous said...

It definitely sounds like you're having chili weather! You are so right in that each person is particular about their chili - I had to laugh - it's so true! Your chili looks fabulous and I appreciate you sharing your recipe with us. Thanks for stopping by and following along on my blog. I'm a new follower! Blessings!

Jeanne said...

Hi bj, I am visiting today and catching up too. My cousin and her husband have been here for three weeks and they left today for Fl. We have had a busy time together and lots of fun. The worst part of this visit is they do not have a computer in their home. Thus, I feel bad if I am on my computer when they are here. Yikes, I have hardly posted and forget about visiting. I'm back!

We love chili too. Your easy recipe looks delicious. I too LOVE crackers in my chili but I have never put ketchup in it. I am willing to try it though. Thanks for the tip about the pies. I will have to see if our store has that brand. YUM.

The rainy day you had is here now and for tomorrow. It will be cold too. I'm making chili. Smile!
Love and hugs,
Jeanne

Cheryl @ TFD said...

It was chili weather here today, too. I put beans in mine and add some shredded cheddar on top when served. Also crumble crackers in mine...doesn't everyone? :D
The pie looks yummy.
Enjoy the rest of the week!

middle child said...

I hear ya about the weather. I always have a tank top on with a t-shirt over it then a hoodie over that and a thin leather jacket. Oh and yeah, My big furry winter coat is thrown in the back seat of the car.
And chili? I like mine with elbow macaroni and shredded cheddar. Alright...perhaps a spoonful of sout cream too. Man, you always get the truth out of me don't you?

Teresa said...

Thank you for pointing the positive on this lousey weather ahahahah

We have been having like one day of Spring per week. The rest? Winter mayhem. The complete set: endless rain, strong winds, thunder.

Not getting any younger I want Spring. NOW! ;)

Hope you had a wonderful Easter,

Teresa

aspiritofsimplicity said...

yes that chili looks so good...maybe not with the ketchup though...I don't like ketchup on anything but french fries. And the pie...yummy!! I am following you back. I love having new bloggy friends.

Debra at HOMESPUN: http://www.thehomespun.com said...

You know what ? Not a chili bean person here either! I used to make a pot of chili for my kids growing up and for the whole pot we'd put in one small can of beans, that was it! :)

Latane Barton said...

I surely do wish I had a bowl of that chili right now!! It looks so good. You did it up right ended the meal with lemon pie. Wow.

Susan Shull said...

I am a cracker-crumbler too, but I never thought about a squirt of ketchup. I will give it a try!

Unknown said...

BJ- This dinner looks amazing, cant wait to try it out! Thanks for stopping by mondaymorningpress!

Natalie

Katherines Corner said...

we eat our chili with tortilla chips :-) Thank you for sharing at the hop, your participation makes the hop extra special. Big Hugs P.S. the new giveaway posted yesterday!

Miz Helen said...

Your Chili and Pie look delicious!Your recipe is awesome and thank you so much for sharing it at the table with Full Plate Thursday.
Hope to see you again soon!
Miz Helen

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson said...

Oh Bj, my hubby loves ketchup and crackers on his chili. His choice of crackers are Ritz. Me, I like cheese and a little sour cream. lol! to each his own right? I do think you miss people more on cloudy days. Sounds like your daddy was a great chili maker. I have had the Key Lime pie and it was YUM! Thanks for sharing mountain top climbing chili with SYC.
hugs,
Jann

Carla said...

LOL I'll pass on the ketchup but give me crackers. Yum
And shredded cheese, scallions, and some times I sneak in some sour cream.

Have a great weekend!