Alice on the Guitar

My friend Kyle's little girl Alice is only four years old but apparently ready to take her act on the road. Here is a video clip of her playing a song she wrote on her blue guitar. In the background you will see her dog Pete playing backup. Very cute!!!
http://aliceramey.wordpress.com/

Interesting field trip we took last weekend

We have been wanting to replace the bathroom sink fixtures on our "antique" sink for some time now, so we checked out this place in in an old, gigantic mill in New Bedford, Ma called New England Demo. & Salvage where they have the most amazing assortment of ...well, everything! A whole factory floor of bathtubs for example (surreal!), a section on just doors--thousands of them, stained glass windows which I plan to go back and buy and hang as art, props from movies like a entire train station ticket window . It's a place you have to see to believe. While we did not sadly find what we were looking for, we had fun finding other things we did not know we needed. Steve M. and Kyle, you would love this place!

Megan Cheney Darling, Goldie, and me with Dave in background at Big Tens

The Cheeshroom!

Colleen promises to name this sandwich. (see title! Thanks, Col.!)
Came home last night with no dinner ideas, but looked in fridge (her name is Zandra--she's a beautiful stainless steel, bottom freezer which I will never live without ever again.) and saw some good sammich fixins.

Recipe

Caramelize an onion--get them nice browned and broken down
next sear some portobello mushroom slices in same pan after onion--10 mins more or less.
when done sprinkle some balsamic vinegar on mushrooms until nice and glazed on
Thickly cut rustic bread toasted either in toaster or under broiler with...
good shmears of goat cheese--lay it on nice and thick. When bread is all nice and toasted with cheese, pile on onion and mushroom. Salt and Pepper and enjoy!

Julie's Vegetarian Chili Recipe

Ingredients:
2 T Olive oil
Large onion chopped
Green pepper chopped
Red pepper chopped
Jalapeno chopped (if you have disposable gloves--wear them to handle pepper. Wash hands very well several times and when you take out contacts, beware as it will burn like hell.)
4-6 garlic minced (if you have a mini chopper--use!)
2 T Chili powder (use more or less)
1 1/2 t. Cumin
1/8 t. Chipolte powder (Can lend, or you can get at Penzey’s. I love this spice for its smokiness. You can buy a can of Chipolte peppers in Adobe sauce and use those instead, but I would use just a few and some of the sauce. Freeze rest.)
Dash or more of Cayenne (optional)
1 1/2 t. Oregano
1 t epazote (optional—known for its carminative properties. Can find at Penzey's)
Salt and Pepper
1 large can of Muir Glenn whole tomatoes, chopped with juice from can.
Canned Beans: I like to have a nice combo of them (pick three or so. Rinse and drain first):
black
pinto
butter (my fav. bean!)
kidney
Cannellini
3-4 cups of broth (Veggie, chicken, beef, water, or even V-8 juice, but I prefer broth. See how thick it is as you add. You will need enough liquid for the bulgar to expand.)
1/4-1/2 cup of bulgur (adds a nice texture)
1 oz or a handful of bittersweet choc. chips (some people add cinnamon to their chili. Try it and see what you think)
taste--may need a dash of sugar if too acidic from tomatoes.
Simmer for a nice hour or longer.
Trader Joe's sweet corn (however much you like or leave out)
Condiments:
Minced Cilantro (if you like)
Sour cream
Grated cheddar cheese
To Prepare:
Heat Olive oil in large soup put or dutch oven on medium-low.
Saute onion olive oil a few minutes (5-7) and add and saute another 3 + minutes: green pepper, red pepper, jalapeno, garlic.
Add spices to sauted things and cook for a minute or so .
Add tomatoes chopped with juices. Cook a few mins. and add chicken broth or veggie broth and beans and bring to a nice simmer.
Add bulgur, choc. chips to taste. or a bit of sugar. Simmer for an hour or more, stirring, tasting, and adjusting spices or whatever to taste. Can add more liquid if it gets too thick or if too thin, can leave lid off to reduce liquid a bit--whatever turns you on.
Add some fresh corn or Trader Joes corn with a half hour to go.
Eat! Yummy! Serve with corn bread or tortilla chips.