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I decided about a week ago that I was going to start using my slow cooker more often. Specifcally, I decided I was going to try and make a signature chili. I decided that I would start from humble beginnings and use the Chili Recipe on the McCormick Slow Cooker Chili Seasoning Package. It was a very basic recipe, with 5 ingredients:
- 2 lbs. of Ground Turkey or Beef
- 2 Cans of Kidney Beans (16 oz Each) – Drained
- 2 cans of Diced Tomatoes (14.5 Oz Each) – Whole
- 1 Can of Tomato Sauce (15.5 oz.)
- 1 Package of McCormick Slow Cookers Chili Seasoning
I used Turkey Chili because both my son and I prefer the taste of Turkey over Beef. I also used a single 28 oz. can of Muir Glen Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes and Cento Tomato sauce.
Well, I started with a basic recipe and ended up with a very basic Chili. M said that it had no flavor, and she was correct. It seems that the recipe was definitely made for Beef with some juices and fat still coating the meat. The Turkey I used was 99% fat free.
I wasn’t too upsed, I was planning on modifying the base recipe anyway. I will just have to modify the recipe a little more that I thought I would have to from the start. I am partial to having a tasty chili.
The Slow Cooker Chili Package has to go, but I have to have a decent replacement. I am thinking I should start with:
- 1/4 cup of Chili powder
- 1 tablespoon Ground Cumin
- a couple of pinches of Salt
- a couple of pinches of Pepper
- 1 tablespoon of Celery Powder
I think my next attempt with cover the replacement of the McCormick’s Slow Cooker Chili Seasoning with the formula above, and include all the other items. This is probably as fast as I want to progress with this Signature Chili because I want to know when I put ingredient x in I get result y. So in the future I will probably only add and/or subtract only one ingredient and see how it works.
I am pretty sure I will have to add additional spices to the chili to make up for the exchange for Turkey for Beef. Other items I look to add to the recipe in the future are Onions, Garlic and different kinds of beans. This will be an evolving receipe, probably for a long time, and I welcome all suggestions on how to improve my chili.
One of the lastest books I have read was “A Contract With the Earth – Ten Commitments you can Make to Protect the Environment Now” by Newt Gingrich and Terry L. Maple. Newt Gringrich was the Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999 and was an Environmental Studies Professor. Terry L. Maple is president and CEO of the Palm Beach Zoo.
As stated clearly by the title, this book outlines a ten-step program to help people protect the environment. The book lists the ten commitments, the contract, right in the second chapter of the book. They are:
- Take the Lead
- Reward a New Generation of Environmental Entrepreneurs
- Retire or Rejuvenate Old Technologies
- Transform the Role of Government
- Become and Aspirational and Inspirational Nation
- Postiion America to Meet the Challenge
- Encourage Scientific and Technical Literacy
- Invoke the Spirit of Collaboration and Cooperation
- Support the Environment through Philanthropy and Investment
- Enlist the Nation
This contract is obviously meant to be used by those in political power to direct the nation toward a more environmentally friendly way of doing business. It is also a primer for the average citizen to pressure their representatives to push for environmental reform.
I enjoy reading, and thus I enjoyed this book to a certain extent. It was a learning experience, and there was value in the reading. I will say that I often find myself at odds with some of Mr. Gingrich’s philosophies and some of the ideas presented in this book are not ideas I would support. I do agree with the basic concepts of the contract as outlined by the book. I often do not agree with how the concepts should be fulfilled. It seems to be a difference between Conservation and Preservation. Mr. Gingrich seems to propose using Conservation, or active Human management of Natural Resourses, as much as possible to basically use the earth as one big resource and to replace what we have taken. I, more often than Mr. Gingrich, prefer the route of Preservation, or from keeping humans from interfering with the Environment. I find that if one attempts the road of Conservation over Preservation, even with well meaning intentions, the results are much less than desired. I also find some of the books methods of Conservation wanting.
I would recommend this book to everyone, even if one disagrees with a lot of the practicalities in this book like I did. What matters most that people become active and educated in Environmental Pursuits and this book can and does help in that regard.
Title: A Contract With the Earth
Author: Newt Gingrich and Terry L. Maple
ISBN#: 978-0-452-28992-5
Format: Paperback Book
I am pretty darn close to finishing ‘A Contract with the Earth’ and ‘Against all Enemies’. I figure sometime this week I will have reviews written and I will continue reading more books.
I am not someone who makes resolutions. They never seem to last, there is very little emotional attachment to them. Most people make them as a spur of the moment action that they then try to unnaturally force themselves to obey.
Since the anniversary of Martin Luther King’s birthday I was thinking about my life and how I have lived it so far. I, like everyone else, do have dreams and aspirations. Some of them are small ones, just little things that I want to remember or achieve. Some will take a lifetime and more. Some are very selfish, and some are rather altruistic. I thought it might be a good idea to list as many as I can remember easily, and perhaps use this blog to track how well I am doing achieving my goals.
Let me start with what should be the rather simple ones, to be a loving husband and the best father to my son that I can be.
I would like to visit Europe at least once in my lifetime.
I would like to earn a Bachelor’s Degree, however I am not sure what I wish to major in after all this time.
I would like to keep up more with this blog, and perhaps even get more people visiting from time to time.
I would like to read more books, and write more blog reviews.
I would like to write a book.
I would also like to have a book published, and perhaps even become a bestseller.
I would like to read more, and play silly computer games less =)
I would like to live long enough to see that Renewable Energy Sources are the main sources of energy for all people on the planet.
I would like to own a house.
I would like to live life fuller than I am now.
I would like the previous dream to be a perpetual one, where I am constantly reexamining my life and becoming the better for it.
It is sad that so far there is no three roses or cognac placed on his grave yet…
It has been way too long. There are a lot of things that I let get in the way. I brought LMB in to an allergist to see if we can finally get his eczema under control. There was Christmas, which had it’s ups and downs. I wrote a post about that, and scrapped it. Somehow it seemed more about writing revenge instead of a post.
I also had to update a lot of my plugins. I used to think it was really cool to have a lot of plugins for this blog. I guess it was the ‘ooo, shiny’ phase of creation. I have quickly wised up, plugins must have a specific, important utility before I will install them now.
However, the worst part about not writing is just that, not writing. There are so many topics that I could and should write about. Reasons both selfless and very selfish. Hell, it’s my blog and I can be selfish if I want.
Part of the selfish section is my lack of typing ability, I really hate my lack of typing skills and know I could get much better, as long as I devote more and more time to it. I don’t even have to write anything deep or philosophical, I just need to continue writing.
However, I am off to the store now. Hope everyone is having a great weekend!
Christmas Eve was the best evening I have had this year, and one of the best I have had in a long time. M and I worked hard to get the place cleaned up, and I did a lot of the leg work while she did all of the cooking and preparing. We invited some friends and M’s sister to join in the feast of the seven fishes, which brought the total dining count up to five.
From the start there was nothing but joy and good will throughout the evening, starting with some cheese and crackers to whet the appetite. We were supposed to have some trout dip, which came a little late. The only extremely minor mistake in an otherwise flawless evening. The next thing we did was open the gifts we exchanged with each other. I loved watching LMB open a few gifts and squeal with joy! Then LMB got his last bottle and off to bed with him.
Well, not quite. Shrimp cocktail with a homemade cocktail sauce was served while he was drinking his bottle. He finished and came over for a taste of shrimp, which he did not like at all. After we enjoyed the cocktail I had enough time to rock him to sleep and place him in his crib.
After that we had some salad with prosciutto wrapped asparagus. That was super yummy! We rested for a little bit then had some snow crab legs. They were fantastic, sweet and didn’t really need any butter at all. Another rest and some talking and then we had some linguine with clams and mussels that was out of this world! There was just the right clam juice and garlic to flavor this great meal. Another break and then we had some whitefish soaked in milk and covered with homemade breading and butter. The fish tasted absolutely fantastic!
After the fish there was some cleaning and some talking, and then there was dessert! On one plate we had some cheesecake from Costco via the Cheesecake Factory. On another plate we had genuine Godiva Chocolate and Vanilla Cupcakes! The cupcakes were absolutely decadent! A treasure in chocolate form!
The dinner was the centerpiece, the highlight of the evening, and it was fabulous! However there is also much to be said about the company. I had a great time talking to my friends and sister in law. They were fantastic guests. I was very sorry to see that evening end, as far as I am concerned it could have lasted forever.
My sister in law paid my wife the highest compliment, she told her it was just like grandma used to do it.
I was invited to post ‘What is my greatest weakness?’ in my blog and link up to other blogs who have also answered the question. Since my blog’s greatest weakness right now is a lack of readership how could I refuse?
What is my greatest weakness? That is a difficult one to pick as I am well aware that I have many flaws, even if I do not know what those flaws happen to be. If I had to pick one I would say that my lack of focus would be my greatest flaw.
My lack of focus, while not quite legendary, is great. It is great enough to lead the few experts in the field that I know to say I should be tested to see if I have Attention Defecit Disorder, or to just say that I have ADD. It has impacted on a large portion of my life, specifically the fact that I have spent quite a few years in college, earned over 150 credits and do not have a College Degree at this time. That is also one of the few regrets that I have. I also attribute my lack of focus as a factor, if not the factor, contributing to my lack of career advancement as well. Hell, I consider it a major factor involved in not being able to actually decide on one career I want to focus on for the rest of my life.
 Michael Murphy, 1962-2009 My cousin Michael Murphy passed away on December 7th, just a day after his 47th birthday. He had AIDS, and died because of some disease that he could no longer fight because of his lack of an auto-immune system.
Michael was not a blood relative, but the whole Murphy family have been treated as relatives since before I was born and will probably continue to be treated as such long after I have gone. I personally have lost touch with the family, but when I am in town I do my best to pay a visit, as everyone has always been very kind to me.
I have not seen Michael in quite a long time. I distinctly remember a full head a wavy blonde hair and a bright smile. The hair being quite a feat in the Murphy family, most of his siblings and his father have long since gone bald. He was thin without being skinny and appeared as one who worked out regularly. I also remember him having a great laugh. I will remember that image of him, I hope that he would have understood and wanted it that way.
A bright light has grown cold, and the world is a darker place for it. Michael, you will be missed.
Carl Honore was a true member of the Cult of Speed not too long ago. Then one day, he was waiting to catch a flight and saw an advertisement for ‘The One-Minute Bedtime Story’. The ad had quite a different effect, one the creators never anticipated. Carl did not buy the books, instead he started questioning why he was always in a hurry. That was the spark that eventually ignited the idea behind the book ‘In Praise of Slowness.’
In ‘In Praise of Slowness’, Carl Honore writes about different ways one can slow down and enjoy life. He explains that ones quality of life can inprove if one learns to slow down when preparinig Food. He also talks about Cities, Body/Mind, Medicine, Sex, Work, Leisure, and Children. The common theme is how one should find ways to slow down and enjoy life.
As I reading this book, I remember thinking that most young batchelor and batchelorettes would probably scoff at this book. They are probably happy members of the cult of speed, and have no desire to slow down. Most likely those who either already have a family or are looking to start one are the ones who will get the most out of this book.
I, being the family man, absolutely loved reading this book. Honore did some excellent research and uses both anecdotal evidence and personal experience to make his point. The book was both easy to read and well organized so one can go back and easily find information if they wish to. I appreciated the style of writing immensely. I was also intrigued by the subject matter, and was entertained by his personal experiences.
Honore relates a final tale at the conclusion of his book. He is putting his son to bed and he reads a book, answering all the questions his son has along the way. He then reads another book, answering all questions. He lost track of time, but he was ready to read another book. His son told him he was tired and wanted to go to bed, kissed him goodnight and snuggled under his covers. I am glad that he has found such a good relationship with his son, and I hope to have one just like it. He is doing his best to practice what he writes about, and how can you not be touched? I congratulate Carl Honore with being true to the slow movement and for writing a fantastic book.
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