Happy Thanksgiving !!

A wild turkey: Not at one of my eight bird feeders but in a nearby tree. I love the view from my leisure chair, out the patio doors. Most of the leaves are off the trees so I see squirrels moving from tree to tree; cardinals perched on limbs. Then, to my surprise, I see the big bird sitting in a nearby tree. So, a bit early, but my opportunity to wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving!

(For a better bird's eye view of my "back yard," left click the picture to enlarge it.)

The bare facts !!

Follow my travels this time two (2) years ago ?!

Click on--and read--the first link. Then use your computer's back arrow to return to this blog. Click on--and read--the second link. Then use your computer's back arrow to return to this blog. Move through the following list. ~~ Enjoy!!

Second Outing, Six Days, 895 miles ~~~ Published November 20, 2009 (actually November 13th - November 19th, 2009)

White Knuckle Ride ~~~ Published November 20, 2009

Stone Mountain Park near Atlanta, Georgia ~~~ Published November 20, 2009

Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway ~~~ Published November 20, 2009

Greetings from Asheville, NC ~~~ November 18, 2009

Christmas at the Biltmore Estate ~~~ Published November 20, 2009

Evaluating the trip ~~~ November 21, 2009

Mixed Bean Vegetarian Chili

I feel like I am finally on the highway to health (renewed health)!! I spent the entire morning (until this very minute: 1:11) in the kitchen preparing my delicious Vegetarian Chili. The weather has turned cooler ('tis the season) so I fondly thought of my recipe for (repeat) Vegetarian Chili. I put the variety of beans to soak on Friday. (Tip: Soak your beans for a day, or two, and change the water frequently. Result: No gas!!) Yesterday I shopped for the extra ingredients: Red, and green, bell peppers, onions, garlic, canned diced tomatoes, and canned chopped green chilies, etc. This morning I started cooking the beans in (good) filtered water while I cut up the peppers, onions & garlic. ~~ It has been, conservatively, twenty months since I last prepared this (one of my favorite recipes) so I put a lot of love into the preparation. Two things differed this time: I did not unpack, and use, my Cuisinart food processor and I did not unpack, and use, my Kuhn Rikon pressure cooker. (Where would I put them after I unpacked them??) Confession: The finished product (although very good) lacks the unique flavor when the ingredients are pressure cooked. In my humble opinion, the taste is exquisite when prepared according to the original recipe. Try it?!?!

Mixed Bean Vegetarian Chili ~~ Servings: 8-10

1 red bell pepper
1 green bell pepper
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 medium onions, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely minced, or more to taste, optional. (None this time but on previous occasions I've only used one-half jalapeno pepper.)
1 can (4 oz.) chopped mild green chilies. (I've used a 7 oz. can and was OK.)
4 cloves garlic, minced
Leaves from 1 bunch fresh parsley, chopped
3 cans (15 oz. each) pinto, kidney, and/or black beans, rinsed and drained. (I always use dry beans, not canned.)
1 can (28 oz.) crushed tomatoes
4 teaspoon salt (I don't use salt. I think it has enough flavor w/o salt.)
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 teaspoons chili power (I only use one teaspoon.)
2 cups water (As mentioned above, I used filtered water, not tap water.)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Cut bell peppers into roughly one-half inch squares. Heat oil in the pressure cooker over medium heat and saute onions until softened. Add bell peppers, jalapeno, green chilies, garlic, chopped parsley and beans. Coarsely chop tomatoes and add to mixture with salt, cumin, oregano, chili powder and water. Seal cooker, bring up to high pressure, reduce heat to stabilize pressure and cook for 15 minutes. (I found that 12 minutes was fine.) Remove cooker from heat and release pressure. Add chopped cilantro, taste and adjust seasonings.

Variation: Meaty Three Bean Chili
Brown 1 pound ground beef or turkey and add to cooked beans.

Note: These recipes make large batches of chili. Do not exceed your pressure cooker's capacity, reduce the recipes if necessary.

Lorraine comment: I usually use 1 cup each, dry, soaked overnight, pinto, kidney and black beans (nice variety of color). I see in my notes that (on one occasion) I used one cup Pinto, one-half cup Kidney, one-half cup Black, one-half cup Great Northern, and one-half cup Soy beans.) ~~ I've been making this recipe for almost a decade (since December 17, 2001). Suggestion: Please take the time to prepare dry beans rather than canned; the flavor is better and you've saved money!! ~~ I doubled the recipe, using a very large kettle. I'm sharing with some of my friends in the RV Park who frequently invite me to dine with them. ~~ I'll freeze most in small containers for a later day.

It's a gloomy day outside but very pleasant inside with beautiful Christian music and delicious smell throughout the apartment. Lots of Cardinals feeding on sunflower seeds just outside the living room--for my viewing pleasure.

Postscript, 3:33 PM, Sunday 11/13/11: I failed to say that I enjoyed every single minute in the kitchen cooking and cleaning up!!

Happy One Year Anniversary !!

I'm celebrating my one year anniversary with Wycliffe. Read my blog regarding arrival at the lovely RV Park in Orlando (11/12/10). ~~ Yesterday was a special day--at JAARS--as "we" celebrated end-of-year recognition of completed Bible translations, appreciation to many individuals who served for 20, 30, 40, or 50 years, and--specifically--a day of prayer. It was very inspirational and I felt my Heavenly Father used the occasion to affirm me that I'm using my time, and talents, appropriately.

If you have followed my blog, you know I have enjoyed a unique year. Furthermore, it's extremely unique to publish the anniversary blog on 11/11/11. ~~ More importantly (hear ye, hear ye!!), this is the First Annual Global Day of Worship. Join the celebration.

Pandora's Box

Actually, Pandora's boxes!! They are a nightmare for me!! (In frustration, I'm pulling my hair!!) I spent three days unpacking and inventorying collector's plates (on a beautiful weekend when I should have been outdoors). I also advertised over eleven boxes of holistic health and nutrition books (free). People are contacting me with questions like "Do you have any vegetarian cook books?" ABSOLUTELY!! Three boxes of "healthy" cook books!! (Those are in addition to the "over eleven boxes....") So I unpacked two boxes and began to list them by name and author. Yipes, where do I put them now that they are out of the box?? More clutter!! ~~ Please pray for me!!

Postscript: Yes, I can put them back in the box with the spine(s) displayed!! I can set the boxes up like a bookcase!!

Whatcha been doin' ?

I've shared with you--from time to time--that I am depressed by the clutter in my apartment. Furthermore, sporadically, I work on separating myself from cherished items and memorabilia. Friday, and Saturday, was spent shuffling boxes around so I could get to three large containers of Collector's Plates. First: "the shuffle"; second: inventory and isolation by series or theme. Third: check the web--and eBay--for current value; fourth: list the items "for sale" on a web link. Oh, so time-consuming!!!! I know there is limited interest in thirty-five year old Bicentennial and Rockwell plates. But (give me a gold star for effort) I have taken a giant step toward downsizing. Today, I must!! organize (and clean) the apartment so it is "presentable" for potential visitor-buyers. ~~ Bye; gotta go!!