Mom Went Away, Only For a Day. .

My sister had knee surgery the other day and I went home to try and help out.  I also just wanted to be there for my  sister.  I post about her all the time, she is my best friend, and I do not know what I would do without her. 
I shared that to explain why my very sweet hubby is having to take care of our kids by himself for a couple of days.   Bless him because he had some trouble yesterday.  He was unable to get in touch with our oldest after school.  He did not text like he is supposed to do when he is on his way home.  I was busy with what was going on with my sister and I did not realize he had not text.  He has a bad habit of forgetting  to text me some days.  The phone company was out in front of the house and they accidentally cut our phone line and that means no WiFi.   The hubbs was pretty upset because they did not even know they had done it.  They were working to install in a house down the road.  Still no word from the oldest.  The hubbs informs the phone guys of their error and they of course do the it's not my fault dance for him.  They finally see their error and attempt to fix it and cut our power.   Now he has no WiFi  and no power  and by this time the oldest has come home so you can throw two grouchy teenagers in that mix with no mom is sight.  Hey I think that could be a Christmas song.  ~~~☆☆☆On the first few hours mom was gone away, no text from the oldest.  On the second few hours mom was gone away, WiFi has failed.  On the third few hours mom was gone away, the phone is gone too.  In the next few hours mom was gone away, the power went away too.  ☆☆☆~~~  Now there is the aroma of scented candles; pine bark, cinnamon, cranberry, and maybe vanilla.
Oh my poor sweet hubby.  Two hours later all is restored and harmony is in view.  Ha ha ha ha.  Meanwhile mom is giggling  just a little, at a safe distance.   My mom says I willed that on them but, I really didn't.   Stay tuned for more Christmas fun with my clan.

Best Chili ever. . . And A Little Fish Story

I am going to share my super secret chili recipe today.  My hubby absolutely loves this.  I always joke that it was my chili and the fact that the first time we went fishing, I out fished him, that he fell in love with me.   Yes, I am a fabulous cook and a pretty good fisherman.   Ok, ok, that is my opinion.   I did out fish him on the pier that weekend before he asked for my hand.  I am a fair weather fisherman though; I do not like fishing in the cold,  the extreme heat, or the rain.   I remember one day in particular that my hubby did get ill with me when we were fishing.  He says it was June but, I believe it was mid April because it was cool and rainy.  Notice it was two of those conditions I do not like fishing in.  I fussed and told him  I was ready to go.  We had been on the lake for a good while so it was not like we had just gotten there.   He was mad because the fish were really biting and we were catching them like crazy.  My hands were almost numb though because it was cold and I was soaked to the bone.   We headed back to the dock.  Hubby was ill because the fish were crazy and he wanted to keep fishing.  He gave in and headed toward the dock, now when we fished it was my job to keep the boat from banging the dock as we approached.   It was also my job to get the truck and back the trailer down the ramp so dear hubby could put the boat on the trailer.   It was so wet that when we approached the dock I stood up instead of getting on my knees like I normally did.   I was holding the truck keys and trying to balance on the front of the boat and put my foot out to keep the boat from banging the dock.   Hubby was ill and came in a wee bit fast to the dock and I could not stop the boat.  He through it in reverse and through me off balance and off the boat I went, me and the keys to the truck.  Hubby did not see  how I went  in the water.  He thought I had hit the dock with my head, he thought he had killed me.   He backed the boat up so that if I did come up I would not be under the boat.  When I came up I held my hand up with the keys in it and yelled, "I still have the keys."  I was also laughing terribly,  I could not believe that I had fallen off the boat.  Hubby could not believe I was laughing either and he was relieved he had not killed me.  He really thought I would be mad at him but, I could not stop laughing.  He had told me all morning that the lake water was warmer than the air temperature and he was right, the water was very warm.  I slogged out of the water and up the ramp past a couple of guys unloading a jetski laughing at me.  I went in the store to get a friend of ours to back the truck down so I would not ruin our seats.   What a day that was.   My hubby was very apologetic about the whole thing and I still laugh about it because it could have only happened to me.  He still cannot believe I came up out of the water laughing but, there was nothing else to do but laugh.  

Now on to my infamous chili. . .

1-2 lbs ground beef (depending on how many you want to feed)

2 cans diced tomatoes 

2 cans tomato sauce

2 cans kidney beans drained

2 cans black beans drained

1 can corn or you can use frozen corn (optional)

2 cloves garlic pressed

2 tbsp onion pwdr

2 tbsp cumin

1 tbsp cilantro

2 tsp thyme

2 tbsp cayenne
1 tsp dry ground mustard 

dash or two of Worestershire

dash or two of white wine (I use Moscato)

1 tbsp chili powder

2 tsp dry cocoa pwdr

dash of white vinegar

V8 juice low sodium

Brown your ground beef with a dash or two of Worestershire and White wine then add pressed garlic cook a little longer in the skillet then transfer to your crock pot.  Add all your other ingredients leaving the V8 for last.  I add the V8 last just to make sure there is enough liquid so your chili will not burn.   This is my very own recipe it is not from anyone else.  Feel free to add more or leave out anything you may not like.  Don't turn your nose up too fast to the cocoa powder though, it may seem an odd addition but it does add a wonderful flavor to this chili.  I usually cook this 6-8 hours in the crock pot and serve with sour cream and tortilla chips or saltines.   

I used to fix this for my hubby and his friends on football Saturday before we were married and early in our marriage.   Enjoy!!