Best Ever Chili Recipe

Yesterday, I decided some homemade chili would really be good. So, I got the ingredients and made it. It turned out the be the best I had ever made so I typed up the recipe and included it below. Bill really did like it, too.

Debbie’s Best Ever Chili

3 pounds hamburger meat
1 package of Carroll Shelby’s Chili Kit
(I only use the chili powder packet and salt packet from the kit. I don’t use the mesa and cayenne pepper packets.)
1 large can diced tomatoes
1 6 oz. can tomato paste + 1 can water
2 cans Ranch Style Black Beans + 2 cans water
2 tbs. dehydrated chopped onions
1 small can chopped green chilies
Salt to taste
Garlic powder to taste
Garlic salt to taste

Brown hamburger in large skillet. Drain well.

While hamburger is browning, put all other ingredients (except additional salt and garlic powder and garlic salt) in large pot. Add browned hamburger. Mix well. Bring to boil over medium high heat. Reduce heat and simmer, covered 45 to 60 minutes, stirring occasionally.

As chili begins to heat up, taste (occasionally) to see if you need to add more salt, garlic powder and/or garlic salt. Add a little at a time until taste is right. You’ll know when you reach “the perfect” chili flavor.

Notes:
• There is no need to add the mesa. The chili will be thick enough.
• If you prefer spicier chili, add the cayenne pepper packet. It will make it really hot, though, so use caution.

Mother and Child

Christmas night, Kendra, J.D. and the boys came to our home to spend the rest of the Christmas Holiday with us. Kendra and Aydan were sitting on the loveseat and I caught this great picture with my new camera. Notice that Aydan is looking right at the camera...you can tell he's thinking something.

He reminds me so much of Kendra when she was this age.

We had a great weekend. I'll post more pictures later.

Dueling Laptops....?

You've heard of Dueling Banjos? Well, in this case...it's Dueling Laptops. When Bill works on his laptop while watching TV, there is another little "Laptop" competing for the right.

Gabriel feels he has to be on Daddy's lap anytime he's sitting down. And, you have to admit...they do look cute together.

You know you're in Texas when...

Here it is...December 21...the first day of winter and 4 days until Christmas. Yes, it is kind of cold outside...actually it feels VERY cold. The temperature is 32, and the wind is blowing really hard out of the north causing a windchill of 21 degrees. But, you know you're in Texas when...

A few minutes ago I was busy in the kitchen when I heard a lawnmower. Yes...you read correctly...a lawnmower! Can you believe it? The man who lives next door was mowing his back yard! And...to make it even more "cute" he was weariing a striped toboggan on his head, and I'm not sure, but maybe he is wearing a ski mask, too. I told you it is cold out there. Or maybe he's just embarrassed he waited so long to mow his lawn. :)

Whatever the reason, I felt I had to blog about this. I hope you find it as interesting as I did.

Andrew, Grampa and Gabriel...chillin

We were blessed in late September for Travis and Andrew to spend another week with us. During that time, Andrew wanted Grampa to hold him and of course, Gabriel wanted to be held, too. It turned out to be a really sweet picture though. You can tell that Andrew is really enjoying the time. Isn't he a beautiful little boy? And...Gabriel is cute, too. :)

What a cute little "skink"

Saturday afternoon, we were in Kendra's and J.D.'s new back yard and just checking it all out when I saw a lizard. I showed it to Kendra and she proceded to catch him. She informed me that it was a skink. She then showed it to Dylan and he was quite anxious to hold it. I did not ask to hold it. (Shiver...ooh!) While Dylan was holding it, Bill snapped a picture of them. As, with the previous photo, I did a little enhancing and turned it into a cartoon, too. Then added a frame and here it is for you to enjoy. See the concentration on Kendra's face? She is telling Dylan to be gentle. After holding it a few minutes, they turned it loose.

And...not being a bit prejudice...aren't they beautiful, too? (I'm not talking about the skink.)

Special Time With Grampa...

Goodness! It has been a month since I blogged. I don't know where the time went. But, I'm back again and just have to share a very precious photo with you. Bill and I went to Oklahoma this weekend (on Saturday) and spent Saturday night in Stillwater with J.D., Kendra and the boys in their new home. It's really nice. I'm so proud for them.

Anyway, soon after we got there, Gabriel decided he needed a "walk" and Dylan wanted to go along. As they were walking down the street with Dylan holding onto Grandpa's hand, it was more special than I could stand and decided to grab the camera and snap the picture. They were almost out of site before I could get the camera ready, but it still turned out great! I used the Kodak Easy Share program and the Corel Snapfire program to enhance it a little. This is a cartoon feature of Kodak Easy Share. It is awesome. I really think this one will have to be enlarged, printed and framed. It warms my heart to see such a beautiful site. Dylan really loves his "Grampa." By-the-way...Gabriel is already "behind the tree." He really needed this "walk." :)