Into The Wild - revisited

Last night I watched the movie Into The Wild again and remembered that I wrote about it here.  I still love this movie - everything about it, the characters found while filming on location, the music, the scenery.  It rates right up there as one of my all time favorite movies.

More about the real Chris McCandless here.

I don't pretend to understand what motivated this kid, in fact I think he might have been a little crazy.  I like heat, food, soft pillows and clean sheets way too much to live the way he did.  But still...the adventurer in him, along with his love of great literature is irresistible.

Three Bean and Beef Chili

Today we are making chili from this recipe.  Had some discussion and confusion about the chipotle chili in adobo sauce - what the heck is that?  We found it in the ethnic section of the grocery store and have enough adobo sauce to make a few more pots.  Chili is simmering and smelling fantastic.  I've actually had this chili before (a lady from work made it), so I know it's good.  Good for ya too!

Food Network:  Three Bean and Beef Chili 
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, diced (1 cup)
1 red bell pepper, diced (1 cup)
2 carrots, diced (1/2 cup)
2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 pound extra-lean ground beef (90 percent)
1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
2 cups water
1 chipotle chili in adobo sauce, seeded and minced
2 teaspoons adobo sauce from the can of chipotles
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 (15.5-oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15.5-oz) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15.5-ox) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed

Heat the oil in large pot or Dutch oven over moderate heat.  Add the onion, bell pepper and carrots, cover and cook, stirring occasionally until the vegetables are soft, about 10 minutes.  Add the cumin and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.  Add the ground beef; raise the heat to high and cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until the meat is no longer pink.  Stir in tomatoes, water, chipotle and adobo sauce, oregano and salt and pepper.  Cook, partially covered, stirring from time to time for 30 minutes.  Stir in the beans and continue cooking, partially covered, 20 minutes longer.  Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.

Recipe Summary:  10 cups (serves 8, serving size 1 1/4 cup)


Nutrition Information
Nutritional Analysis per serving
Total fat: 0 grams
Protein: 22 grams
Fiber: 10 grams
Calories: 295
Saturated fat: 2.5 grams
Carbohydrates: 35 grams

this old house

I'm painting my bedroom today.  It was a soft lavender and I'm half way to crisp linen.  There was a chair rail that went around the room closer to the ceiling then the floor (strange) and I ripped that out today too.  I'm not sure every trace of the chair rail will be removed, but I'm spackle'd and sanded so there's not much else I can do.

A fellow blogger had a link to a cool website with vinyl wall decals that I love!  Check it out.  I have a few different places around the house (besides the bedroom) that I'm thinking of putting one of these.

OnBoard RedWing

High speed rail to Red Wing? I hope so...