Caught in the act

 I am in my kayak, a meter or so from landing, when I see this incredible scene:

Now who is a wise old bird?

The real question: why did I need advice?

Well, I forgot how to make chili, and I had "signed up" to bring something for the condo pot-luck supper on New Year's Eve, Silvester, "Dinner for One" I am sure you all know it by now, standard staple for December 31 - but it requires chili prepared the day before, i.e., one has to read the ingredients list and do the shopping beforehand, i.e., again, be prepared. Years of baking comets has prepared me for the multi-tasking approach to cooking - like shopping first, preparing second, watching the pot not boil so I can take some photos, and tasting it as I go along.

Some ingredients from Karen's Texas Jailhouse/serves 4 version:

500 gm beef ( in 2-cm cubes)                                               1 teaspoon sugar don't recall this

167 gm minced pork                                                         1 teaspoon salt

167 gm Chorizo sausage cut in slices                                       1 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 1/3 medium or 1 large onion, chopped                                     2 teaspoons oregano

1 clove garlic, chopped                                                    1 tablespoon chili powder

2 Chili peppers                                                            1 tablespoon chopped parsley

83 gm tomato paste - omitted                                                     1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce                                                         

167 gm canned tomatoes, diced      with herbs                                         1 tablespoon vinegar

1 teaspoon Kreuzkümmel     forgot                                               50 gm bitter chocolate used 3 pc
½ teaspoon ground estragon  forgot                                             1 can dark beer used about 1/3



Brown beef in fat. Remove from pan and set aside

Brown pork and onion in the same pan.

Add Worcestershire sauce, garlic, parsley and mix.

Add beer

Add rest of ingredients, mix and simmer for about 2 hours

Best cooked the day before

Serve with garlic bread

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However, I did not follow this too closely as noted after the deed.I am eating the sausage in the coming days and the 2kg leftovers, currently frozen will be "wrapped" up for a super bowl or SBLIV or similar in the coming days/weeks/years as the hunger dictates. So some evidence of action:

The chocolate is missing.
Some evidence of meat:

and onions - no tears - I wonder why?
And the proverbial watched pot:

slowly getting there

The other contributors left the lids on their creations -

I wonder why? I served mine on wraps coated with peanut butter. I added sour cream and grated old cheddar cheese and served with a pilsner Urquelle.
 Some people used the white bowls - but spread the peanut butter on white bread! It was one of the more enjoyable party gatherings. I hope it will be repeated and that I will be able to attend.

Wise Old Phoenix rising from the hot stuff