Hi blog buds! How’s your Tuesday treating ya? I hope I’m not throwing off your reading schedule by posting in the afternoon the last couple of days. I thought I’d play with my schedule a bit to see which I like better. What I’m coming up with is post when it fits, instead on a SCHEDULE! 
Hopefully it doesn’t matter if it’s morning or afternoon!
Well Monday turned out to be a fun exercise day. First I did 25 minutes of intervals on the treadmill in the morning. I really do get bored on the treadmill and have to vary my speed and/or incline constantly just to stay interested. After a quick warm-up I did 1 minute intervals of 6.0, 6.5, 7.0, 7.5 mph running then walk one minute, then increase the incline a notch and do it again. The time goes by so much faster that way.
Then when I pulled in the driveway after work, our street had been plowed again! Which is good on one hand because at least they were moving all of the big ice chunks onto the sunny side of the street. Unfortunately that also meant our ‘ice trench’ was covered up AGAIN!!! So I put on my grubbies and some waterproof boots and went out there to dig yet another trench. It was 50 degrees yesterday so things were just starting to melt a bit in the shaded part of our street.
This ice issue in front of our house has become the neighborhood comedy – neighbors sure like to chuckle at me every day as they drive by, thinking “Suckers! You got stuck with the worst lot on the street!” I appreciate that it at least provides a neverending workout, that’s for sure.
But THEN the exercise gets better … because it was so nice out, I couldn’t resist getting the dogs out for a some WOGGING! It’s been so long I think they forgot what WOGGING is (and you readers may have as well!) I can’t keep a steady pace with my crazy pups because they like to stop every two seconds to sniff something, then run, then sniff. So we’re walking AND jogging: WOGGING. They had a blast and actually didn’t drive me insane this time. I think it had something to do with the treats I stashed in my pocket. 
It was perfect weather for a walk. Now THIS is the Colorado winter weather I love and miss!
***
Every weekend, usually on Sunday, I sit down to come up with food ideas for the week for his dinners (mine are much easier because I always have veggies on hand and as such always have a salad, wrap, sandwich, soup, etc.) This time MSP said he wanted me to make my mom’s chili during the week, but make it VEGETARIAN. I’m sorry, say that again? Did you just tell me to make VEGETARIAN chili? By George, he did! He said he’d be fine if I used a meat substitute for the beef so that we could both eat it. (When I made it last time, I just made two pots side by side, mine without beef, his with.) He’s the best, huh? No wonder I love him to pieces.
So I picked up some Gimme Lean “Ground Beef Style Veggie Protein” and used that in place of the beef. My mom’s chili is awesome. We love it. And it’s very easy and we had it last night for dinner.
I always seem to change the recipe around in some way. Here’s what I did this time:
Brown 1 package Gimme Lean “ground beef” veggie product in the bottom of a large soup pot. If you like onions, you can brown it with that. I just added a little onion powder, since MSP doesn’t like onions.
After browning, add the following to the pot:
- 46 oz can of tomato juice
- 15 oz can organic azuki beans (rinsed & drained)
- 15 oz can organic kidney beans (rinsed & drained)
- 1/4 tsp celery salt
- 1/2 to 1 tsp garlic salt
- 2 Tbsp chili powder
Simmer for a few hours.
I plated my helping over some spiralized zucchini (just for Cindy, since she wants a spiralizer) and then topped it with some nutritional yeast (in place of cheese). Mmmm my mom’s home cooking, with a twist!
What are your favorite beans to use in chili? Are you a WHITE BEAN chili lover or a RED BEAN chili lover? I like ALL chili colors! I don’t think I could pick a favorite. I just love BEANS, period!
– Shari B. =)
#1 by Fallon on January 12, 2010 - 7:15 pm
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My mom makes a chili and she uses pinto and black beans! She has a thing about not like the red kidney beans because of how they look. LOL. I like all beans pretty much.
As for your posting schedule I think it should be convenient for you! Sometimes it hard to bet so set on a schedule because it may cause stress if you have other things to get done. Stick to what works best for you!
.-= Fallon´s last blog ..I <3 Gelato =-.
#2 by Joan on January 12, 2010 - 6:40 pm
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I say post when you can, any time of day is great when a smile is needed, and reading your posts make me smile!
I love black or white beans for chili (and anything else) and use which ever I have on hand but the black hold up well and don’t absorb all the color like the white does. I’m not particularly fond of kidney beans, too ‘dry’ I think.
.-= Joan´s last blog ..January Cheer! =-.
#3 by Shari B. on January 12, 2010 - 8:21 pm
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Aw, thanks Joan! I love knowing that my posts put a smile on your face. Maybe my early morning posts are funnier because it’s like 4 in the morning and my coffee is just kicking in!
#4 by Cindy on January 12, 2010 - 4:23 pm
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well forget the ICE but that chili sounds and looks PERFECT. Making that soon!
and THANKS for the noodle spiralizer love. yay…jealous.
hehe
but that with the NY is PERFECT.
I think my Mom had those same recipe cards once upon a time! it took me back!
Happy Tuesday and post whenever you’re feelin’ it. it should be FUN and not a job!
xo
.-= Cindy´s last blog ..Honk if you’re CRAZY =-.
#5 by Shari B. on January 12, 2010 - 5:22 pm
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Hi Cindy,
I put a comment on your site about this too, but just wanted to go on record as saying I’m not taking any hiatus or anything like that!
It really has been going around huh? I wonder why. I wonder if there’s like an amount of time in months or years that we hit and got, “Gosh this is a lot of work!”
Aren’t those recipe cards fun? My mom made me a recipe box before my first wedding and I STILL use it to this day, 19 years later!