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Chili is the perfect weekend food. I have spent the past two Sundays leisurely working on big batches of chili and toppings, enjoying my new kitchen, having little dance parties, and making the most of the cold weather.

I love chili because you can add anything and everything and come up with a different recipe each time. I’m sure I have shared that sentiment a million times before, but in a busy world, it is definitely a welcome little trick.

This chili isn’t too complicated, and like most of its kind is fine with substitutions.

Ingredients

2 cans fire roasted tomatoes (depends on how liquid-y you want your chili)

1 can black beans

1 can Cuban style or BBQ beans

1 pound grass fed ground beef

2 cups sweet corn

3 tablespoons chipotle in adobo, finely pureed

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1 large white onion, diced

splash of chocolate stout

spices to taste: garlic powder, crushed red pepper, chili powder, hot paprika

fire roasted tomatoes

chili ingredients

unsweetened cacao

corn

diced onionI started the chili by cooking down the chopped onion in some olive oil, then adding in the ground beef until browned. As it browned, I added the cocoa powder and shakes of garlic powder, crushed red pepper, and hot paprika. Once the beef was browned, I added the tomatoes, beans, and corn, then stirred in the chipotle. Finally, I added the beer and brought it all up to a simmer, going about my day as the wonderful smells filled the air. I let the chili cook for a couple of hours, then shut the heat off. When we were ready to eat I brought it up to a boil again and made sure it was cooked and hot through.

taza chocolate stoutWe topped the chili with sliced avocado, pickled jalapeno, shredded cheese, sour cream, and cilantro, with a side of chocolate stout. It was the perfect Sunday supper and made for days of lunch leftovers for my husband. There’s a good chance I will be kicking off another week with this chili. It’s just that good!

cocoa chipotle chili

What are you having for Sunday supper this week?

Tags: beer, chili, comfort food, cooking, cooking at home, Food, meals, recipe, Sunday dinner

A private wine tasting and dinner out, followed by cocktails, recently made for a good friend’s 40th birthday extravaganza, and it was fabulous.

I have been walking by Cambridge Spirits for a long while on my way from work to Kendall Square, eagerly watching as it got ready for opening. There’s not a wine store in the area, so when their doors opened, the craft beer, spirits, and wine store was a definite welcome addition to the booming Kendall Square food and wine scene. When I learned that our friend had secured the space for a pre-dinner wine tasting on her birthday, I was super excited to check it out while getting a little wine education.

image

Our friends did an awesome job of choosing wine and cheese pairings for the evening:

RED

Doudet Naudin Pinot Noir 2010 (paired with Brie Fermier Jauvence)
Decoy Merlot 2011 (paired with Prairie Breeze Cheddar)
Clos Saron Out of the Blue 2012 (paired with Prairie Breeze Cheddar)

WHITE

Sonoma-Loeb Chardonnay 2010 (paired with Brie Fermier Jauvence)
Yalumba Eden Valley Viognier 2011 (paired with Gruyere Vieux)
Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs Brut (paired with Brie Fermier Jauvence)

wine tasting

We sipped and swirled for over an hour, and most were wine I had not tried in the past, or old favorites I had forgotten about, like this crazy flavorful, spicy Decoy Merlot from Sonoma County. Merlot naysayers need to give this a try; it’s all dark berry and black pepper, layers of flavor, lots of fun.

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We were all absolutely crazy about the Sonoma-Loeb Chardonnay as well; we were a group of buttery Chard fans, and we loved the butterscotch notes in this one. The Yalumba Viognier? It’s a great alternative to Chardonnay, not oaky or buttery, but rather acidic with peach and apricot notes and a luscious mouthfeel, characteristic of Viognier, but offering enough acidity that it’s not flabby.

And you know that I loved the Schramsberg Blanc de blancs. I heart Schramsberg.

 

Clos Saron Cinsault

One of the wines that truly stole the show, however, was this Clos Saron Cinsault, Syrah, and Tempranillo blend. It was chock full of bright wild blueberry flavor. I felt like I was picking wild blueberries and eating them right off the bush. This wine is absolutely a stunner, and left all of us talking after the tasting.

The staff at Cambridge Spirits also left us chatting. They were so much fun and so knowledgeable about everything in the store, able to offer suggestions based on things we liked. We had a blast tasting with them, and I think we all loved how accommodating they were to our group.

Clos Saron Cinsault

The Deadhead in me was excited to finally snag this American Beauty beer, which is fittingly made with granola. It was full bodied and had nutty, buttery notes. Also, woah was it strong! This is definitely a beer for sharing, while listening to your favorite Dead show. . . and I happened to find plenty of tapes while getting ready to move. I’ve liked plenty of music as the years have come and gone, but the Grateful Dead have been one band that has always had my heart.

American Beauty Beer

 

Do you have a favorite band or musician who has stood the test of time?

Tags: beer, cambridge, events, wine, wine tasting

mom's apple pie

My mom’s homemade apple pie – this is a lifetime favorite, but I got to chow down on it on a recent hug-filled trip home. My family and I got together for a big turkey dinner, with pie and vanilla bean ice cream for dessert. My mom’s pie crust and apple filling is just the best I have ever had. I don’t even really like pie anywhere else.

Dot Ale

Dot Ale 1630 from Dorchester’s Percival Beer Company – You know I have been singing Dorchester’s praises for years, and we’re excited for a brewery to be added to the list of great businesses. This refreshing amber beer has become a staple in our house because it is delicious; the fact that it is local makes it even better!

Flowers Sonoma Coast Chardonnay

Flowers Sonoma Coast Chardonnay – The Sonoma Coast is heaven, and Flowers Vineyard  is one of the big reasons to visit. Their Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are loved and known worldwide for being very special wines. They are definitely not in the budget as an everyday wine, but these wines, especially the Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, are definitely special indulgences, especially when enjoyed on a warm dock on a sunny day.

fascinator

My Ti Tighe fascinator – It’s popular in Ireland to wear hats or fascinators to weddings and other special occasions, and when I found out a former classmate of my husbands designs them, I instantly wanted one. Luckily, I had a very special wedding to attend that gave me the opportunity to order one. This is definitely an intricate, beautiful piece of art, and I had so much fun wearing it. I can’t wait for another special occasion!

dinner at Clio

Clio Boston – Leading up to that very special wedding, we savored a very special dinner at Clio. It is the ultimate celebration restaurant with impeccable service, an outstanding cocktail program, and delectable, elegant cuisine.

 

Atwoods Tavern Patio

The patio and food at Atwoods Tavern – Now that I am working in East Cambridge, I have another neighborhood to explore. Atwoods, we discovered on an early October day, has the most beautiful patio, enclosed in wood, surrounded by little lights and plants, and feels a million miles away from the busy streets outside. The menu offers both healthy and indulgent choices, a great beer list, and friendly, warm service. We’ve decided we want to become regulars at Atwoods.

What are your recent favorites?

Tags: beer, Food, Restaurants, wine

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