Saturday, and I got a project!!!

Woke up early and got right to work. Load of laundry in the washing machine, coffee brewing and I'm cutting 3 pounds of stewing beef into 3/4 inch cubes. I'm making a big batch of chili today. Just the seasoning of the meat scares me: salt, pepper, garlic powder cumin, cinnamon and two tablespoons of chili powder. Dredged the seasoned meat in 1/2 flour and 1/2 corn meal and browned it in hot Crisco, one layer at a time, pulled that layer out with a slotted spoon and repeated (8 times!)

Then used the same oil to saute 3 red onions, sliced, 6 gloves of garlic and when they were soft, added four diced Jalepeno peppers (I took the seeds out, fearing the heat. Later, I would come to regret this). Added some tomato paste, more cumin, cinnamon, chili powder, three bottles of beer and a 12 ounce can of diced tomatoes with the juice. Put the meat back in and let it simmer for two hours.

So, folded laundry, shaved and showered and got ready to run errands. Before I left, I transferred the chili to the crock pot and added 3 cans of drained black beans and the zest and juice of a lime. Turned it to Low and left the house.

I need to build a workbench for the back room, so first stop was Home Depot. Got a LOT of wood, more cabinet magnetic catches for the kitchen and a fluorescent light fixture. Also found a good deal on a Ryobi 9 inch bandsaw, so picked that up, too. Went to the vacuum cleaner shop and ordered a new filter for my shop vac (should be here within the week). Decided I needed to drop all this off before doing the grocery shopping, so went home and unloaded.

Back to Farmer Jack's for the two-week shopping. Not bad, spent under $90, which was good after paying for the bandsaw! Stopped at the quarter car wash to hose off the salt and snow from the Volvo.

Back home, put away the groceries and its already after 2:00 PM. Between the cold, the occasional snow and all the walking around, both my knees are killing me. So, took a break and ate lunch. Very disappointed in the damn chili! Tasted good, but no heat whatsoever (and I don't need much). Added some hot sauce and it was better, but I shouldn't have had to. Laid down to take a nap and rest my legs.

Woke up at 4:30 PM and went and cut all the wood in the garage, working from a sketch I drew up on Friday. Finished up around 7:00 PM with everything cut and ready just to be screwed together.

Had more chili for dinner, watched some TV and then went to bed.