Crock Pot Texas Chili

I made chili in the crock pot a few years ago. I enjoyed it. I will try a different recipe this year for work pot luck.

Modified from this recipe:
http://www.101cookingfortwo.com/spicy-3-chilies-texas-chili-la-crock/

I will be doing 3-4 pounds of beef instead of the 2 from the recipe and also searing some of the meat on one side before putting it in the crock pot.

  • 4 lbs beef roast trimmed and cut into 1 inch cubes or use stew meat
  • 3 jalapeno diced small
  • 3 Anaheim diced medium
  • 3 poblano pepper chopped medium
  • 2 onion large chopped
  • 8 cloves garlic powder crushed or minced
  • 56 fluid ounces diced tomatoes
  • 28 fluid ounces beef broth
  • 3 tablespoons chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons pepper
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 teaspoons oregano
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  1. Clean and dice 2 jalapeno (finely), 2 Anaheim peppers and 2 Poblano peppers. Also chop a large onion
  2. You need 4 pound of beef. I was lazy this time and used pre-cut stew meat. If you do this be sure to go through it and time more of needed. Or cut your own in 1 inch cubes from a beef roast.
  3. Combine the chopped onion and peppers with 8 cloves of crush garlic, 2 – 14 oz cans diced tomatoes, a 14 oz can beef broth, 2 T chili powder, 1 t pepper, 1 t salt, 1 t oregano and 1/2 t cumin.
  4. Cook on low in a slow cooker or crock pot for 8 hours.

Update 2016.11.15: It didn’t turn out. Far too much fluid. I took out over a quart and there was still too much. Wrong consistency. Oh well.

Update 2016.11.16: While it wasn’t the chili recipe I wanted, it was much better the next day. And it succeeds far more as a soup or stew or even a beef gumbo. Reminds be of the Campbell’s Chunky Gumbo, which isn’t the real thing but I quite like it.

Fancy sunglasses 2016

Two years ago, I got 2 pairs of fancy sunglasses.

mauijimlongbeach

Maui Jim Long Beach

oliverpeoplesclifton

Oliver Peoples Clifton

This year I also have to get some sunglasses. I want to prioritize these features.

  1. Titanium
  2. Glass lenses
  3. Non-polarized lenses
  4. Spring hinges

These are a few candidates.

  • Dita Decade-Two, Flight.004, Flight.005,
  • SALT Francisco, Tompkins
  • Lindberg
  • Silhouette
  • Barton Perreira

Update 2016.12.19 – For 2016 I bought these.

Barton Perreira Troubadour in Java

They are titanium with polymer polarized lenses and no springy hinges.

Childproof Laptop

I have a sudden need to limit a laptop to content appropriate for children. Windows 10.

Here are a few of the techniques I want to try.

  1. OpenDNS – on laptop, all users. Not on firewall. Currently circumventable by using IP address or resetting DNS settings.
  2. Windows 10 parent controls
  3. Chrome/Google (family account)/Youtube locking (safety mode on)
  4. Screen visibility – laptop to only be used in a seat with high screen visibility by nearby adults

 

Cinnamon Craisin Bread

SD-YD250

1.5lb | 2lb | 2.5lb

2-Pound Loaf

  • 1 cup raisins (2 cups crasins, one cup in with initial ingredients, 1 cup near end of kneed cycle)
  • 4 cups bread flour
  • 3 tablespoons nonfat dry milk
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 teaspoons Spice Islands® Ground Saigon Cinnamon
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons Fleischmann’s® Bread Machine Yeast
  • 2 tablespoons butter OR margarine
  • 1-1/3 cups water (70° to 80° F) [1 cup + 78ml]

Bake Raisin, light crust, Large size (middle)

2016.08.23 – Very successful. I used craisins instead of raisins. Turned out great.

2017.01.22 – After making it many times, I’ve found that I think it is moister than I prefer and it isn’t sweet enough.

Sous Vide Ribeye Cap

This might be the best part of a cow: Ribeye cap. I have 2 USDA Prime strips from Costco. The most expensive uncooked meat I’ve purchased.

I will target 130F for 1.5 to 2 hours. No salt in the bag but pepper will go in. Season with salt before searing on the grill.

P1100468

Costco USDA Prime Ribeye Cap

P1100469

Bagged up with just pepper.

P1100542

Out of the water bath. Dried. Lightly seasoned.

P1100545

I had a terrible and cold grill.

P1100546

So much fat content.

The results were disappointing only because I had a cold grill to work with. It was a gas grill and it did not get hot. It was barely warm. I couldn’t get remotely close to a proper sear. I wound up doing almost 3 hours at 130F because of timing issues with the grill not being ready and not knowing when people were expected over. The beefiness was fantastic. It was very tender. It was very rich. While I do not expect to buy much if any wagyu, I do think this is worth revisiting… especially properly seared.

2016.8.20

For my son’s first birthday, I did ribeye cap again in a bath of 131F for about 2.5 hours. I made sure I had a hot grill this time. And the results were fantastic. The cut is just amazing. But I’m actually not very interested in it. It is too easy to throw a lot of money at a great cut. I want to make a cheap cut amazing.