Our new neighbor Jeff and I have agreed to a chili throwdown.
Bobby Flay, I need you! I limited myself to Lady Bird Johnson’s Pedernales chili she had made for thousands of guests and President Kennedy over 50 years ago.
Apparently http://www.lbjlib.utexas.edu/johnson/archives.hom/faqs/recipes/chili.asp I’m OK here. I’m better at cooking than tech.
Bobby, I’ve never made this before. Don’t tell me to add beans because in Texas there are no beans and my husband was born and grew up in Texas.
I figure I’ve some wiggle room in the chile powder (ancho?) and have a KitchenAid 5 qt stand mixer so can grind my own meat if I know the combination.
I also have a spice grinder and a Penzey’s nearby so can get cumin seeds and grind them.
Our neighbor Jeff gets to do whatever he wants while I do an homage to two dead presidents and their wives. He’ll probably do a souped-up buffalo chili, probably with beans.
Margie, Nanny, we need to import some Texans to judge this feast! We’ll try to go to the community room for a tasting and judging but Jeff is from here and I have my hands tied as a newbie with an old Texas recipe I’ve never tried.
Miriam, Stephanie (s), I need you to weigh in as well. Help! I know Jeff will win because I boxed myself in but did that purposefully.
Now I’m researching a blog on responsible pet guardianship including spay/neuter, checking out no-kill shelters and funding for no-kill shelters. Unfortunately no-kill shelters don’t pick up the phone even if you call the development office (no pickup, no $$$). So I’m going through vets and rescue organizations.
Beats packing for Thanksgiving, finding frozen dog food en route and making chili. Cheers and thanks, everyone! Dee
Cooking with Dee 
We have another entrant with a chicken variety! No way she’s going to be a judge. Let’s see how things transpire, or perspire if I care to bring in a Thai bird chili plant…. I think I may just bow out and let these single folks get along. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say no more.
In order to not cook, just serve, our chilis, in the community room will cost us $325, We may be on for next month but as for providing a holiday “gift” for fellow residents, we may just choose to have it at our place so as not to pay The Man, invite who we like and spend our money on chili ingredients instead of an unwieldy room with uncomfortable seating. Dee