It’s one of those things that I just never thought I’d do. It was a hobby reserved for brave people. Adventurous types who might even see a foot cast as a badge of honor. I’ve never broken a bone in my life, and I’d like to keep it that way!

I never thought I’d EVER go skiing.

Even last night as I tried to go to sleep I wasn’t sure I’d actually go. I mean, we could buy a Wii for about the same price as two lift tickets and equipment rentals. And they have a ski game, right?

But skiing is really a metaphor for all challenges. It’s more about trying something I never thought I’d do (never thought I could do). It’s about listening to the voice that says “I can!” instead of the one shouting reasons why I can’t. So early this morning we headed toward Mount Southington and I attempted to conquer the mountain. As I made my way from the bunny hill to the more advanced slope, I thought about how the experiences on the slope were analogies for every day life:
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If you panic in fear that you’re going to fall, you’ll almost certainly cause it to happen.

Falling is a part of learning. If you can embrace that, it will only make you better. When it happens, just brush yourself off and start again.

Life can be a slippery slope, but these things will help you stay balanced: patience, confidence, and determination.

You can’t stay on the bunny hill forever. Even if you fall four times on the advanced hill, at least you gave it a shot!

There will always be crazy people coming at you. Just stand aside and let that mess keep going on its way instead of getting tangled up in it. (so, so true)

Believing in yourself is the most important thing, but it always helps to have someone to encourage and support you along the way. (thankfully, I have Matt)
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So what are some things that you’ve wanted to try but haven’t yet? New Year’s is just around the corner, so maybe 2011 is the time to make it happen!

The one who encourages me through it all

About to head down the part of the slope where I had my first fall of the day just 4 hours earlier! This time... I made it! ; )

Matt and his Dad coming down the biggest slope

We hope that this day is filled with happiness and time with your loved ones! We are spending time with family in Connecticut and have plans to go to NYC later this week! Sadly it’s not a white Christmas, but we are expecting 6 inches of snow tomorrow and more on Monday!

From our family to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas!

With temps dipping down into the 20s, it’s starting to actually feel like the holidays here in Florida! That means lots of comfort food and hot drinks like tea and coffee (I’ve had more peppermint mochas and Christmas Blend than I can count). I’ve also been making tons of chili the past couple months! This is the first I have ever made it, and it’s so easy that I make it all the time!

I also worry every time that it’s not going to come out right because I don’t have a recipe. I don’t really cook by recipes. I may refer to them for a general idea but then I start to make it with the ingredients that I want. However, I want this one on the record so that I don’t forget how to make it after 8 months of way-too-hot-for-chili weather!

Ingredients (varies, but this is what went in yesterday)
1 tsp olive oil
1 onion (small)
1 can spiced chili beans
1 can black beans
1 can corn (no salt added, but you can use regular too)
1 8oz. can tomato paste
2 packages of fake ground beef (like Morningstar or Boca)
Beef broth or stock (I used most of a 32oz tetra pack) – if you are really a vegetarian then I’m sure veggie stock will be good, too
Spices (chili powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, cumin, curry, and Adobo)
Optional – BBQ Fritos, sour cream, and shredded sharp cheddar

Start out by getting a big pot and put a little olive oil in the bottom. Heat on medium while you chop the onion. Add the onion and let it cook for a few minutes. Add the fake beef and a little beef broth and stir it up. Let this cook for a few minutes while you wash the tops of the cans and open them. The corn is the only one you should drain. Stir the “meat” again and add the corn. Let it cook 1-2 minutes, and then add the rest of the cans (cooking each one 1-2 minutes and adding broth as needed). I added the tomato paste last so that I could see how thick everything was and how much broth needed to be added to make it the right consistency.

For the spices, I put in a ton of chili powder, stir it, and then double the amount. Can you really use too much chili powder and chili? I put approx. 2 tbsp of onion powder and probably 4 tbsp each of cumin, curry, and Adobo. The cayenne pepper I’m not so liberal with because Matt doesn’t like things too spicy. But chili has to have some kick, so I add a little! I would also prefer to add some stewed or diced tomatoes, but we didn’t have any in the pantry yesterday.

By now it should be bubbling, so reduce the heat to low and let it cook for as long as you want. An hour is plenty of time, but because of the broth it’s going to taste like it cooked all day and the cumin will give it a smoky flavor (thank you Rachel Ray for those tips!).

This recipe is awesome as it is, but we like to make it over the top good (and BAD!). We put Fritos on the bottom of the bowl (BBQ flavor, preferably) and top it with the chili! Sometimes I will add sour cream or we’ll both put shredded cheese on top if we have it. Last night it was just chips. Tonight I think we’ll put the chili over some brown rice!

So I want to know… what is your secret weapon for killer chili?