A Winter's Wood

A Winter’s Wood

is next to the cabin,
piled high,
some neatly in stacks,
others happenstance and
laying where they fell.

Precious heat emanates from inside the
richly glowing cabin walls, wooden…
reddish-brown and comforting.
The charred stovepipe exhausts smoke,
white hot stove aflame.

Tin soldier trees are
in formation
in the wilderness night.
Winds are blowing, snow falling.

Super Bowl Chili

Super Bowl Chili

makes 2 quarts

2# ground beef
1 medium sweet yellow onion, diced
1 medium green pepper, diced
1 large tomato, diced
2 cloves of fresh garlic, minced
4 T chile powder
2 t ground cumin
1 quart fresh cold water
1 cup crushed tortilla chips
1 bunch scallions, white part only, diced
1 jalapeno, diced
2 T fresh cilantro, minced
juice of 1 lime
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

sour cream
shredded cheddar cheese
Fritos Scoops

Method: In a thick-bottomed soup pot brown ground beef over medium high heat. Drain grease. Add onion, green pepper, tomato, garlic and spices and cook for 5 minutes stirring regularly. Add cold water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer for 30 minutes. Add crushed tortilla chips, scallions, jalapeno, cilantro and lime juice and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring regularly. Season with salt and pepper and serve topped with sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese and fresh jalapeno slices. Eat with Fritos Scoops!