Larry's Southwest Chili

House Rules for the Dog

 1.  The Dog is NOT allowed in the house.  

2.  OK, the dog is allowed in the house, 

but ONLY in certain rooms.

3.  The Dog is allowed in all rooms, 

but HAS to stay OFF the furniture.  

4.  The Dog can get on the OLD furniture ONLY.  

5.  FINE, the dog is allowed on ALL furniture, 

but is not allowed to sleep with humans on the bed.  

6.  OK, the dog is allowed on the bed, but by invitation only.  

7.  The Dog can sleep on the bed whenever he wants, 

but NOT under the covers. 

8.  The Dog can sleep under the covers, but by invitation ONLY.  

9.  The Dog can sleep under the covers EVERY night.  

10.  Humans MUST ask permission to sleep 

under the covers with the dog. 

This is the dog referred to in the "rules" above.  :)

Apollo is 5 months old now.  

He is NOT allowed on the couch, as you can see....

He can also use all those remotes much better than I can...

just saying....

Look at those HUGE feet...sigh....

I asked Kaia the other day if she thought Apollo was 

going to get as big as Clifford, the Big Red Dog.

"Yes, Grandma!  And then he will turn RED!!"  

Hmm..hope she won't be disappointed. 

Larry's Southwest Chili

My brother Larry makes the best chili.  

I made chili for years, but this recipe is now 

my absolute favorite.  

It has a few twists and turns that original chili does not--

black beans, mushrooms and my brother loves to add 

whole olives---yum!!!  

When I take it to work for a pot-luck, my coworkers love to add shredded cheese and sour cream 

and scoop it with Tostitos.  

( I even witnessed a vegetarian eat 2 bowls of it one night...yes, it's so good, it's life-changing!!)

Hope you enjoy every last delicious bite!! 

2 pounds of ground beef
1 can black beans
1 can fire roasted tomatoes
1 onion
4-6 cloves garlic
1 can mushrooms
1 TBSP Nature's Seasoning


And a packet of chili seasoning--we like the French's Chili-O

Next chop the onion...

I used my colorful new knife I  bought at Sam's Club...

I love it!! 

Ok, here's the whole set...I love THEM  :)

Chop the garlic or use a handy garlic press....

You're going to saute' those lovely onions and garlic in this ingredient my brother swears by...BACON GREASE...yes, every good Southern kitchen has a jar of it...just in case...

Smells sooo good!

Add the hamburger meat....

And the Tablespoon of Nature's Seasoning...

Cook until the meat is all done.  

Look at my pretty purple fire under the skillet...

weird huh?  

Meanwhile, drain and rinse the black beans and drain the hamburger onion mixture. 

Put the meat back into the pan and add the packet of 

chili seasoning, the black beans, the can of mushrooms 

(not drained) and the fire-roasted tomatoes. 

Wowzers...it's getting exciting!! 

Look at it all combined....

a yummy southwest chili dream...

The finished product with cheese, a dollop of sour cream and the olives...you'll have all the cowboys coming out of the woodwork....what an awful problem to have  :) 

Happy Trails to you and yours this weekend!