6:25 AM 12/25/97It's "Johnny's Chili at www.chilipaper.com/chili11.htm.  IMNSHO, it is
very hot, without any depth to the spices.  It calls for 7 T chili
powder, 1 T oregano, 1 T cumin powder.  2 pasilla chile peppers, 2
calif. chile peppers, all roasted & chopped.  3 (!!) habanero chile
peppers seeded & minced & 3 serrano chile peppers, diced.  I had never
worked with habaneros before & never intend to again.  Just from
cutting them open & seeding them, under cold running water, I had a
major sneezing, watery eyes reaction.  I only used one habanero.  Was
supposed to finish off the chili with up to 1T of balsamic vinegar
which I forgot (how can one be expected to remember 1 silly T of
something after drinking a buncha mexican beers while preparing?).
Was a fair amount of work with the roasting of the peps etc.  It's in
my fridge (enuf for a small army).  Should be better 2nd time around,
Plus, who knows, maybe the balsamic vinegar is the key to the whole
thing?!  Typically, however, I let such experiments sit in my fridge
until they become real science experiements & I can really justify
throwing them away!!  :)

>It's called Plum Pudding because you have to plum the depths of you mind
>to try and figure out why the heck you are making it....LOL

grrrrrrr........that's "plumb the depths", *I think so,
anyway*......what did Little Jack Horner eat anyway??????

Just received Tropp's first book.  I must be out of my mind!!  It's
another 600 page tome!!!  Haven't even had 5 minutes to look thru, but
does seem to have a fair amount on techniques & on ingredients.  But,
still.......Hard back, perfect shape!  Those guys sure didn't learn to
cook in the splash-it-up school I learned in!!  I'm practically one of
those guys on the GE stove ads, I think it is!

Oh yes, THE best chili (which is 'chile', 'chili', 'chilie'???!!!??)
recipe I've ever made or et is from "Beat This!" by Ann Hodgman.  Will
send when I have a chance.  I'm sure it's not good with Xmas cookies
tho & I'm sure that's what you're busy with now!  Right?  Wrong!

BTW, the plum puddings, also a production, smelled divine & the crumbs
are excellent!  So, eat your heart out!

Later, Judy

PS what are you having for Christmas din??  I can't decide..........

