Monday, September 12, 2011

Chili Weather!

So I sort of hate this time of year, but I also sort of love it. I hate that summer is coming to an end. I hate knowing that in a few months, I'll be wearing a damn coat everyday and shivering at my desk. I hate that the Memphis Farmers Market only has a few more weeks before closing for the season. I hate hibernation (which I totally do ... I don't go out nearly as much in the winter).

But fall means my October birthday is almost here, and I love presents. And cake. I love pumpkins. And Halloween is the very best holiday of all, followed closely by Thanksgiving. Fall also means Gay Pride Month in Memphis (we have ours in October because it's too hot during actual pride month in June), hoodies, and most importantly, CHILI!!!

I love chili. You can eat it with cornbread or tortilla chips. You can put beer and/or chocolate in it. You can slather it on your hot dogs, your fries, your mom, whatever. What's not to love? Since the temps temporarily dropped into the 70s last weekend, I cooked up a big ole vat (okay, it was really just a medium-sized pot, but I wish it'd been a vat) of Texas Chili from the Sunny Days in Texas vegan cook zine:

I bought the zine at Panda Cookie's booth at Vida Vegan Con, and the proceeds benefit the Sunny Day Farm Animal Sanctuary in La Coste, Texas. The 36-page zine is a collection of downhome recipes from my favorite Texas bloggers: Krys of Two Vegan Boys, Kristen of Sugar Skull, Mo Martin from Mo Betta Vegan, and Food for Lovers Queso makers Chris and Chrystal Tate to name a few.

The chili recipe was submitted by Molly Frisinger of Lone Star Plate, and it features bulgur in place of the more traditional TVP or veggie burger crumbles. The bulgur has a similar texture to TVP, but it's more filling since it's a whole grain.

On top of my chili are onions and a healthy scoop of Nacheez sauce, which I picked up at Food Fight Grocery in Portland. It's a nacho sauce made from red bell peppers, cashews, chilis, and jalepenos. Yummy! I served my chili with plenty of Garden of Eatin' Red Hot Blues chips for dippin'.

If fall weather means I can eat like this, well, bring it on.

What do you love/hate about fall?

18 comments:

Alexandra said...

That looks amazing! I hate nothing about Fall...and Halloween is my FAVVVOOORITE!

Cadry said...

It has been a long time since I've had a chili dog, but lately that's sounded just about perfect. Chili is one of those foods, like pizza and french fries, that is almost always good. Of course, some versions are better than others, but it's something I'm almost guaranteed to like (assuming it's vegan, of course).

Mihl said...

I am looking forward to fall because of chilis and stews! Fall is my favourite season, except for the rain.

JL goes Vegan said...

I love fall! Sweater and boot weather! (vegan, natch). Leaves are turning! And I love, love, love slow cooking chili and stew, smelling it all day and enjoying a hot bowl after being out in the crisp weather. Sigh.

That chili looks great -- I should have picked up that 'zine, filled with recipes from some of my favorite people. Drats.

The Health Sensei said...

that nacheez sauce is super yum, its seriously as good as nacho mom's queso or maybe even better.

i love fall...i'm ready for sweet potatoes, parsnips, cauliflower, broccoli, more root veggies, and comfort foods like waffles, oatmeal, quinoa flakes, etc...

Anonymous said...

Chili sounds good right now, even at 7am. Best part of Fall for me is the pumpkin flavored cakes and cookies. Oh, and of course the Pumpkin brewski.

Anonymous said...

I totally jumped on making chili last week when the temperature dropped down to 58. I love warm weather food in general....winter squashes, Thanksgiving food, fun cocktails...

Sheridan said...

CHILI!!! That bowl looks amazing. I am ready for some! Too bad it's 90 degrees again here today. Bah! As soon as the temps drop again, Drew can make his crazy awesome chocolate apple chili! You need to try it!

Chef Amber Shea said...

Hey, I have a request - can you recreate the Chili-Frito Pie from The Bye and Bye and share the recipe? Kthx. ;)

Allysia said...

I hear you on the love-hate with fall, and my birthday is in October too! But it's sad, because for a good 5 months in Saskatchewan the temperature lives between 2 - 30 in Farenheit. Winter is very, very long and grim. But fall is pretty!

mollyjade said...

I've made five gallons of the chili before, if you *really* want a giant vat of chili.

Get Skinny, Go Vegan. said...

SO happy for cool weather!!

VeganLinda said...

What I dislike about fall is the lack of light for food pictures! I am camera challenged or just too busy to take time to learn how to turn off my flash and everything comes up looking awful!

I love cooler weather since we don't have A/C and I love all the public schooled kids at school all day so I can take my homeschooled kids out and about to the library and the like without the huge crowds. I love soup too!

Kristen said...

mmm!! Molly's chili was a prize winner at last years Veggie Chili cookoff here in TX!

Thanks for picking up our zine! You're awesome.

Christina said...

That chili looks amazing. Suddenly, everybody is posting chili recipes. Heck, I even made a pot for last night's dinner (I blame the Shannons)and tonight: chili dogs. Fall is definitely in the air!

morganbb said...

So funny, I did the exact same thing this weekend! I took advantage of the temporary temperature drop & made vegan chili! Mine's more like taco soup and highly processed but it's one of the few "chili" type soups that my husband and I can agree on since he's not vegan. I too LOVE FAll, and Halloween is my favorite holiday too :) I think my favorite thing about Fall is my wardrobe. I love wearing boots and dresses!

Anonymous said...

Fall is absolutely my favorite time of year! Chilis, soups, anything with butternut squash, and my fav holiday Halloween!!

Tender B. said...

I thought I was the only one that smeared chili on my mom. My favorite thing about the fall is baseball playoffs and pumpkin desserts.