Thursday, December 4, 2008

I can't believe it made CHILI

Today we hosted a Workforce Development meeting for approximately 40 people. We were looking at what it is going to take to have a 'prepared' workforce in the next 3-10 years. Needless to say, education was the key topic. But how to motivate students, how to educate parents to the positive side of 2 year technical degrees, and how to implement career education into K-12 continued to surface as the main concerns.

Since this was a 12:00 noon meeting, we had to have food ready. (Feed them and they will come!) I had been given a recipe for CHILI that we decided to try but I didn't think it would be CHILI. The way that I've always made it is pretty much the way my Dad made it for years ---- with Lots of Garlic and Lots of Chili Powder.

This recipe did not have ANY garlic OR chili powder. But when it was made it was very probably the very best Chili I have ever had!

Recipe:
Ground Chuck
Kidney Beans
Onions
Green Pepper
Canned Whole Tomatoes
Canned Stewed Tomatoes
Paprika
Red Pepper
Whole Cloves
Salt

And that is it! I'm sure the way it is put together contributed to the taste and texture. If you are interested in more detailed instructions let me know and I'll send it your way.

9 comments:

Jim said...

Sounds easy but I'm not so sure about cloves in chili.

Ann said...

It was easy... And the cloves gave it a unique taste... Really good. In fact much better than my regular chili!

Sue said...

I just wrote this longish inquisitive comment and lost it!

Ann, can I have the chili recipe? Jim has my email or to keep from bugging him you can PM me at Breezin48 on YouTube.
I love cloves in tomato dishes, but have never put them in chili.

Who were the 40 people who came to your meeting? Public School teacher? Private Business people???

Jim said...

Sue I emailed your email to Ann.

There is a place near me that has won several awards for their chili. It's very unusual and I don't care for it at all. If you could describe what the taste of the fragrance sandalwood would taste like, that's what their chili tastes like. I don't think it's clove but it's some sort of exotic spice I think.

Ann said...

Sue... I'll send you the recipe.

The people that attended the meeting included a high school principle, a school board member, representatives from some of the local civic clubs, representatives from the education foundations, manufacturers, chamber of commerce, economic development, jr. college president, adult education director, local businessmen, mayor, county commission members and chairman, a couple of parents, and some concern citizens. We had a head of TVA's human resources talking about what the jobs of the future were going to be and the type of education/training would be required!

This was a very exciting and informative meeting. I actually saw industry and education LOOKING at the same page. Now if the sub-committees that were formed will carry through we may begin to see more people on the same page and something beginning to come together.

Keep your fingers crossed!

Ann said...

Yuck! Sandalwood... now that sounds like gross chili.

Sue said...

Ann, you certainly had the right people there at the meeting. Sounds like you're looking at the demographics and local opportunities, and trying to create a natural feed from the local education system to those businesses.

Angie ^i^ said...

As gross as that sounds, I'm willing to give it a try since you said it's the best chili you've ever had. Please send me the details via email.

I have a friend who swears by putting whole cloves in her chili, but I've yet to be brave enough to try. Now here's two folks who like it! There must be something to this clove thing. =)

Anonymous said...

I was referred to your blog by your brother ... A stand-up guy who has tolerated me more than I deserve. BUT ... when I saw chili, I had to stop by and read. I used to consider my chili recipe unbeatable, but now I have to try the cloves! This is gonna be great! Thanks for posting and God bless.