Cincinnati Style!

A snowstorm adorns wreaths along a wintry Christmas path.

Awaking to the quietness and solitude of a winter morning....sipping hot coffee and setting aside moments by the fireside to reflect on our blessings!

Then.....

Let the fun begin.....snowbunnies are on the way to The Maine House! Boots, Mittens, Hats and scarves......come on winter......we are ready to play!After a day of skiing, we are headed back for our steaming hot bowls of chili....Cincinnati Style!

Estelle's Chili-Cincinnati Style!
2 lbs. ground chuck
4 cups water
8 ounce can tomato sauce
1 T. Worcestershire Sauce
1 t. vinegar
1 onion, finely chopped
1 t. garlic, minced
3 T. chili powder
3 T. ground cumin
2 T. allspice
2 bay leaves
1 t. cinnamon
1 t. nutmeg
1 t. celery seed
1 t. salt
1 t. pepper
cooked spaghetti
Sharp Cheddar cheese, grated


Brown ground chuck in skillet and season with salt and pepper. Transfer browned ground chuck into stock pot and add water. Add all remaining ingredients except spaghetti and cheese. Simmer over low to medium heat for 3 hours, stirring often. Discard bay leaves and serve of cooked spaghetti topped with grated Cheddar cheese!

My Husband's Homemade Chili
2 lbs ground meat (beef or beef and pork)
2 onions, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1/4 cup equal parts cumin and paprika, 1/2 that amount of chili powder and cayenne, garlic powder, salt, black pepper)
1 large can tomato paste
2 cans dark red kidney beans
1 cup beef broth
1/2 bottle of beer
1 tsp cocoa powder


Saute onions until translucent and then add garlic. Add meat and brown, then add chili mixture and let cook for a few minutes. Toss in 1 or 2 bay leaves and then 1 large can tomato paste. Add beans, let cook, then add beef broth. Finally, add beer and cocoa powder. Let cook for at least 2 hours. Serve over thin linguine, cover with shredded cheese, sour cream and freshly chopped cilantro, green chilies to taste. This recipe makes an obscene amount of chili so you could easily cut back to 1 lb of meat and adjust your seasonings.

A Jewel Day....

"O Children, wake, for a fairy world Is waiting for you and me, with gems aglow on the meadow grass, And jewels on every tree. The hedgerows glitter, the dark woods shine In dresses of sparkling white, For while we slumbered, the Ice Queen passed All over the earth last night." -Lucy Diamond