All Things Woompty

The weather today was decidedly gloomy, with clouds and wind and the promise of a storm that is sure to hit tomorrow morning right before I get to the freeway during my morning commute.  My morning commute will probably be hell because of it, but I decided to enjoy the weather today anyway.  The gloom made it possible to sleep in so long that my back hurt, and the animals were all in bed with us being snuggly and sweet and making me forget that they are all little asshole pains in the ass.  (Case in point: Sophie POOPED IN FRONT OF THE CASH REGISTER at Petco today, and I was mortified.  At least it was in Petco and not at my favorite brunch place though!)  Anyway, I was supposed to have lunch with a friend but life happens and she had to cancel so I decided that today was a chili kind of day.

I make this crazy version of chili that involves 4 kinds of beans and ground turkey and corn and chicken apple sausage but I didn’t have any corn or sausage for some reason (there was a long debate over whether or not Kevin ate the corn; he still insists he didn’t but I don’t think the cats have figured out how to use the can opener yet so…I’m just saying, the can of corn I bought didn’t walk out of here on it’s own).  And yet, the chili came out freakin’ fantastic and I scarfed it down like I hadn’t had a meal in weeks.I don’t know, maybe I just needed more protein in my diet or something.

I also made some kick ass cornbread to go with it, because come on, you can’t have chili without cornbread.  I think it’s against the law or something.

Cornbread is not that difficult of an idea, really.  But for some reason it decides to do whatever it wants when I make it.  Sometimes it’s too dense and sometimes it’s too sweet or too salty, or it cooks up too moist.  But today, it was perfect.  Just fluffy enough and crispy on the edges and hot so the butter melted right into it.

Needless to say, I totally took a nap right after I ate because holy cats, it was good.  But chili and cornbread is nothing.  While the cornbread was baking and the chili I was simmering, I took things another step further and made some applesauce out of some Granny Smith apples that were just about to turn.  I am a kitchen goddess! See my mad skillz!

Okay I’ll admit that the applesauce? Is totally super easy and I have no idea why I don’t make it more often.  I mean really, the hardest part was peeling all the damn apples, and even that wasn’t that bad since last year I finally gave in and bought a decent peeler.  Anyway, now I have chili and cornbread to look forward to for lunch tomorrow, and homemade applesauce with Fage yogurt for breakfast. And I am absurdly satisfied with myself over it.

I really should spend more of my Sundays cooking.  Good for my soul, good for our bellies.  And great for my kitchen cred.