Another busy day at work. I hit the ground running and finally around 9:30 I heated up some breakfast tacos and ate them at my desk.
I had plans with my Mom and Hannah to meet for lunch. My Mom got there right on time at noon, and I finished up a couple letters while we waited for Hannah. A few minutes later I see Hannah is calling me, and I think she’s just calling me to let her in the front door. Nope. She just woke up! Ah, to be 22 again and sleep until noon! So my Mom and I just went ahead without her.
We chose to go to the Lucky Monk for lunch, since it’s right by my office. The place was busy, and we had ideas of sitting on their outdoor patio, but it was way too windy. So we sat, both decided on the mini tacos – mine were braised short ribs with cilantro and pickled radishes. Mom’s were lightly battered fish tacos with pickled red cabbage and tomato and onion. LOTS of onion. Ew. We were so engrossed in catching up after my Mom’s 3 week of traveling, that I realized it had been a long time since we ordered. When we finally got our food it was 40 minutes later. Luckily I worked through lunch the day before, but just talking out loud here – most people just have an hour for lunch.
These pictures don’t do these tacos justice – super flavorful and my Mom who is an aficionado of fish tacos, declared these some of the best she’s had. So service aside, I’d go back there just for the food. Thanks for meeting up with me Momma!
And later in the afternoon, Hannah and her boyfriend stopped by and brought me a skinny vanilla latte – thanks! 
So our Midwest summer has been crazy cool. Like low 50s overnight and low 70s during the day. I absolutely love it, but find myself craving fall comfort foods. It must have been a rerun, but last week I saw Michael Symon on The Chew make his version of Cincinnati chili. Well, I’ve made my share of Cincinnati Chili recipes. Here, here and here. What intrigued me about the chili was his choice of spices (cinnamon, allspice, cumin, etc.) and using FOUR cups of tomato juice.
[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:68]
I didn’t have chili mac like I normally do – just added kidney beans, shredded cheese and jalapenos. I may have dipped a few tortilla chips in the chili for dipping too.
I loved this chili. The flavors were so complex. I normally don’t add allspice to dishes but it totally worked in this with the combination of the cocoa powder and sherry vinegar. It smacks you with flavor.
And my dear friend Skippy, her daughter is quite the talented artist and photographer and has one several ribbons at their local county fair. This picture below is one of my favorites (which took a 1st place ribbon) – blue being my favorite color and because of the clouds – it’s now my screen saver at work – thanks Evie!
Alright, time to get my cleaning pants on. I haven’t worn them in a while – ha! Have a great weekend!
Well, I had all kinds of nice things to say about you and your mom and having lunch together. But then I saw your weather for the summer and now I’m totally jealous. Our morning started in the upper 80s and had hit 92 before noon. The heat index will be 110-115. It’s going to be the hottest day of this summer. I would say I’m ready to move up your way but I don’t think I could take the winters. LOL
Pam, it was 59 degrees this morning at 8 a.m.! 😀 And you are correct, I wouldn’t wish our winters on anyone.
The chili looks great – yum! It sounds like you have a lot of energy for cleaning. Send some my way!! Very nice picture of you and Hannah – you look so much alike, as you should, since you are mother and daughter. What are you cooking for Sunday? Have a good rest of the weekend!!
Well, Joanne – to be honest, I don’t have my cleaning pants on every day – but every once in a while I get a jones for cleaning and get to town!
It’s so crazy, but with Tony not having much of an appetite, I don’t really know what to make! I have stuff to make burgers, I have red beans and rice which I can add grilled chicken too. We’ll see! 😀
Those tacos look amazing – I had a lunch out with some coworkers for a birthday earlier this week and it took 40 minutes to get 10 dishes. Wings, quesadillas, and more wings. They screwed up the fries, too. We each walked out of there with $5 off coupons and 20% off coupons but yeah, an hour for lunch and we spent 40 minutes waiting.
That chili looks incredible. Sadly, tomatoes are out of MAK’s life for good (along with a million other things), so I am on the hunt for a white chili recipe that will blow his mind. I keep telling him that low-acid does not mean tasteless!
Yep, once I had to pay attention to Tony’s sodium and protein intake, it’s amazing the things that had sodium that I never would have thought – like in condiments and stuff like that.
Check out this recipe – I have to admit, I’ve never made a white chili, but this sounds delicious!
http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/award-winning-chili
That chili looks so good. It get so hot and humid in NC that I can’t even think about eating chili, stews or soups in the summer. I live for the winter, cannot wait for some chili, lentil soup, and chicken pot pie.
An hour for lunch would be awesome, I just get 30 minutes.
I don’t mind eating soups, chili all year round. Yep, having that hour is great – which let’s me be able to work out at lunch! 30 minutes probably goes by in the blink of an eye!
I wish we would have had some of your cool weather the past couple of days – it was 100 for my 2 days of garage sale – brutal!!!
Hope he sale picked up for you!
That chili looks delish!!! Do you have the nutritional stats on it? And how much did it make?!
Hey Mia! I put it into the recipe analyzer in calorie count. I made it 8, one cup servings – each serving comes in at 285 calories, 8 fat, 15.8 carbs, 5 fiber and 37 protein – that’s for just the chili – not the beans or cheese I topped it with. 😀
That chili looks fantastic! I have white chicken chili on the menu this week- so excited! Our garden jalapenos have been extra hot this year, so it will definitely have a kick. Oh man…I haven’t slept past 7 in forever 🙂 Have a great weekend
I am getting my cleaning pants on too!!!
Woop! I’ve already dusted and vacuumed the whole house, cleaned the kitchen and done a load of laundry. 😀
I can’t believe how grown up beautiful Hannah looks. What a sweet pic – it’s also fabulous how much you two look like sisters.
It sounds like you had nice visits. 🙂
Thanks for the shout out for E. I am trying to get together a list of the pics everyone likes best and then I will order prints to send to you. Of course you know which one you’re getting. She was tickled when she read you had done that. 🙂
Love you girlie – oh and did the voting open yet? Should I just read back a few posts.
have a great weekend beautiful! Love to all.
Thanks Skip! The voting opens on Monday, July 28 – I’ll be sure to post the link here and on Facebook – and find someone to put it on Twitter – I don’t do tweets! 😀 Hugs and love!
Yep, it’s definitely been a cool summer, but I love it – I tend to be hot all the time.
I am kicking myself for not liking blue crabs growing up – my grandparents used to cook up bushels of crab when I was younger and I never once even tried it, but I’d help pick the meat out for everyone else to eat!
I have some delicious left over meatloaf……well a LOT of leftover meatloaf and was thinking of making chili with it. I did it once before and it was good, but the recipe for chili lacked something………This sounds delicious and I love Michael’s shows.
The weather here in Niagara Falls this summer is the coolest I have ever experienced since we moved here seven years ago….our outdoor markets just now are getting tomatoes and sweet peppers etc. Some nights I sleep with the heating blanket….unheard of for a transplanted Marylander! Oh for the days of steamed Md blue point crabs and Silver Queen corn………high humidity and sweating!
You, and your daughter and mom look so much alike! Beautiful family.
Blessings and enjoy your weekend!