Snow Days

They said it would snow. They thought it would stick. I laughed at their folly. That's just "wintery mix." Calling that snow is like calling gumbo a char-broiled steak. This is Louisiana after all......

No, Doctor B, I'm not washing instruments, and I'm not kissing the water buffalo. I didn't see any snow. I didn't even see any ice except at the Icee machine in the cafeteria. If you have evidence of snowfall, I hope you made it into a ball and stuck it in your freezer for Monday.

Meanwhile, Ilsa knows it's Saturday. She wants to go bike riding. It's excessively cold, at least for this rider. Looking in through the backyard bay window, she exposes her dubious description of the temperature by the frosty breath from her nostrils. The sun is out. Maybe later girl.

I'm going to fire up the crock pot and cook some chilli. I just need some nopales and masa to make it good. Then some chipotles.

Xavier's World Famous Chilli:

• 3 pounds ground chuck, seared
• 1 package stew meat, seared
• 1 big chopped onion
• 3 smashed garlic cloves
• 2 pieces of bacon cut crosswise into pieces
• 2 cans tomato chunks
• 2 cans tomato paste
• 2 cans red kidney beans
• 1 ½ cups of nopales
• 1 ½ cups of frozen or fresh whole kernel corn
• 2 tablespoons of chili powder
• 3/4 cup of shredded Pepper Jack cheese
• 2 tablespoons of Masa
• 1 ½ teaspoons of dried crushed chipotle
• 1 ½ teaspoons of paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon of fresh ground black pepper
• 1 package fajita mix
• several squirts lime juice
• 3 cups of water
• Sea salt

Mix all this stuff up in a crockpot, and heat for at least two hours to distribute the flavor throughout. Serve hot with corn or tortillia chips of choice.

The crown of my head sweats just thinking about it.....

Now THAT'S A Snake!

9 feet, 1 inch.
97 lbs
This rattler was killed at the old Turkey Creek gas plant located just South of the Alibates Turnoff on Highway 136, South of Fritch Texas.
Be careful out there!

~ 1 Nine foot skinned & cleaned western diamondback rattlesnake, cut in 3" to 4" pieces
~ drippings of 20 slices of bacon
~ one cup oil
~ 3/4 lb. cooked ham, diced
~ 8 cups milk
~ 4 tbs brewed coffee
~ 2 cups flour
~ biscuits or toast
~ salt and pepper
~ tabasco sauce, optional
In a cast iron skillet, fry the bacon. Remove bacon and drain on paper towels. Reserve drippings.
Add the oil to the drippings. Flour rattlesnake and fry over medium heat until golden brown.
Remove each piece as it becomes done and drain on paper towels.
Drain off the oil and drippings reserving 4 tbs. Add 4 tbs of flour. Stir and scrape bottom of the skillet to remove any browned stuck pieces.
Add the ham, coffee and milk. Stir until bubbly. If too thick add water, coffee or milk a tablespoon at a time.
Serve the rattlesnake with biscuits or toast and the ham gravy.
Salt and pepper and/or season with tabasco sauce to taste.
Serves 8-12.

Enjoy!