A Night Of Chili and Mahjong

Carroll Shelby's is my favorite chili.  I know, all the cooking I do from scratch and my chili comes from a box.  It's shocking, and I'm from Texas where you should know how to barbecue and make chili.  At least Carroll Shelby is born and bred Texan.   In 1967, race car legend Carroll Shelby converted 200,000 acres of mining ghost town into cherished Texas ground.  What began as a non stop party of chiliheads, transformed into an annual world famous championship.  Shelby and fellow judge, C.V. Wood founded the International Chili Society.  I have tried numerous chili recipes, but his continues to be my favorite.  Why do I need to recreate what he did so well.  Other than what the instructions on the box say, I add one can rotel tomatoes, and one can beans (pinto or red kidney or mix).  Have toppings of grated cheese, chopped onion, some sour cream and pile it on top.  Have on hand fritos and dill pickles and my meal is complete.

Peach Pie

Recipe For a 2-Crust Pie

2 bags frozen peaches (2 pounds total) 

3/4 cup sugar

4 T. tapioca flour

1/4 t. vanilla extract

1/4 t. almond extract

1/4 t. kosher salt

2 T. butter

1 T. whipping cream

Preheat oven to 350'.  On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into a circle, place in pie pan.  

In a large bowl gently toss together peaches, that I chopped fine, sugar, tapioca flour, vanilla, almond extract, salt and butter.  Transfer filling to prepared pie crust.  With remaining pie crust cut into lattice and place over filling.  Brush dough with cream, and sprinkle with sparkling sugar.  Refrigerate while oven is preheating, this keeps the dough from shifting, about 30 minutes.

Bake on lower third of your oven until edges are golden brown and filling is bubbly, 1 hr. 25 minutes.  Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

After indulging ourselves of chili and peach pie, we set up the mahjong tiles to play a few games.  Karen was on a roll, winning three times I believe.  Buck and Stone each conquered a game.  The group played an extra round, even though I knew they were ready to call it a night just to give me a chance to win.  Although I had a good time I still didn't win.  More than once, I just needed one tile.  I would be on the edge of my seat, knowing the next draw would be the tile I needed.  Before that would happen someone would yell MAHJONG!   Only it wasn't me.

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