Subj : Greasy Spoons was: Chill [1] To : Dave Drum From : Ruth Haffly Date : Fri Feb 28 2025 14:07:54 Hi Dave, DD> Having tried bowls of "chilli" all over te US I know better than to DD> order a bowl of red anywhere near the Northeastern US. It's most DD> likely gonna be a bland hamburger/tomato soup. RH> When we were stationed at Fort Devens, MA, we joined a small church in RH> Ayer, just outside the post. We were only there for 6 months, before RH> moving on to AZ but they had a chili cook off in that time frame. One RH> of the chilis tasted like a burning cigarette had been mixed into it; RH> both of us tasted it and had the same opinion. That was probably the RH> worst chili we've ever had. DD> I wonder what cpuld have caused that sort of off-taste? I'll assume DD> you've not researched it. Bv)= No, and have forgotten about it except as a reminder of how bad chili can be. Some years ago, a family in our church won the chili cook off with a sausage and pineapple abomination--don't know what the judges were thinking on that one! I did place in it, but heard a number of comments about the unusual "chili". RH> Greasy spoon chili in a not so greasy spoon eatery. DD> We' don't gots no greasy spoons around here. Our health department is DD> "on the ball" and the local daily publishes their results on those who DD> fail the test(s). The Raleigh paper publishes them on a weekly basis also. I see a number of B grades but usually nothing lower. The listing usually lists some of the violations that were noted. RH> This area brines the roads first, then when the stuff (in whatever RH> form) starts coming down, they go out with sand and salt. Car washes do RH> a booming business after the storms pass. DD> Illinois goes bridge decks with the brine. The trucks have signs DD> warning to stay back 100 feet. But, you're going to be closer than DD> that before you can read the warning. Go figger. I know what the DD> trucks look like and I keep waaaaaay further back than 100 feet. We've seen the tracks but rarely see the trucks in action. DD> As they do in this area. I keep a monthly subscription at one between DD> home and work. Hit it often for thew undercar wash to get ride of any DD> salt build-up. Not to mentions the salty coating on the bodywork. RH> We can't use a lot of the commercial washes because of the high cap on RH> the back of the truck. So, it's usually a DIY project, awaiting a nice RH> day without rain in the foreseeable forecast. DD> Best "rain dance" I know is to freshly wash your ride. Bv)= Of course! Had some rain last night but I think it is supposed to be clear (and cooling off again) for a few days. DD> OK (really) recipe for beans to add to chilli. DD> If I'm not using my chilli beans I'll do Bush's or Brooks Hot DD> Chili Beans. RH> I usually use kidney beans; I know, not your favorite bean, but it's RH> what we both grew up with in our mom's chili. DD> You and 99% of the East Coast of 'Murrica It's the way we were indoctrinated. I've had the sense to break away from doing it all the time tho. RH> ... Books are better than TV; they exercise your imagination. DD> That's been a tenet of mine forever. Movies and boob tube show you the DD> writer's or director's vision of what's happening. A book lets your DD> mind build its own screenplay. I note that Gene Hackman died DD> yesterday. Many of his movie roles inspired me to get the source DD> material - if only to DD> see what was left out. Bv)= I don't think I've seen any of his movies. My dad's old newspaper boss (editor/owner) also owned the theater as part of the same building. He let employees and families in for free. When he passed away, the theater part was sold to an outsider, no more free movies so I think I saw maybe half a dozen (if that) more before leaving home. Steve and I haven't gone to a lot of movies either, just never got into it. I did talk him into seeing "Gone With the Wind" a couple of months after we got married. (G) DD> Since the only "French Connection" recipe I could find is for a DD> cocktail and neither of us ....... I picked this to "Burtonise" the DD> post. DD> Title: French Coil Pastry W/Spinach & Feta DD> Categories: Greens, Cheese, Vegetables, Nuts, Pastry DD> Yield: 6 servings It works--and looks interesting. --- Catch you later, Ruth rchaffly{at}earthlink{dot}net FIDO 1:396/45.28 .... Some are so educated they can bore you on almost any subject --- PPoint 3.01 * Origin: Sew! That's My Point (1:396/45.28) .