Wordless Wednesday...Cincy-style Chili In The South

Can you believe it? Not as good as the real thing, but it beats driving 400 miles to get it...

WYYZ In Cincinnati

No, there's no Howard Hessman or Loni Anderson floating around, just me, living it up big in the 'Nati as we used to call it back in the day. I was 20 when I left Ohio and moved south. I had only had my license for a few years and had only ventured out into parts of the city that had a softball field or shopping mall. I never really knew the difference from Blue Ash (where everyone worked) or Over-the-Rhine (which everyone avoided) and I knew I was always close to good shopping when I saw the "Florence Ya'll" (I thought it was a typo and read Florence Mall) sign. I still want to listen to Q102 which in my childhood was the rockin' station. Nowadays, or so I'm told, it's not what people really listen to. Since I've been here, I've made my sister drive. You have to get on I-75 to get anywhere and the road still has parts that have been under construction since I left in 1987--and I thought Atlanta was bad. There is one section that is down to two lanes and is filled with truckers and has concrete barriers on both sides. Throw in a rain storm and four singing (screaming) kids and you got one Middle-Aged Fat Woman with a butt puckered so tight you'd have thought I'd been eating cheese for a week. In the next few days, I'm meeting up with some old friends from my childhood. Luckily for me, we're friends on Facebook so they already know that I have become a MAFW and can get past that first awkward moment of "What the hell happened to you?". Of course, I on the other hand do not have that luxury and will try not to say that if I see anything shocking. I've had my Cincinnati style chili, got heart-burn as expected and enjoyed the frickin chicken wings at Frickers. I'll be off to Cherry Fork Road in a few days to pay my respect to my ancestors, have a pizza burger and then set the GPS for home. As time has passed and the longer I'm gone from my childhood home, the less time I spend there. I don't really know who is married to whom and where everybody now lives. And that's okay because I have a new home now that is almost perfect; if only I had a Cincinnati style restaurant next door....

National Chili Day...Again

I love chili, and if I don't pop a couple of Rolaids and a few Pepcids it will keep loving me back, for days. Can you say peat, and repeat? Anyhow, today, February 25, is National Chili Day. There are different kinds of chili, and your tastes are usually decided by where you're from. I know Texas has dozens of different recipes for chili but the main thing about Texas chili is that they don't like beans in their chili. Other areas like to use different kinds of meat such as beef, sausage, and even chicken mixed in different quantities, and with or without beans. (Me, I prefer beans, because, well, beans, beans, the magical fruit, the more you eat...I think you know the rest.) Some folks even like white chili, whatever that is, I tried it once at Panera Bread or somewhere, but I wanted to keep putting ketchup in it. (That's just me.) I think chili should be tomato based, but that's just one MA Fat Woman's opinion. Another thing I get confused about is using the word chili so loosely. What exactly is the definition of chili? What about the stuff you put on hot dogs? Chili, coney or hot dog sauce? What about the stuff you put on spaghetti? Chili or spaghetti sauce? Beans or no beans? Three-way, four-way or five-way? (Whoa, MA Fat Woman! What are you talking about?) (Three-ways?) (Get your minds out of the gutter.) All of this has been leading up to what I feel is the best chili going: Cincinnati style chili. I like both Goldstar and Skyline chili. Mom and I have driven up to Kentucky before to have our Cincy style chili. You can check that story out here. What makes this chili different is that cinnamon is used to give it a different taste and kick. It's really good! The below photo shows a three-way which is spaghetti noodles, chili and shredded cheese. A four-way is achieved by adding onions and a five-way by adding beans. I prefer the three-way spaghetti. Did I say it's really good? Three-way chili spaghetti You can purchase Goldstar or Skyline directly from the companies and it comes in canned and powdered forms. You can also purchase Skyline at Krogritz in the canned form, and in some locations, buy it frozen. It's good, but it isn't quite the same as tasting it yourself in person. I can never get the cheese right... Enjoy National Chili Day and have or make yourself some chili, however you prefer it. Me, I think it's time for another road trip!