Friday, November 17, 2006

Friday's Feast

Friday's FeastFeast One Hundred & Eighteen

Appetizer
Do you believe there is intelligent life on other planets?
  • Yes I do. The universe is so vast, that I feel there is life, somewhere out there in the universe. And, if the most popular cosmological model today is actually true, then we all have a twin in a galaxy so far away that it is hard to imagine. Check out the Scientific American article Parallel Universes (parallel universes aren't just science fiction!)
Soup
What is one thing you said you'd never do, but you eventually did?
  • Skydiving. I'm so glad I did it - it was an incredible experience! We went with Skydive Gananoque and did a tandem jump, which meant I was strapped on to an experienced instructor, who handled all the details of the jump. I didn't have to worry about anything! We even had a video taken of my jump. I didn't enjoy freefall (I thought I was going to be sick throughout the freefall) but once the parachute opened and we were under canopy, it was an incredible experience. It is so quiet and peaceful up there, and seeing the landscape around me from up in the air was just amazing.
Salad
Who is the teacher that influenced you the most in school?
  • Mr. Durnin, at St. Pius X High School, in Ottawa, Ontario. He was the teacher in charge of the gifted programme when I was in grades 10 through 12. He was a great teacher, who challenged us, and he was also kind, caring, and compassionate.
Main Course
If you could trade places with anyone for one day, who would it be and why?
  • One of the astronauts on the International Space Station. I would love to travel to space and see what the Earth looks like from up there. I also think it would be an incredible experience.
Dessert
What is your favorite dish to prepare?
  • Chili

    Ingredients:
    1-2 tsp olive oil
    2 bell peppers (red, yellow or green), diced (optional)
    1 medium onion, chopped
    1 clove garlic, minced (or use pre-minced garlic from a jar)
    12 ounces extra lean ground sirloin (or ground beef) (optional)
    1 tblspoon chili powder (or more to taste)
    1 tsp ground cumin
    1 14-ounce can of diced tomatoes (no sugar added)
    1 15-ounce can of black beans, rinsed and drained
    1 15-ounce can of kidney beans, rinsed and drained
    1 15-ounce can tomato sauce (no sugar added)

    Directions:
    Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add peppers, onion, garlic and cook until they soften. Add ground sirloin. Cook thoroughly until there is no pink left. Add remaining ingredients. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

    Top with grated low-fat cheese if desired (Monteray Jack or Mozerella work well) and serve with sourdough bread.

18 comments:

Gattina said...

Lovely to read that maybe I have a twin up there ? Would be a change to me, I am an only child, and then I won't need a mirror anymore ! And you want to watch the earth from up there, I think that would be very interesting and nice to see, if the travel where not that long ! My Chili goes quicker, meat ognons and garlic in a pan when all is fried I throw a few cans of chili beans on it (tomato sauce is already in) and that's it. But probably yours is better ! Is it also so warm in Munich ? We have unusual 16° (60.8) instead of 4° (39) but I don't complain, for me it could last the whole winter !

Anonymous said...

Thanks for a lovely feast! I enjoyed it. Thanks for popping in to share mine too!

KK said...

Oh thanks so much for the recipe! How divine, I didn't even think of adding the recipe! LOL - Thanks for visiting!

Jodi said...

Great feast! My husband wants us to go skydiving, but I don't think I can go, I have a fear of falling. Your dessert has made me very hungry, here at 6:33 this morning! My feast is served, come dine with me!!

Happy Friday!

Judy said...

Thanks for the recipe... I'll have to try that version of chili. We all enjoy it here when it's cold... and it's getting that way for us! And, I'd not heard of the Scientific American article... thanks for the link. I've always been fascinated with the idea of parallel universes... it's interesting to see it's got some support in the scientific community.

Liz said...

That's a great soup! And a very nice touch to include your receipe!

Anonymous said...

Interesting and thoughtful feast!

Sonny said...

Thanx for sharing your feast with me.
Mine's up too.
Come and enjoy,

Grüße aus dem Ruhrgebiet,
Sonny

ChupieandJ'smama (Janeen) said...

Great feast and it was so nice of you to add the recipe for your favorite main dish. Your teacher sounds like a wonderful man:) Thanks for visiting!

Barry Wallace said...

Mmmm....I LOVE chili. I enjoy tasting new kinds of chili, too, although I prefer more meat than beans in mine.

Maybe I'll see you up on the space station sometime! :)

Shawnee said...

So impressed that you went skydiving! I'm not afraid of heights, but the thought of that freefall makes me nauseous.

~ flor ~ said...

geez, i'm also fascinated with outer space!

thanks for feasting with me!

~ flor ~ said...

and oh, i'd love to try skydiving too!

Unknown said...

Wow! Being an astroanut for a day would be mighty interesting but ...

skydiving!?!?!?! Just reading your words was enough to make me woozy. I am so afraid of heights.

Come dine with me! My feast is up.

graymama said...

Cool main course, and thanks for sharing the recipe :-)

Fabulous feast!

tiggerprr said...

I loved your answers! :) And that chili recipe sounds good! I'm going to have to try it!: )

~**Dawn**~ said...

wow. your Appetizer really makes one stop to think... and your Soup makes me nervous just toread it! LOL

thanks for stopping by my blog! =)

Nichole said...

Skydiving! Wow! That's definitely on my list of Things I Will Never Do.