Cooler weather good for chili

I’m making something today that I rarely make in July. The weather reports tell me that this week will be unseasonably cold, hence my plans to cook a big batch of chili. This is not my usual hamburger mixed with a can of chili beans, rather it is a recipe that calls for lots of chopping, slicing, measuring and several hours of simmering on the stove to allow the flavors to meld. We found the recipe in the newspaper several years ago and keep it handy for cool days.
I am not sure why the weather forecast is what it is. I have read that the polar vortex may or may not be to blame. Maybe it is a consequence of the global warming we’ve heard so much about. My mom thinks any and all weather anomalies are caused by all the space junk orbiting the planet. The little girl inside of me is reminded of a cartoon character named Crabby Appleseed who was always trying to control the weather. Whatever the cause, I am making a big pot of chili this afternoon.
Although the temperature is predicted to be below normal, that won’t mean we have to break out the winter coats. Below normal for this time of year will merely mean that we can sleep comfortably without the air conditioner running up our electric bills. Plus, we can work outside without melting.
The odd weather has had an effect on the garden. I am still picking snap peas. Every other year has seen them nearing the end of their lives by the middle of July. Thankfully, the tomatoes have finally grown big enough that the evil squirrels leave them alone. The rest of the garden is also flourishing.
In addition to cooking, I am planning on doing some weeding. Pulling out unwanted plants is an ongoing chore. I tend to use this as an excuse to get out of the house and away from the television. Once I pulled all the crabgrass out of one flowerbed the bare places were obvious. Since the weather is cooler and wetter than usual, any new flowers will have more of a chance than in previous years. Now if only I could decide what I want to plant.
Cooler weather has also given me renewed energy along with an ever expanding to-do list. When it is excessively hot or cold all I want to do is curl up with a good book or play on the computer. It becomes too easy to fritter away my time by looking up ancestors I didn’t know I had. When the weather is good, books and ancestors can wait and I want to do anything but sit.
Today promises to be a day for cooking. It will also be a day to get started on all the chores I have been putting off with the excuse that it is too hot to move.
Whoever or whatever is in charge of the weather, I am grateful for the break from the heat of the summer. I was expecting an exceptionally hot season to balance out the unusually cold winter we had. Instead, I am blessed with a perfect summer, hot enough to go barefoot, yet cool enough to sleep with the windows open.
Summer is my second favorite time of year. It is a season designed for play as well as work. Both play and work are necessary for a meaningful life. Cooking is a form of play for me. Weeding is both play and work. Today I plan to play. Whatever plans you have for the day, I hope you take time to enjoy the cooler weather while it lasts.[[In-content Ad]]