I recently made chili from scratch. I don't have a recipe because I didn't use one. There are many available online. Find one with good reviews and ingredients you enjoy.

The basics are meats, onion, garlic, tomatoes, cumin, salt, black pepper, sugar, fresh hot peppers, powdered or dried hot peppers, celery, corn, sweet peppers and other vegetables. Ingredients to add umami such as mushrooms, Worcestershire, soy sauce, fish sauce, beer etc. Red wine or apple cider vinegar for some acidity. I say this as a born and raised Texan, make the chili the way you want to make it.

Some people think chili shouldn't have beans. My opinion is that cowboys wouldn't care since they are hungry. Imagine a cowboy not eating chili because it has beans in it. Ridiculous right? If you don't want beans don't add them, if you do want beans then add them.

Now here is where the cornbread gets a bit blue. I didn't plan on making chili so I didn't think about cornbread until I already starting making the chili. I didn't have all the ingredients to make cornbread but I had azul masa for tortillas.

So I checked the ingredients in the masa to make sure there wasn't anything too out of the ordinary and decided to make a hybrid of cornbread and blue tortillas. It came out okay. It literally tasted like a a mix between regular cornbread and tortillas. I did add some whole kernals for more corn flavor. I should have minced/smashed half of them to distribute the flavor more evenly though.

I stewed this chili for four hours. I always stew for a least two hours but prefer how it tastes at four hours. You have to know when to add ingredients depending on how long you cook it. Adding things too early will lead to overcooked ingredients.

Anyway, enjoy.

I've never eaten one before this. I have a feeling it wasn't perfect but I thought it pretty good.

I usually only use this griddle for tortillas but I decided to try something different. This just a random "buttermilk pancake" recipe.

Second time making compote but first time using cast iron to do it.

I opted for enameled over seasoned due the lemon juice added. I knew it would take a while to reduce and didn't want the extra acid to break down seasoning on my other pans.

It worked well and tasted good. Less sweet and more tart than store bought preserves.

Used it on toast, pancakes and made some tarts in the oven.

This is my first time making and eating this meal. It has a mild but pleasant flavor.

I carry a Leatherman Rebar when I know I'll need a few more tools in my pocket. It's only a few times a month but when I do it's indispensable.

The size is both small enough to fit comfortably in my pocket while be substantial enough to feel like a real tool. The tools I use the most are the pliers, Philips screw driver, and wire cutters.

This model locks the tools while they are open which I prefer but it lacks scissors, a replaceable bit driver and has, in my opinion, a light duty knife.

I've had this Zippo since early 2011. According to the markings it was made in August of 2010.

I don't always carry it but when I know I'm going to need a lighter it's what I use. I have other lighters around the house, for candles/starting the grill, but when I go out this one is in my pocket.

It was originally the matte black model but after more than a decade I decided to use acetone to remove the coating. It's now raw brass which I do like.

The only downside of this lighter is that the original insert will lose fluid over a few days. I did add a small piece of this plastic over the bottom of the insert to act as a gasket. It does improve the time it takes for the fluid to evaporate by about double.

I know there are flame and torch inserts but I prefer the simple mechanism of this. I've had other torch lighters in the past and they always seem to break. If something on this Zippo ever breaks I know I can repair it with a repair kit. I don't mind disposable lighters since they work well and serve a purpose but I enjoy the permanence of a Zippo.

I recently made myself a Midori inspired notebook. It's 5 oz veg tan leather that I dyed.

I received a new watch as a Christmas gift.

It's the Vaer S5 Tradition which originally came with a silicone and khaki nylon strap. Since I prefer nato straps, I swapped it for my old watch strap. It's a 40 mm case with sapphire crystal and screwdown crown. The lume is honestly better than I expected.

I don't own a stitching pony so this is how I decided to hold my work. It's not perfect as the thread sometimes get caught on the vice and it's only three inches wide but it's much faster than trying to hold the piece with my hands as I stitch it.

I made an apple pie in a cast iron pan. It's actually easier to make than it seems. Everything is from scratch.