September 1st...oh, how I love September. I think it's the best month of the year - well maybe October and November are a close second & third. I love the fall even though living here in Tucson, we don't notice much of a difference. Oh it does get cooler, eventually. The average monthly temperature is supposedly 95 in September and 85 in October. Lately we've had record high's, so I'm thinking we might blow the heck out of the averages. Regardless, I still remember what September's like in other places I've called home... the crisp morning air, golden hues to the light - somewhat selective memory eh?
Last night I was craving some good old ranch style grub, so it seemed like a good idea to make beans and cornbread. I know you're thinking "now why would she want to make beans when it's 100 plus" but I got to tell you I wasn't always an Aridzonian, and neither was the big guy. If we had to wait for the weather to cool down before we could have this kind of comfort food, we'd be waiting a really long time. By the way, these aren't just any old beans and the cornbread's not just any old cornbread either.
The beans are really a kind of chili that's more about the beans than the meat. A combination of bacon, ground beef, aromatics like onion, garlic and green pepper, combined with molasses, brown sugar and barbecue sauce bring canned beans to a whole new level. It's good wholesome food, the smells of which will bring 'em running for miles. Download Cowboy Bean Stuff
About the cornbread, this isn't just any old cornbread. It's chock full of corn kernels and cheddar cheese and spiced with a little jalapeno. Man is it ever moist - really, really moist. Download Corny Cheddar Cornbread In fact it needs absolutely nothing, least of all more butter. I can't help but wonder what it would be like for breakfast warmed up with a little bit of syrup on it along with some sausage and eggs... oooh ya. Too bad I rarely ever eat breakfast but if I did, that's what I might be having.
I've never met a bean I didn't like. Well, maybe the garbanzo isn't on my list of best friends, but it's tolerated none-the-less. And cowboy beans, well, they're my absolute favorite. And then that cornbread...wow! Puts my prissy little ebelskivers to shame, it does. Looks delicious June.
Posted by: Mags | 09/01/2009 at 12:37 PM
Prissy little ebelskivers - I beg to differ. They look wonderful - I'm just going to have to put an ebelskiver pan on my Christmas wish list.
Posted by: JBug | 09/01/2009 at 12:49 PM