Gather

There is something about gathering with people you love. Gathering for fun and community. Gathering for encouragement and joy. Gathering and knowing you have a seat at the table. There is something so good about that. About that simple thing.

Around the holidays we are forced to do this one thing, but how do we schedule it in for the good of our lives on the regular? Bringing food to the “table”; that one act of gathering around food is the catalyst to something even bigger. That something that truly erupts the soul. It brings connection. It brings love. It brings laughter and even excitement. It brings conversation that can sometimes move and stir the soul. It sometimes stretches us, and brings us out of our comfort zone. It moves us and grows us. If we let it, the simple act of gathering can grow us deeper within ourselves and closer to those around us. It can also cause those to grow around us if we allow them.

One great way to make this happen in our own lives is saying yes to gathering. Saying yes to reasons to surround ourselves with friends, hosting gatherings in your home, and openning up to all of those opportunities that present themselves to us.

So here’s to saying YES to gathering with others (even when we don’t always feel up to it). Saying YES to openning our homes (even when they aren’t perfectly decorated or perfectly clean). Just say YES, and sit at the table and watch what happens.

Recently, we gathered with old and new friends and had a freindly competition. There were tiny little bowls set out everywhere as we sampled up to 8 chilis that were brought. Surounded by people, drink, and food; kids and adults all voted for their favorite chili. At the end of the night the votes were talleyed, and the chili champ was crowned. As the trophy was handed out, even though it wasn’t to me, I couldn’t help, but be so thankful for a night like this. A night filled with warm, meaningful, encouraging conversation. It left us all looking forward to the next time, and not wanting the night to end.

XO,

LE

Chlil Cookoff Recipe: Pat’s Famous Beef and Pork Chili (Courtesy of The Neely’s)

Ingredients:

6 slices thick-cut applewood smoked bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

4 cloves garlic, finely chopped

2 medium onions, finely chopped

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1 yellow bell pepper, chopped

3 tablespoons chili powder

1 tablespoon ground cumin

1 tablespoon chipotle chili powder

2 teaspoons dried oregano

1 tablespoon smoked paprika

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 pound 85 percent lean ground beef

1 pound ground pork

1 cup beer (recommended: Budweiser)

One 15-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed

One 15-ounce can kidney beans, drained and rinsed

One 24-ounce can crushed tomatoes

One 24-ounce can diced tomatoes, with juice

Lime wedges, for garnish

Sour cream, for garnish

Shredded Cheddar, for garnish

Sliced scallions, for garnish

In large heavy-bottomed Dutch oven, cook the bacon over medium heat until lightly crisp, stirring occasionally. Once the bacon is browned, add the garlic, onions, bell peppers, chili powder, cumin, chipotle chili powder, oregano, and smoked paprika and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cook until the vegetables are tender and seasonings are aromatic. Add the beef and break it up with a wooden spoon. Once beef is broken up and beginning to brown, add the pork. Break up with wooden spoon like the beef, and brown, until no longer pink, roughly 4 minutes. Stir in the beer and beans. Toss together, then add the crushed and diced tomatoes. Turn the heat down to low and simmer for 1 1/2 hours. Taste for seasoning and add salt and pepper, if necessary. Transfer the chili to serving bowls and garnish with lime wedges, sour cream, shredded cheese, and sliced scallions.