Diablo Scorpion Chili

I don’t know the exact Scoville heat factor for my chili. I know it’s freaking hot. This, ironically, is how the name Diablo Scorpion came about. It burns like hell going in and has a pretty wicked sting coming out as well. Why people like it is beyond me, but they do. I make chili year round, at least once a month, if not more because of the holidays. It’s my wife’s favorite dish that I make. She would eat it all the time if I would make it. These days, I have become smarter. I make roughly 3 gallons of chili at a time. She has a meal of it the first day, we keep out another meals worth in the fridge, and then I freeze the rest in two serving size bowls for her to pull out and heat up at her leisure. I have been making this version of my chili for about 25 years. I make others, inspired in part where I have lived in the past and the flavor influences of that region of the world.

So, what makes it hot? The ingredients, the slow simmering of the flavors, and the fact (my opinion) that I grow most of my ingredients and I have my own chili powder blend that I have mastered over the years. I will pass on the chili powder mix when I am unable to cook someday. The rest I am going to give to you as my way of giving back to so many people that have helped me over the years with great dish and meal ideas. It’s funny, I enter quite a few chili cook offs here locally in the Houston area. I have won a few over the years, but not all. I do get quite a few placements just for heat. The heat will numb your teeth, gums, tongue, inside of your mouth, and your throat within the first two bites, and then you can enjoy the flavor. So, if you don’t mind sweating while you eat, this is the perfect chili for you. I must give one absolute warning that always must be adhered to. Never, under any circumstances, get this chili in, near, or around your eyes because it has about the same effect as U.S. Military Grade Pepper Spray. As a personal warning, I do not recommend breathing, burping, farting, or any other expellation of gases in or around any open flame source.

So, you want to make my chili? First you will need the ingredients. As mentioned, almost everything I use is homegrown and fresh off the bush. Grown in my garden are Jalapeno Peppers, Serrano Peppers, Habanero Peppers, Tomatoes, Green Chiles, and Mushrooms. However, if you cannot provide fresh, I guess store bought or even canned/jarred will work also. Gives me the shudders just thinking that my chili would be made from a can. So, the ingredients list first, and then I will give instruction on preparation and cooking. This recipe is based on about a 3 gallon yield, so you might have to scale the portions if needed. For those of you who cook, there should be no problem.

Diablo Scorpion Chili

4 cup Jose Cuervo Silver Tequila
5 lbs Lean Ground Beef
2 cup Jalapeno Peppers, sliced and chopped
2 cup Serrano Peppers, sliced and chopped
½ cup Ghost Peppers, chopped finely
½ cup Habanero Peppers, chopped finely
2 cup Green Chile Peppers, chopped finely
2 cup Mushrooms, sliced (optional)
2 cup Black Olives, sliced (optional)
2 cup Green Olives, sliced (optional)
3 can Red Kidney Beans (optional)
6 lrg Tomatoes diced to preference
¼ cup Tabasco Sauce (pick your own flavor, I use the Original)
¼ cup Salt
¼ cup Pepper (I use white ground)
3 cup Chili dry mix (my secret, see below for alternate dry ingredients that will be substituted)
5 pkg Chili Mix (found in the store with the gravy)
1 tbs Onion Powder (or Onion Salt)
1 tbs Garlic Powder (or Garlic Salt) 1 tbs Lemon and Herb mix spice
½ cup Chili Powder
½ cup Granulated Sugar (optional) (see note)
8 cup Water (tap or bottled, your choice) (add or decrease based on thickness desired.)
Note: You can add about 1/2 cup of sugar also, if you want, it helps take off some of the edge without messing up the flavor or making it sweet.

Preparations:

Chop/ slice/ dice everything that needs to have it done, be sure to keep all juices, seeds, and skins with it. Drain and rinse beans.

Brown ground beef, add in 2 cups of tequila, jalapeno peppers, Serrano peppers, Habanero peppers, and chiles. When ground beef is browned, do not drain.

Add everything else including the other two cups of tequila Use the amount of water you wish to get your desired thickness. Chili mix will thicken some as it cooks and blends under heat. Bring the entire chili mixture to a boil, stirring lightly. Let boil ten minutes then turn down the heat, cover, and let it simmer to stew and meld all the ingredients (stirring on occassion) for 1 ½ to 2 hours for best flavor results.

And now you have Diablo Scorpion Chili, enjoy.

Bigfoot, God, and Ghosts

Bigfoot, God, and Ghosts share one common factor that nobody can deny, they truly are, in all basics, just myths. I can hear it already, ringing in my ears, questioning me where I can get off making such a statement. So, I will give y'all my answer in advance this time and it is this, prove me wrong. I don't usually like bogging down my blog with my own personal opinion of God but I found myself having a particular conversation with a neighbor of mine this weekend. I will say, based on my own observations, that he is very self-immersed in being a devout believer in God. How do I know? Fair question with no real answer. I listen to the topics he discusses since, being neighbors, we do talk more frequently than what I actually like. Now, this entire conversation began this past Sunday when my neighbor payed a visit to me in my shop un-announced. Meaning, I was in my shop sharpening the chain off my chainsaw and when I looked up he was standing there. Why this is strange? From my front gate to the door of my shop is 3/4 of a mile or so. So, yes, his presence shocked me, greatly. Not because he was standing in front of me exactly, but because I know he didn't come from the front gate since I didn't get a text informing me the gate had been opened, which is part of the alarm. No, he had to have come from the back of my property that has no fence, which opens up the the creek back there. He tells me he saw the doors open so he figured I was out here.

 

Ah, yes, now we get into why he stands before me. He wants me to help him pull a stump out of his yard later, after he returns from church, since I have a tractor and his wife wont let him have one. Now, I don't mind helping him, that is not what this about at all. I like that people know I know how to do things the right way, plus, this will give me an opportunity to try out the new steering knuckles I replaced a few weeks ago. He made a comment which bugged me before he left though, he said he knew I wouldn't be busy with church or anything since I don't believe in God. It isn't that it is an incorrect statement about my belief in God, its the fact that he felt the need to use that as a reason for my availability later. I don't know, just struck a chord with me that I couldn't shake. It hasn't made me mad or anything, just made me wonder why he would put it like that. As I got back to work grinding the teeth on chain saw I found myself thinking about the most bizarre things ever. There are many things I don't believe in. The top three are Bigfoot, Ghosts, and God. My reason is simple. Put the proof in my hand. Your answer is pretty simple as well, you can't. All three share many likenesses in their own special ways. Bigfoot, a North American great ape which many claim to see and hear, but can never produce a body or evidence that science can't explain. Ghosts get the same, people see them but they can never prove it. The there is God, again, something people believe in yet can't prove his existence. Now, in defense of all three, the can't be disproven either. All three remain a mystery to mankind. Unless, of course, you find yourself believing in ghost stories, fairytales, and legends. Oh, don't get me wrong, I do look forward to an actual discovery one day of one, two, or all three. Wouldn't it be a great day to finally have mankind fall straight on his ass with overwhelming evidence? But, until then, they are all just myths and/or legends, end of discussion.

 

Finished, and now bored, I didn't feel like waiting for my neighbor to return. I have a nap to take later and his schedule just might jack that all up. I loaded up the chains into the bucket of the tractor and set off. Since I knew where the stump was I set up for the pull. He had done most of the grunt work digging out around the stump so all I had to do is drop the chains and rock and roll. It came out like pulling a nipple from a babies lips, pop and it was out. I dragged it over to my burn pit and dropped it off. I scooped up a load of dirt and returned to his yard, dumped it out and leveled it, then returned home. Shortly afterwards I went in to the house, got undressed, and showered. I decided at that point, it was nap time. I was woke up by my daughter, who let me know it was dinner time and my presence was required. We ate, talked, played a few games of Farkle, and everyone part ways to do their own thing. My wife and I sat on the couch and watched a movie. Eventually we headed off to bed.

 

I never heard back from my neighbor that afternoon. I just figured he had seen what I did and just decided to leave it alone. Wrong. While I was driving to work this morning he called me to apologize for getting tied up yesterday and not letting me know what was going on. Before I could get a single word in he was asking if we could go ahead and get it done this afternoon. Um, sure, whatever you say. Which is screwed up because that means he has no clue that it is already done. Oh well, perhaps he will figure it all out before he wastes his time walking over to get me later. Funny how people are too busy in their own lives to realize even the simplest of things. I meant what I said with all honesty you know, about finding Bigfoot, Ghosts, and God, I do hope they find at least one of them in my lifetime. Until then, I will just live my life one day at a time, hopefully disappointment free.

 

*********** Story Update ***********

 

It would appear that somewhere during the day my neighbor realizued that something happened in his yard and chose to investigate it further. How do I know this? When I got home I did my normal routine and went into the kitchen to put up my lunchbox. There stood my wife pointing to a bottle of Crown Royal. When I questioned what the occassion was, she informed me that it was from my neighbor. He had explained to her he felt bad that he missed his arranged job with me and thought he would leave a bottle of Crown Royal as payment for my selfless services. What could I do? I just smiled and looked for a glass. I spoke with him later in the evening and thanked him for the gift. He was very apologetic and said he knew I liked Crown Royal and it seemed to be a way to thank me and pay me at the same time. I appreciate the gesture but I wasn't looking to get paid. Funny thing is that eventhough I assured him, repeatedly, that there were no hard feelings, he kept apologizing. So, in the end, I guess everything worked out just fine. I got to try out the improvements I had been making to the old Beast tractor, he got a stump pulled, and I get to have a nice bon-fire during the chilly nights while enjoying some Crown Royal and roasting marshmellows.

Features and Introductions

I just wanted to take a moment here and introduce and explain my brand spanking new blog "The Sting of the Scorpion" to everyone and showcase a few key features that have been implemented. If I can be so forward to ask, I would like visitors to take an opportunity to click the links and explore to tabs located at the tops of pages. I have spent a good deal of time extracting posts from cached versions of my old blogs and re-posted them in "The Archives" anybody who would to see how things were in the old days. I have recovered less than 20% of the past so it is actually a work in progress. Then, I have a collection of pictures, "Pictures and Things" where I have brought back my favorites from everywhere. Additionally, since other people's e-mails always seems to get a smile out me, I added a "Hate Mail" section to showcase them for everyone else to enjoy. I truly hope that y'all enjoy your stay, return often, and find my new home easy to navigate. I look forward to seeing each one of y'all.

Be My Guest Blogger

I have been kicking around this idea for some time now. I have used information people have sent me in the past to create a post or three, but never full on credit to the writer or back links to their own blog. I have been selfish in a way; I am not always the best when it comes to sharing. However, some people have made a promising argument in favor of having guest bloggers write on my blog, The Sting of the Scorpion. Now that I have given this some thought I have a few ideas on what I am looking for as far as articles, short stories, and posts. Subject matter is relatively subjective as far as I am concerned. Meaning, do a little research and see what kind of stuff I write about and try to keep that as the direction you head in. Also, you can look into The Archives and see past guest blogger's posts. At the The Sting of the Scorpion's blog there isn’t an actual direction or purpose that is used as guidance for myself. I like things that make a person think, scratch their head, and ask WTF. However, most of what I do write about is what I see as I live my life. So, keep that in mind, the freedom of subject matter is pretty open. But, I will not allow racist rants, selling a product or service, or political nonsense since this is not the platform you are looking for to run for office.

Bonus Tips: Find Best Educational Lessons Around Your Area

Just click HERE for the e-mail address or follow the e-mail link at the top right corner of either blog.

One final note I will add, only as a precaution, because in the end nothing will get published without my absolute dictator approval, that’s just the way it will be. So, when you decide you have your final product you can e-mail it to me then it will be formatted into my blog. I don’t edit, I don’t proof read for type “o”s, so the only thing I will be looking for is allowable content. When it comes to pictures let it be known that they are fine as well. If you snatch a picture off the web or from where ever, give the person or place credit. I personally have a disclaimer on my blogs. But, I like visual interpretation, pictures make a point many times. I am not particular on pictures either, as y’all can tell. But, I do ask that there be no full on nudity because they will not be allowed in the actual post.

Now, what do you as the writer get back in return? Nothing actually. There is no fame or fortune here. But, I will put your name up in lights here at The Sting of the Scorpion blog. I will put a back link for your blog so people can find you and I will give the link to the post to put on your blog is so desired. I will promote your post on Blogcatalog, Facebook, and Pintrest. I don’t personally deal with Twitter or any other social media outlets so that would be my actual pushing end.

So, are you interested? Good, comment here and send me an e-mail HERE and we can get started.

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The Archives

By popular request of my readers I have decided to salvage as many of the posts from IYAAYAS Moderators' dead files as I can get ahold of. After much thought I decided I did not want to fill this particular blog with all the old posts so I created a specific page just for dead posts. If you look above to the "Tabs Section" above, right under the giant scorpion, you will see a tab link reading "Archives". Click on it and you will be magically transported to my archives. I will be filling this page with stuff I find as I get the time, it is a project that may take me a fair bit of time. Enjoy.

I'm Back...............

What doesn't kill us makes us stronger is a very old saying my dad would tell me when times were troubled. It is also fitting for me today, well, not me personally, but dead and gone are my prior blogs. If you are reading this post then you are aware of what I am referring to. I will fail to mention them just to avoid some cosmic cross check where my new blog might just get mis-identified. We can't have that now can we. Just know this is the real me and I will continue to blog in the fashion I am accustomed to. One thing I will mention is that I had a good run with my main blog, it served the purpose of me talking to myself for a good 6 years. That is what blogs are for, right, talking to ourselves in hopes that others will stumble across us somehow and read our ideas? Well, if not for you it definitely is that way for me. I am sorry that I lost just over 600 followers/members with the death of that blog. I do hope everyone returns once they find me at my new home. The name may change, but you will always get the real me, no punches pulled here as well as in life. For all my old friends, welcome back! For all my new friends, welcome aboard, be sure to hold on tight because it can get a bit bumpy at times.

Where do we go from here? Forward, of course. The will be no looking backwards from this post on and I am looking forward to the forward momentum. With help from friends I was able to locate the archived versions of my now dead blogs which I will be extracting a handful of posts to breathe new life into them. Nothing is really going to change except I plan on going at it all much harder. There will, however, be a small delay in the complete an actual birth of this blog since I do have an impending surgical procedure to deal with on my left shoulder in the very near future. I don't know how much I will feel like blogging or carrying on afterwards either until a good deal of recovery happens.

Y'all have been good friends thru the good, the bad, and the ugly and I would never be able to ask for anything more. Thanks for stopping by and I hope there will always be something new each time each of y'all return.