CO CO CO COMMUNICATION...

your instrument or me!


At cocktail parties or dinner parties alike, "it used to" be conversation and other people which took over one's attention.


Today I often find myself battling between human and smart phone/pad!!!


I do feel it is important to tackle this subject. I am not, in the slightest, anti-technology. But technology itself does wear thin when it simply takes over. Isn't it a question of bad manners when you are chatting away to somebody and the fact that their phone message bipped at them becomes priority over conversation?


In my teenage days...it was the phone ringing during meals. We weren't allowed to get up from the table to answer, even if we were sure it was some gorgeous 7th former heart-throb calling..it was to be ignored.


As adults, as 40 somethings, I am amazed and repulsed by the lack of self control. It appears that iphones, ipads, blackberries and company are number one. Why do people need to check their email every 5 minutes. Has the world become completely dominated by secondary communication?


Just speaking with a friend back from China, now living in Paris. He is outraged by people who go out for fabulous dinners and place their phones on the table..the phone rings and they are up and in the corridor, chatting away as if life depends on it!!


My personal "favourite" are the mad bints striding down the streets with ear pieces talking out loud, so involved by their seemingly one-sided conversations that they walk all over the footpath creating mayhem bumping into one and acting like damn nutters. I mean honestly, have they seen themselves?


Well I am going to wage my own war against this intrusion to primary human communication. Yes, I need my smartphone but not to the disadvantage of basic human communication. I am considering a collection basket at my front door..drop off your phone/pad upon entering and pick up as you leave!!


Smart phones/pads have made us completely reliant on them to the point that we forget the human being opposite us in preference for the machine. They are not "beings" they are machines intended help us communicate...instead they have become the very blockage to communication.


Freezing cold snap in south west France, we have been spicing up our cooking to stay warm! Below easy Sunday Chilli recipe given to me by a trustworthy Kentucky source..


Sunday Chilli


2 onions, chopped,
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 shallots, chopped
2 cups ground beef/chicken/pork/tofu/tvp

2 cups chopped tomatoes
1 cup cooked red kidney beans
2 T mexican spice mix
1T piment d'espellete/ dried red chilli
worcester sauce
1 cup beer



Brown onions, garlic and shallots in a tablespoon of good olive oil. Add ground beef and brown.
Throw in spices and toss around until uniformly mixed.
Add tomatoes, beans and beer.
Cover and leave to simmer for about an hour and a half.
Better to eat the next day served with brown rice and home made guacamole...MMMMMM

Comments

  1. Susie, so good to see you back and in fullranting mode. Have mlissed your postings!!
    Big big fan. your blog is just so sexy!

    ReplyDelete
  2. You put beer in yours? It's the only difference with my receipe..may give this one a try ! any excuse for a beer..but then again I am British!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Dear Unknown, Yes beer it is! Apparently an asiatic trick to bring out the spices. well if it doesn't bring out the spices it might bring on a better mood?
    Cheers, thanks for your comment,
    Susie

    ReplyDelete
  4. YIPPEEEEE you are back. We thought you had stopped! Beer in chilli? Will try as all your other recipes I have tried so far are great. Agree, v sexy blog.

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  5. Beer in a recipe is a major enticement for all men to hit the kitchen. Cheers Suzy, never thought I would enjoy a blog so much. My girlfriend made me read this and now who is wearing the apron??! ME

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  6. @ James. Beer may have enticed you but just remember that piment is an aphrodisiac...
    Thanks for commenting. Hope the apron becomes you!
    Susie

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  7. I have recipes for cooking beans with beer in Cuban style food...and for cooking black beans with rum.
    Both really do bring out the spices.

    As to the 'phones and whatnot if someone stops talking to me to answer the 'phone then I walk away.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Me too happy to see new posting.Kiwi rant queeeeen! Chilli sounds enormous.

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  9. Dear Fly, wow rum and black beans. Do share!!!
    You are right to walk away. Might do the same but often the phoner walks away first due to impending importance of call or text or Facebook update. YAWN!!
    Thanks for your comment, S

    ReplyDelete
  10. Black beans with rum
    A
    8 oz black beans soaked overnight and drained.
    3 pints chicken stock
    5 fl. oz beer - flat is fine
    3 fl. oz rum
    4 cloves garlic chopped
    i onion diced.
    Combine this lot and cook until beans tender. You may need to add more liquid.

    B
    1 oz. butter.
    1 onion diced
    2 sticks celery chopped
    1 red and 1 green pepper, seeded and diced
    1 jalapeno or Scotch Bonnet pepper seeded and diced
    2 carrots diced
    Melt butter and sweat off the veg.

    C
    When the beans are cooked, puree half the mix and put back in the pan, adding the vegetables and also

    D
    6 tomatoes skinned and diced (or can)
    1 tbsp ground cumin
    half tbsp red hot sauce...whatever you normally use
    half tbsp chilli powder
    salt, pepper and cayenne to taste.

    E
    Mix and reheat for about 15 minutes...thin with rum or water if too thick, cook longer if too thin.

    F
    Sprinkle with fresh chopped coriander leaf and serve with yoghurt or sour cream.

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  11. @ Fly, many thanks. I will be black beaning next weekend!!

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  12. Suzy everyone talking about your post.
    My thanks, another desperate bordeuax housewife

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  13. Ok am in as a chap and a third...Suzette this blog is dead sexy. Yes am a Brit chap and adore your writing. You make me laugh and understand.many thanks
    John

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  14. Suzy just made your chilli. Have been making chilli for years and years but never with the beer ingredient. And yes, it changes everything. Thanks again for yet another easy but beautiful recipe.

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  15. Great idea with the beer. I've been spending hours reading through your recipes. They're great.

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