tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24170237.post1346877898535676915..comments2024-03-24T01:15:08.693+10:00Comments on The Old Foodie: Prisoner’s Beans.The Old Foodiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00766403052971301718noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24170237.post-71629772758102546132010-08-13T06:06:14.631+10:002010-08-13T06:06:14.631+10:00Chili, the dish, goes back at least to the ninetee...Chili, the dish, goes back at least to the nineteenth century. <br /><br />O. Henry's story, "The Enchanted Kiss," described the chili queens of San Antonio -- street vendors that more than rivaled today's street food purveyors (the chili made by one of them contained a special ingredient that conferred eternal life to those who ate it).<br /><br />I won't spoil the surprise by revealing that ingredient...<br /><br />Another thing: Gebhardt's does still make chili powder, but its formulation has changed over the years. Half a century ago, the powder was much darker, mostly ancho chilies, with a deep wonderful fragrance. It came in a narrow, angular bottle -- and we always had Texas relatives send it to us, because it was unavailable in NY (it still is pretty uncommon outside of TX).Garyhttp://onthetable.usnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24170237.post-83483316435134105442010-08-12T17:08:14.614+10:002010-08-12T17:08:14.614+10:00Chili goes back long before the 1900's, and pe...Chili goes back long before the 1900's, and perhaps the Texas prison system. For all I know, they just shot criminals back then. John Thorne has written a fantastic essay about the origins and variations of chili.Auntie Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01293376052903563927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24170237.post-52542474384885282462010-08-12T00:39:45.066+10:002010-08-12T00:39:45.066+10:00I've often wondered how institutions maintain ...I've often wondered how institutions maintain diets that aid in normal body functions... this menu helps clear that up... with large numbers of inmates, dietary problems could be enormous, I would imagine... thanks for your efforts and sharing... come visit when you can...<br /><br />Twitter: SolarChiefSharlene T.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08520928982756928527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24170237.post-65267626757228928602010-08-11T17:19:32.149+10:002010-08-11T17:19:32.149+10:00Thanks Wafna. I always learn so much from informat...Thanks Wafna. I always learn so much from informative comments like yours. So, no meat for supper? I guess that makes sense, after Veal Stew for the midday meal.<br />Thanks, <br />Janet.The Old Foodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00766403052971301718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24170237.post-25449372153452888462010-08-11T17:17:06.380+10:002010-08-11T17:17:06.380+10:00Thanks Pete! I think I assumed that Gebhardt's...Thanks Pete! I think I assumed that Gebhardt's Chili Powder was no longer available - I am delighted that it is.<br />Kind regards<br />JanetThe Old Foodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00766403052971301718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24170237.post-56009152105148958612010-08-11T13:01:48.780+10:002010-08-11T13:01:48.780+10:00Gebhardt's is still the most dependable of the...Gebhardt's is still the most dependable of the made chili powders. My mother used it all her life (New Mexico, 1936, was when she started cooking) and I swear by it. Of course, in modern times it's very much the fashion to prepare your own combination of herbs and spices for chili-ed foods, rather like making your own curry powder, but for quick meals that taste authentic, Gebhardt's is the thing to use.Petenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24170237.post-85889556031224029072010-08-11T06:19:33.122+10:002010-08-11T06:19:33.122+10:00Chili in the grand Texas tradition never includes ...Chili in the grand Texas tradition never includes beans, but the formatting of the Dallas jail menu suggests the dish was "chilli beans" (and so "veal stew" and "Irish potatoes", as differentiated from sweet potatoes.) In the south central Texas tradition, "chili beans" are pinto beans stewed with onion, some kind of meat and spices like the Gebhardt chili powder.<br /><br />Note also the jail menu calls the evening meal "supper". That would suggest the noon meal was the heavier. The day's big meal is usually called "dinner", whether served at noon or night.Wafnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08395374783752615505noreply@blogger.com