Posts Tagged ‘products’

Weekend Flats – Telluride

sohlson posted this Thursday, May 2nd, 2013

 

Horny Toad loves weekend getaways, and we know you do too… so every month from March until August we’re picking a great town and giving you the insider’s scoop on where to eat, drink and play. For the third month we’re taking you to picturesque Telluride, Colorado.

A key ingredient to spending a weekend in the mountains is packing well. Enter our Weekend Flats Instagram contest and consider yourself outfitted.  All you need to do is hashtag a great photo you’ve taken of one of your favorite weekend destinations with #HTlovesweekends @hornytoadactivewear until 5/31/13.  At end of May we’ll select the photo we like best and the winner will get a $150 Horny Toad gift card!

Without further ado, here’s the scoop on Telluride:

1.  Our Empirical Dress is ideal for down time at high altitude. Made from a go-anywhere blend of Tencel® and organic cotton (with a touch of spandex for stretch), it’s universally flattering and so comfortable you can transition from browsing main street to drinks and dinner, no problem.

2. Horny Toad was born in Telluride with the Winter Toque as its first ever product.  Though we don’t make this particular hat anymore, we make plenty of others that will serve you well on a weekend getaway.  Be sure to check them out.

3.  The Weldon Shirt’s sole purpose is to keep you looking and feeling cool, no matter the situation or temperature.  Made from fine organic cotton, all you need to do is throw it in your bag and you’re covered for any number of high country adventures.

4. For the best cocktails in town go to the ‘There’ Bar.  It’s on the west end, small, intimate, and the drinks are vibrant and memorable. You’ll really dig it.

5.  Our Easystreet Short will help you navigate a weekend in Telluride with ease. Made from debonair linen and hard-working cotton, it manages moisture, wears like iron and gets better looking every time its worn.

6. There are many galleries worth checking out in Telluride. There’s one on the main drag that we love called The Telluride Gallery and another art school/gallery combo called the Ah Haa School, located in the old train.

7.  For us, a great hoodie is a travel companion we never leave home without. The Hi Jack is made of an eco-friendly blend of soft organic cotton and durable poly French terry and rests on the skin with a weight that’s fine-tuned to handle seasonal transitions and everyday utility, which means it’s perfect for layering.

8.  For coffee, tea, chai and hot chocolate be sure to hit up the The Coffee Cowboy.  Their coffee drinks are made from locally roasted beans and their fresh pastries and smoothies are yummy.

9. When talking travel to Telluride, it’s hard to overstate the usefulness of the Chambord Blazer. At ease with shorts, jeans, a skirt or dress, it’s also perfect over a tank or tee for a summer evening layer. Dress it up or down, with sneakers or heels, you truly can’t go wrong. Don’t miss the extra pocket, perfect for stashing dog treats.

10.  Lodging in Telluride can be pricey, but luckily there’s plenty of great camping in the area.  Start here when researching a place to sleep under the stars.

11. Bear Creek Trail is a beautiful, short hike whose trailhead is right in town.  It has great views and ends at a cascading waterfall.  Round trip it’s about four miles with the option to extend it by taking one of the trails that connect with it. Getting to the falls takes between one and 1.5 hours.  And if you need a great pair of hiking boots, we highly recommend La Sportiva’s Omega GTX.  Matter of fact, winner of this month’s Instagram contest also wins a pair of these sweet boots!

12. You’ve heard us extoll the virtues of Mountainfilm in Telluride many times.  For good reason:  since its beginning in 1979, Mountainfilm in Telluride is one of America’s longest-running film festivals. Through the years, in and out of trends and fads, Mountainfilm has been best described by one unchanging word: inspiring. The 2012 festival runs May 24 – 27 – we highly recommend you go!

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One of Our Favorite Yoga Teachers

sohlson posted this Wednesday, May 1st, 2013

by:  Safia

Eddie Ellner is my yoga teacher and friend.  I love this video Sonos made about his classes because it so accurately captures their vibe.  He teaches eight times a week at his Santa Barbara studio, Yoga Soup, where his playlists are just as likely to include Guns n Roses as they are Krishna Das.  What the video doesn’t say is that Eddie is “a regular guy slogging his way through life just like everyone else” (his words).  But he is also something of a doctor whose apothecary is music and yoga postures.  He can alchemize the two so that the power of an asana combines with just the right song for a blissful experience of being in a human body, totally unfettered by thought.  Even if it’s just for a breath or two.

photo: Sonos

The practice of yoga can do a lot of things.  It can heal your body and tame your mind. It can reveal the truth behind your very existence. It can even sculpt your muscles and make you more attractive to potential suitors.  In the twenty years I’ve practiced yoga, I’ve experienced all this and more. Yoga itself is a brilliant and specific science… but Eddie’s transmission of it reflects the ultimate truth:  that each of us is “a free being in a free body.”  He inspires his students to question the looping tape in our brains, so full of stories about how it should be but isn’t, and what we need to be doing but aren’t.  He encourages us to stop believing everything we think and just let ourselves BE.

And I’ll be damned if I’m not a lot happier than I was before I met him.

To kick off Teacher Appreciation Month I emailed him some questions.  These are his unedited replies.  Count this interview among the things for which I am grateful to him.

Who are you?
whoever you think I am

What’s the best thing about being a yoga teacher?
holding the big picture as a job description, control of the playlist, relationships with a variety of people at different places in life.

What’s the hardest thing about being a yoga teacher?
tie
a) translating personal insight into useful class material before it becomes sentimental
b) the bottomless depth of my own ignorance.  Arggthh!
c) relationships with a variety of people at different places in life

What do you do for fun?
teach yoga and play ping pong

photo: Sonos

What do you find funny?
I recently cracked a tooth on an olive pit that came from a jar of pitless olives. 

What pisses you off?
false advertising

If you could plan your final meal what would you eat?
something light

With whom would you share it?
good friends I’ve lost track of

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 What inspires you?
the reality of less mental torture

When are you most comfortable?
when I’m not seeking comfort

Finish the sentence please: “If I wasn’t a yogi…”
I’d be a cabana boy, which I was for many years: delivering what’s needed with good cheer.

What is your fondest wish for the world?
love the parade, pierce the charade

Don’t forget to check back here again.  To celebrate Teacher Appreciation Month we’re featuring one amazing teacher each week for the entire month of May. 

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Grilled Cheese Smackdown

sohlson posted this Thursday, April 18th, 2013

In honor of Grilled Cheese Month, we hosted the 1st Annual Horny Toad Grilled Cheese Smackdown Invitational.  We were delighted and honored that our friends at Loa Tree, C’est Cheese, the Santa Barbara Independent, LOVEmikana and Bici Centro rose to the challenge.

Fueled by local brew from Telegraph Brewery and local wine from Municipal Winery.

Though Horny Toad contributed some mighty fine entries (mac & cheese in a grilled cheese sandwich anyone?), the winners were as follows:

 

The amazing presentation of Team Avant Grillers.

Best Presentation: Santa Barbara Independent (team name: Avant Grillers)
The Trixie:
Brie and Gorgonzola with fresh strawberry honey butter and toasted almonds on a sweet Hawaiian roll with a side of strawberry relish in a balsamic reduction paired with a 10 year old aged rare tawny port from Kalyra Winery.

Team Avant Grillers bringing it.

 

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The lovely ladies of LOVEmikana!

Most Well-Choreographed Grilled Cheese:  LOVEmikana
Ingredients
- Homemade Bread
- Fire Roasted Peppers
- Cooked Chorizo Bits
- Emmentaller (a mild, nutty melting cheese)
- Homemade Guacamole
- Unsalted Butter
Instructions
- Heat cast iron skillet on medium heat.
- Meanwhile, build your beautiful sandwich with above listed ingredients. Butter both slices of bread.
- Place into hot skillet
- Wait impatiently
- Flip
- Continue to wait impatiently
- Eat. Enjoy with glee.

LOVEmikana’s culinary masterpiece.

 

In our minds, cheese is this valuable.

Best On The Fly Prep: BiciCentro
We do not have their recipe as of this posting, but rest assured, it was delicious and contained pesto.  Delish.

 

 

The winners of the Golden Spatula award, Michael & Kathryn Graham of C’est Cheese.

Best Overall:  C’est Cheese Goat Grilled Cheese
Monterey Jacques Organic Goat Jack from Sierra Nevada
Beemster goat Gouda from Holland
Fire-roasted piquillo peppers from Spain
Spanish spicy chorizo
D’Angelo’s Italian Loaf bread with a smear of Plugra butter

 

 

The guys from Loa Tree brought their championship aprons.

And though they didn’t win an actual award, Loa Tree definitely deserves Honorable Mention (and shout out for best hangover food):
Ingredients
Sour Dough Bread
Organic Bacon
Bacon fat
Organic, garden fresh tomatoes
Organic, garden fresh basil
Cheddar
Buffalo Mozzarella
Salt and pepper
Steps
1) Fry bacon, store bacon fat.
2) Prep ingredients: slice tomatoes, shred cheddar cheese, slice buffalo mozzarella thin, chop basil into slivers, spread bacon fat onto all bread slices (3 slices per sandwich). Salt and pepper tomatoes if desired.
3) Heat panini press to high.
4) Once all ingredients are prepared, take one slice of bread, place a layer of bacon on that slice and top with shredded cheddar. Take second slice of bread and place sliced mozzarella on it. Place these two slices ‘open face’ on panini press. Place third slice with no cheese on panini press as well.
5) Heat open face slices till cheese melts, holding top of panini press half-closed (placing top of press close to cheese but not touching it); heat 3rd slice till golden brown, flipping as often as necessary to achieve golden brown perfection. Option to press panini onto the cheese itself to achieve complete and golden crispy melt.
6) Once melt is complete on both breads, stack buffalo mozzarella bread gently on top of cheddar bread – do NOT flip buffalo bread slice, but instead, place with buffalo cheese remaining ‘open face.’ Add third slice of bread to top off the buffalo slice. Press gently with panini.
7) After a quick press, remove sandwich from panini, remove top slice of bread, and insert tomato slices and basis shreds.  Replace top slice of bread.
8) Optional. Once sandwich is complete, option to add light layer of crumbled bacon and shredded cheese to top of sanwhich, re-insert into panini press, and lightly melt cheeze/bacon crumble by pressing top of panini press to top of sandwhich.

These were all SO good! We’d like to thank our friends for making this night such a fun and tasty event – we can’t wait to do it again next year!

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Fondue is Good For You

sohlson posted this Tuesday, April 9th, 2013

It’s our second annual melted cheese day!  It all began last year as a friendly competition to determine which tastes better: queso or fondue.  And while queso won hearts with its highly palatable, salty, gooey, barely-even-dairy ways, fondue has the real staying power.

The golden rule to fondue is this: as soon as whatever you dunk emerges from the pot, it must go directly to your mouth without delay.  Abiding by this simple guideline will forever ensure your fondue enjoyment.

Here is Kate’s winning recipe.  And feel free to write us if you have one too – it’s our belief you can never have too much melted cheese in your life.

Kate’s Classic Fondue
1/2 lb emmenthaler
1/2 lb gruyere
(Don’t substitute other cheeses, in my opinion, you will be disappointed.)
2 tbl corn starch
1 large garlic clove, peeled and split open
1 cup dry white wine (This is a great place to use up random leftover wine.)
juice of 1 medium lemon
1/2 tsp dry mustard (I admit to forgetting to bring the mustard so we didn’t have it today but no one missed it.)
nutmeg – fresh ground if you’ve got it

-Shred the cheese, toss it with the cornstarch, set aside.
-Rub inside of heavy bottomed pot with cut garlic.
-Add wine & lemon to pot over medium heat and bring to simmer.
-Remove garlic
-Stir in the cheese by handfuls, stirring constantly but gently, (use a wooden spoon) make sure not to miss any spot in your stirring so it doesn’t stick or ball up anywhere.
-Manage the heat so it never boils but gets good and hot.
-Stir in a few generous grinds of nutmeg (or a pinch if from a jar) add mustard if you want.
-Remove from stove and place on a warming rack over sterno or a candle.
-Spear bite size pieces of anything that would be good with cheese on it – cubed crusty bread, obviously, mushrooms, sliced apples, blanched broccoli, cherry tomatoes – go wild.
-You need to keep it hot to maintain the wonderful gooey texture and stir frequently to keep from sticking. (But don’t over work it or gets stringier.)
-This serves maybe 4 for a meal or more as a side dish.

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Weekend Flats – New Orleans

sohlson posted this Thursday, April 4th, 2013

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Horny Toad loves weekend getaways, and we know you do too… so every month until August we’re picking a great city and giving you the insider’s scoop on where to eat, drink and play.   For this second month we’re firing up our taste for crawfish and good music and heading to New Orleans, Louisiana.

We know a key ingredient to a good trip is packing well. Enter our Weekend Flats Instagram contest and consider yourself outfitted.  All you need to do is hashtag a great photo you’ve taken of one of your favorite weekend destinations with #HTlovesweekends @hornytoadactivewear until 4/30/13.  Even better, the entry with the most amount of likes by the end of April will get a $150 Horny Toad giftcard- so be sure to tag your friends!

Without further ado, here’s the scoop on The Big Easy:

1.  Our Open Air Straw Hat is a perfect way to keep your cool in New Orleans, thanks to its super comfy, soft elasticized inner sweatband and understated solid outer band that just happens to go with everything.

2.  Regarding crawfish boils, the folks at nola.eater.com put it well: “…the best crawfish are boiled by friends, with friends, wherever there’s enough room to set up the boil and the table, lay out some blankets and throw around a football. But sometimes that just isn’t an option. The cravings are too urgent, the friends are out of town or whatever. For times like these, sometimes you just have to go to a professional.”  Check out their comprehensive guide to the best crawfish boils in New Orleans here.

3.  Think of the Samba Wave Tank as the best of all worlds: it has a fluid, wave-like pattern that gives texture without the intensity of a print; it’s made with our feel-great eco-loving blend of organic cotton and Tencel®, and its bra-friendly, feminine shape make it a great match for jeans, shorts and skirts alike.  In other words, it’s the perfect hot-weather, day-to-night travel companion.

4.  Reyn Studios Yoga  is located in the Warehouse District right across the street from the Saturday Farmer’s Market, so it’s the perfect foil to all the food and drink you’re sure to enjoy while in New Orleans.  All levels are welcome and there’s a great selection of class times throughout the day.

5.  We like our clothes like we like our traveling companions: smart, fun and easy-going. The Chambord Reversible Women’s Short succeeds on all accounts. They’re fetching and versatile, but also fully reversible so you can wear them every which way for days.

6.  Walk in to the St. James Cheese Company and you’re sure to be greeted by the scent of heaven… that is, if like us, you’re pretty sure heaven smells like cheese.  Their wide selection and knowledgeable staff are stellar, even by New Orleans standards. Have lunch there or just pick up some nibbles for the road.  You can also buy a bottle from the wine shop next door and sit outside on the patio for a nice afternoon treat.

7.  Our tropical-weight, core-cooling Open Air Men’s Shirt will pick up any and all available breezes with a specially engineered open weave.  It’s made from 100% organic cotton, so perfect for eating spicy gumbo in the heat and humidity.

8.  The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (Jazzfest) is April 26 – May 5 and, arguably, a much better time to visit than Mardi Gras. It blends a wide mix of internationally renowned musical guests (just check out this year’s lineup!) with food and crafts.  But don’t take our word for it: the Wall Street Journal says “[it] showcases a wider, deeper lineup of essential American musical styles than any festival in the nation…”   And Life magazine has called “the country’s very best music festival.’’

9. When your style needs are befitting a city but the heat and humidity call for as little clothing as possible, the Unveil Dress is a great ally. Made from 100% organic cotton, the delicate check pattern of is beautiful, and the weave is so light it practically hovers. Yet it’s the details that elevate it to ideal travel companion status: three-quarter-length sleeves have a button tab; removable self-fabric belt adds shape, and the body is lined with soft poplin so you can enjoy the feeling of being naked without revealing a thing.

10. Cafe du Monde is a long-standing tourist attraction for a reason. It’s soooo good and offers inexpensive beignets and coffee at any hour of the day.  It’s located next to the river and Jackson Square in the heart of the French Quarter.  (Fair warning to those trying beignets for the first time – don’t wear dark clothes and don’t exhale when you bite down.  Beignet virgins will get powdered sugar all over themselves, guaranteed.)

11. True story: wear the Wai Walker men’s shorts on a Saturday in New Orleans and you’ll never think about changing clothes, not even once. Designed to accommodate a life that alternates outdoors and around town, they deliver the perfect mashup of looks and function with lightening fast dry time, spiffy handsomeness and life-enhancing details such as side hidden zipper pockets with an internal bungee loop and drain-and-dry mesh pocketing throughout.

12. Jitterbug Perfume is Tom Robbin’s fourth (and possibly best) book.  It’s partially set in New Orleans and the perfect read if you happen to have a little down time during your getaway.

Have an insider’s tip to share about New Orleans?  We’d love to hear it!  Also, for For Weekend Flats updates, be sure to sign up for our emails.

 

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Super Dressy

sohlson posted this Tuesday, March 26th, 2013

When it comes to dresses we never compromise. We need great fit, stellar looks and superb versatility or why bother? In our minds, the perfect dress should do it all: travel, work, play, dinner, first dates, last calls and even weddings.

This season we’ve got a little something for everyone.  Long and lean, fetching and water-friendly, feminine and light-as-air, universally flattering and eco-friendly.  Pick your favorite, throw it in a bag with your toothbrush and flipflops and never think twice about what you’re going to wear that weekend.

Got a great photo of yourself in your favorite Horny Toad dress?  Send to content at hornytoad dot com – we’d love to see it!

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The Inspiration Behind Our Spring 2013 Clothing Line

sohlson posted this Wednesday, March 13th, 2013

Kate is our Director of Design & Sustainability.  Maybe it’s the great chocolate she’s always feeding us, or how she can make the most ordinary meeting seem fun, or her insistence that ‘beauty is not optional’ or the way all the dogs gather around her desk like she’s the fairy dogmother. Maybe it’s all of those things… but she really has a way of taking it to a whole other level.  Here’s what she has to say about our spring ’13 line:

Where did you begin with this line?
I must admit to being profoundly under the influence of a recent Italian vacation when we embarked on designing spring ’13. I loved being surrounded by great and simple beauty at every turn and the pleasure of imprecision – the easy rhythm of unstructured days, an itinerary that meandered and meals that were discovered, not scheduled. Having clothes that support this kind of experience with their functionality and imperfect, comfortable beauty is certainly part of the simple pleasure. When there is no resistance the world opens up in improbable ways.

How is this evident in the spring line?
Clean lines and crisp perspective will always inspire us. You can see it in the strong architectural influence of past seasons. We also love paradox, which is what motivated us to explore the creative space between precise structure and the overwhelming freedom of formlessness.  The disciplined aesthetic that characterized Spring ‘12 evolved this season to be softer, a little blurred around the edges and very accommodating. Only half tongue-in-cheek, we’ve named our inspiration for spring ‘13 Shapeshifter.

Why Shapeshifter?
In the most literal sense, shifting shapes include rounded, sometimes dropped or scalloped hemlines, dropped shoulders, longer, more fluid lengths, easy volume, curved seams, rounded pockets and less pointed V-necks.  For print and pattern design we drew inspiration from the ultimate shapeshifter: water.  Water is absolutely vital, takes many forms and its adaptability and fluidity provide a wonderful metaphor for a life well-lived.

But only one aspect of Shapeshifter refers to form. Its more important quality implies versatility and the ability to move effortlessly through different environments. We’ve created styles that morph to suit a life lived outdoors and in, that work and play, handle the city with confidence but love the beach, the mountains and most of all, to travel.

Want to see all these ideas in action?  Check out the full spring line for men and women on www.hornytoad.com.

 

 

 

 

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Weekend Flats – Austin

sohlson posted this Thursday, February 28th, 2013

Horny Toad loves weekend getaways, and we bet you do too… so for the next 5 months we’re picking a city we like to visit and giving you the insider’s scoop on where to eat, drink and be merry.   This month we’re taking you to Austin, Texas, which happens to be an amazing Spring Break destination thanks to all college kids departing for sandy beaches and all the good music arriving for South by Southwest (SXSW).

Of course you need the right travel clothes for your weekend getaway.

Enter our Weekend Flats Instagram contest and consider yourself outfitted.  All you need to do is hashtag a great photo you’ve taken of one of your favorite weekend destinations with #HTlovesweekends @hornytoadactivewear until 3/31/13.  Even better, the entry with the most amount of likes by the end of March will get a $150 Horny Toad giftcard- so tag your friends!

Without further ado, here’s the scoop on Austin:

1. The Horny Toad Shadowstripe Pullover is the perfect thing to pack for a weekend in Austin. It’s beautiful and feels light as air thanks to the linen/cotton yarn its made from and it actually seems to get a little better every time it’s worn. Layer it over a simple tank or wear it under a lightweight jacket. Dress it up or down – there’s really no going wrong with this one.
2. Eat like a Texan. Boggy Creek Farm is one of the nation’s first urban market farms and provides “hyper-fresh produce for Austin since 1991.”  Market days are year-round, every Saturday and Wednesday from 8-1.
3.  The earthy, lightweight PDX Cotton Scarf transports your travel clothing from everyday to elegant and worldly and can pull an outfit together like no one’s business.
4.  Franklin Barbecue – Arguably some of the best bbq in Austin.
5. Like fresh air held together by organic cotton yarns, our Airbrush Short Sleeve Men’s Shirt is the über-ventilator welcomed by hot-weather enthusiasts everywhere. It’s lightweight and breezy and exactly what you want when the mercury and humidity rise but your yen to look and feel cool holds steadfast.
6.  Austin Texas Bike Polo Social Club.  If you’re a bike enthusiast (or a polo enthusiast!), ’nuff said.
7.  SXSW – The South by Southwest Conferences and Festivals are March 8-17, 2013. They’re a convergence of original music, independent film and emerging technology. And totally not to be missed.
8.  The Mean Eyed Cat is a Johnny Cash tribute bar.  We’re pretty sure he’d approve.
9.  For our money there’s no finer example of casual elegance than 100% pure linen.  Our Lithe Short promises to keep you looking and feeling cool as a summer breeze your Austin adventure.
10.  Get in on a beloved Austin pastime and find yourself a good game of horseshoes. 
11.  It might be hot as asphalt in August, but you can keep your cool with the right pair of shorts. The Easystreet Short is made from debonair linen and hard-working cotton that manages moisture, wears like iron and gets better with every wash.
12. Whether you’re traveling with your best friend or just miss him, Red Bud Isle Dog Park will give dog lovers the fix they need.  It’s a 13 acre off-leash dog park situated on a peninsula surrounded by Lady Bird Lake in Austin.  Don’t forget your Chuckit!

 

For Weekend Flats updates, be sure to sign up for our emails.

 

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Secret Admirer Playlist

sohlson posted this Wednesday, February 13th, 2013

Secret crushes are amazing.  They’re a glimpse of romantic perfection and a brief window into endless possibility.

For our friends who are happily in love, here’s a playlist to remind you of the first dazzling moments.  For people looking for love, here’s a playlist to remind you of what’s in store.  And for the ones who need a reason to get up and dance, here’s a playlist that’s gonna make you do just that.  Happy Valentine’s Day.
Love, The Toads

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Chili Cook-Off

cgray posted this Wednesday, January 2nd, 2013

Tradition says: For prosperity, eat black eyed peas on New Year’s Day.
We say: For good vibes and happy tastebuds, have a chili cook-off with your coworkers the week before New Year’s.

There were many delicious entries, including a vegetarian curry chili recipe.  As usual, it was a difficult call… here’s the winner, based on its explosion of flavors that, in some circles is considered palate searing, while in others is thought of as pleasantly spicy.

Stewed beans and cornbread.  Who knew complete satisfaction could be found so easily?

This recipe comes from our creative director, Jason.  It probably won’t surprise you to hear he’s from Texas.

Irwin Chili

4 lbs flank steak
2 tbsp flour
2 lbs center cut pork chops
1 tbsp cumin powder, crushed oregano leaves
3 cups chopped white onions
½ cup chopped celery (about 2 stalks)
4 medium tomatoes, chopped (or use a 14 oz can diced tomatoes)
2 tbsp vegetable oil (or olive oil)
4 cans (7 oz size) chili salsa
4 chilis roasted green chilies Anaheim variety (or one 10 oz can diced)
2 tbsp mild New Mexico ground chili powder
2 tbsp medium New Mexico ground chili powder
2 tbsp hot New Mexico chili powder
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 quart water
Salt and garlic salt to taste

Instructions:
Coarsely grind 2 lbs of flank steak (they can do this at the market). Cut remaining 2 lbs flank steak into 3/8” pieces. Toss the steak with the flour. Cut pork into ¼” squares.
Cook steak and pork separately in a large, heavy kettle. Stir frequently until meat changes color.
Combine meats in large kettle.  Add cumin & oregano and cook ½ hour, uncovered.
In a 2 quart sauce pan cook onions and celery in 2 tbsp olive oil for 10 minutes. Stir in chili powder, roasted chilis and garlic.
Add tomato-chili mixture and water to meat and stir. Cook for 1 to 1 ½ hours until thickened.
The last ½ hour should be just under a simmer. Stir now and then. If necessary, add water for desired consistency.
Add salt to taste.
Makes 1 ½ gallons.
I recommend cooking a day or more in advance – it’s better after sitting a bit. We like to top it with chopped onion and grated, sharp cheddar cheese. I also usually serve stuffed jalapeños. You can make these by halving pickled, whole jalapeños.  Remove the seeds and chop up some of the pickled carrot (in the brine) with softened cream cheese.  Add some of the pickle juice to blend. Wash and dry the jalapeños halves and stuff with this mixture.

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