I’ve started Edge of Eternity and we are now in the 1960s! It’s amazing to me how much I actually don’t know. Yes- I did know there was a wall in Berlin. But if you asked me when it was built, I would have said… right after WWII? No! It was built in 1961, after the US and USSR threatened war over the Berlin crisis. This was going on during the Civil Rights protests in the US. What an incredibly turbulent time! Needless to say, I’m loving this book.
This is the third book in Ken Follett’s Century Trilogy, and in between books 2 and 3 I quickly read this:
This was a reread, as all Agatha Christies are for me. I found it at the used bookstore, flipped through it and didn’t recognize any of the character’s names. I took that as a good sign, and decided to risk it. So many times I start an Agatha Christie (I read them all at least thirty years ago) and remember the ending about halfway through.
Not this time! I KNOW I read this one, but I truly couldn’t remember it. I even tried out different “ingenious” solutions: “The narrator is the murderer! The priest isn’t really a priest! Someone is a long-lost son!” Nope. The ending was a complete surprise. I really enjoyed this reread!
Eating wise… I’ve continued to pretend that it’s not hot, muggy, and steamy here, and made chili! I while ago I made Vegan Cincinnati Chili from this website. I was planning to make that again, but when I went to the website, I noticed he also has a recipe for “Texas Chili” which is called Best Damn Vegan Chili Ever. Well! I had to try that.
It was very good! I’m not sure I believe the claims that this chili is “award winning.”. But to be fair, I did leave out two “optional” ingredients, pickled jalapenos and masa harina. Mayne next time I’ll put those in and see if it wins any awards.
I will say that my husband LOVED it! We ate it for two dinners, and both times he exclaimed over how much he enjoyed it.
Chili: Cincinatti, or Texas style?
What are you reading now?
21 Responses
I have no opinion regarding chili, I almost never make it and when I do, it’s my recipe. So, Calgary style? That’s where I came up with the recipe. I’ll go with that.
I only knew about the Berlin wall going up in 1961 because of reading Kairos recently. It basically happened overnight, it’s so crazy!
Yes! People had no idea it was going to happen, and had been crossing over between East and West Berlin all the time. Then suddenly one day they couldn’t- so crazy.
Okay, I’m interested in this “Calgary style” chili!
I’m not sure if I’ve ever had Cincinnati chili, but I’m not opposed. BTW guess where I was last weekend? Yep, Cincinnati! I couldn’t resist having dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory, which was a childhood favorite.
I was today years old when I learned the Berlin wall went up in 1961! The real question is how much longer before I join in on the Ken Follet party? I’m intrigued.
Oh darn- you could have eaten Cincinnati style chili IN Cincinnati! Btw I got your postcard today!!!
I haven’t tried Cincinnati chili and I’m actually not sure if I’ve had Texas chili either — my mom always made chili with beans which apparently Texans say is wrong, but that’s how I like it. But now I’m curious to try the Texas style chili you made!
Yes, I’m pretty sure “authentic” Texas style chili only has meat. This one definitely has beans, and also a meat substitute of your choice. I used seitan because that’s what my husband loves. I would probably like it better with tempeh, and if you’re a fan of the Beyond or Impossible meats, it would probably be really good with those.
I don’t have an opinion re. Cincinnati or Texas chili, but I like the look of the scoop of guac(?) in your chili bowl!
I will get to Edge of E someday, but I needed to take a break…
It is guac! Definitely added a lot.
I’m wishing I had taken a break before E of E because two library holds just came in… sigh.
I like the chili my husband and I make, adapted from my grandmother’s recipe. It’s VERY simple, but has ground beef and red kidney beans. And tons of chipotle. YUM.
Right now I’m listening to Long Island Compromise which is A JOURNEY. I’m not sure I like it at all or any of the characters, and a lot of it I find kind of horrifying and repulsive, but also it’s quite hilarious and I love the style?
Huh, that sounds interesting!!!
I just made chili too. Added corn. Bought cornbread
Reading Lucky.
Yum- i love corn in chili. This recipe didn’t have any though (maybe corn isn’t “texas” style?)
I didn’t realize there were different styles of chili, but I guess that makes sense. I do NOT want my chili to be spicy. I have a low spice tolerance. Flavourful? Yes. Spicy? No.
I’m reading Summer Romance and inspired by Birchie a memoir by a sociopath. I just finished Catastrophic Happiness by Catherine Newman. It was the right time of life to read that. If I read it when my kids were little I wouldn’t have believed one day I would no longer be required to wipe butts and buckle them into car seats!
Sounds like you’re reading some interesting books! I’ve heard of the second two you mention.
i like a little spice in my chili but not too much. I definitely want more flavor than heat.
Yeah, I make “Birmingham chili” which starts with a tin of mixed beans in a mild chili sauce and ends up packed with a million different veg you would never find in a chili!
I’m reading a book about the volcanic origins of the UK (to review for Shiny New Books) and the new Lissa Evans, “Small Bomb at Dimperley” which is a historical novel set just after WW2 where a country house will have to be sold if the inheritor can’t find a solution to their money worries.
Ooh! That second book sounds good- now I’m fascinated with that time period.
I’ve definitely made chili with a lot of different vegetables in it, and I like that too! I’m guessing true “Texas chili” has lots of meat and no veg. This one at least had beans!
I like beans in my chili so I don’t think I would like Texas chili. I thought Cincinnati chili was eaten on top of spaghetti so I am a pass on that as well since I don’t eat pasta (there are GF options but they are pretty terrible). So I like my chili recipes! One has 3 beans, one is a sweet and Smoky chili which is less healthy since it has brown sugar in it. But it’s probably my favorite of the two.
I’m reading ‘The Knock Out Queen’ which is a backlist title of the author of ‘Margo’s Got Money Troubles’. She was in a podcast recently and I was reminded how much I loved her first book so am working through her back catalog. It’s really good so far!
Yes, Cincinnati chili is usually served over pasta- actually I think it always is, except that when I made it I didn’t do that for myself (the rest of the family had it the “right” way though.) Your sweet and smoky chili sounds GOOD.
Everyone has liked Margo’s Got Money Troubles! I’m swamped with books right now- but I’d like to read it at some point.
The Century Trilogy is so good. I just felt like it was pretty satisfying the whole way through. Did I have to suspend my disbelief that people just happened to be everywhere big, worldwide events were happening? Sure. Did I mind that? Not at all!
I don’t understand the differences in chili styles and I couldn’t really even figure it out looking at those recipes. I have not yet developed my ideal vegetarian chili, but I think it might be a good goal for the winter!
Yes, that would be a good goal- develop the idea vegetarian chili. Maybe I’ll join you in that.
Well… the part I’m reading right now, with the Cuban Missile Crisis, all the characters DO work in politics, so it’s understandable they would be right there. I guess in any work of historical fiction you might have to suspend disbelief at least a little, but I’m okay with that!
You are making me really want to read these books! Maybe a good 2025 goal, haha.
I love chili but I do a turkey chili recipe that has lots of different beans. I don’t know what style it is, lol.
I’m currently listening to Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers and loving it SO MUCH!