[greeneyes]

That’s really good growth on the garlic isn’t it? I am going to have to rework my budget before I buy any more plants or seeds.

Almost every insurance policy we have home, car, life, health is going up. Plus, in spite of our actual usage of electricity going down, our bill is going up 50 bucks per month. Income will be going down at least 200 bucks. Que Sera Sera.

[Black Agnes]

I got a bit of cash from my parents for my birthday so I bought the saffron crocuses with that. I like to cook and have enough geegaws already. We budget about $25 per parent and this will just about hit that mark for our moms. If we spent more than that they’d fuss. I’d planned to buy saffron crocuses earlier in the fall but we didn’t have any spare cash just then. Imagine my surprise when I learned they were still available! They usually sell out in September or October.

Maybe I can get them to be happy and sell the bulbs or just sell the saffron. Or, given our health insurance deductible will be TWELVE THOUSAND DOLLARS next year up from $2500 I might see if the docs will do old fashioned trade for service with that :P

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Here's the recipe:

2 lb. sirloin beef in cubes (lean stew meat)
2 large yellow and 2 large red onions chopped
3 jalapenos seeded and chopped
3 tomatillos skinned and chopped
12 green onions chopped
4 green peppers chopped
2 or 3 red or yellow peppers (for color)
4-5 tomatoes peeled and chopped
1 can tomato paste
4 teaspoons chili powder
2 teaspoons salt
2-3 teaspoons paprika
2 teaspoons black pepper
2 cans Bush's pinto beans
1 car Bush's black beans
1 big pot.

Brown the beef and drain the excess fat. Add spices.
Bring to medium heat and throw in everything you've chopped except for the green onions.
If liquid is lacking (depends on tomatoes) add a can of beer
Bring to a boil, mix and let cool.
Add beans and sprinkle chopped green onions on each serving.
Serve with corn bread or tortillas.