Highway 221 stretches all the way across South Carolina from the lakes of the Savannah River into the mountains of North Carolina. Eleanor is driving. I am in the shotgun seat and Mathew is in the backseat covered in sleeping bags and quilts against the cold. It is 25 degrees in Beech Mountain today. Last weekend the snow fell for three days. Highway 221 goes through my town, then Chesnee, SC, Rutherforton, NC, Marion, Linville and then we take 105 briefly and then 184 left at the stoplight in Banner Elk. The mountain towns converge here.
Grandfather Mountain and only 17 miles to Boone.
We see the quilt squares painted on barns along the route. Rhododenron is braced against the ice, but the road is good. Christmas Tree farms are all along the way, perfect little green cones dotting the mountain sides. In a field is a life size tin sculpture of a soldier mounted on a tin horse. A red Confederate Flag is draped across his chest. We call him "the Confederate Zombie".
After Eleanor negotiates the winding roads with frightening drop offs (which terrify us), we find Beech Mountain Parkway and make a right. We stop at Fred's on the left for a rest room and supplies. Downstairs there is a cafe and grill thronged with skiers and tubers. After Fred's we go 2 miles down and a right on Pine Ridge, left on Teaberry and the 2nd left on Rhododendron, a final left on Poplar Drive. It is the second house on the left.
The cousins are sledding down the driveway. The uncles are watching them. They are dressed in thick snow clothes and boots, warm knit hats and gloves.
Eleanor and I take a hike around the neighborhood at twilight, up and down the winding roads. Houses glow in the dark with warm lighted yellow windows. This is a mountain paradise. Michael and Asha took the children on one of the two hiking trails recommended on a map, but the snow was knee deep and they had to turn back.
In the yard of our house, deer are eating corn at a feeding station built just for them.
Asha and Michael have made vegetarian chili with rice and sides of cheese, yogurt, and cucumbers.
Tomorrow will be snow tubing and ice skating.
All is well.
Always a Bridesmaid Chili
Original recipe with which I won 2nd place in a Texas Pete contest. Asha and Michael modified it and won first place in an elementary school cookoff. It can be vegetarian."
In a large iron pot, saute 2 lbs fresh ground chuck or ground turkey (meat optional)
1 large onion, chopped
4 to 5 cloves crushed garlic
1 grated carrot
1 grated yellow crooked neck squash or 1 grated zucchini
1 medium green pepper, chopped
1 or 2 chopped jalapeno peppers (also optional)
1 tsp cumin
3 tsp chili powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
stir until meat is browned,
add 2 Tbsp sugar
To this mixture add:
2 cans black beans drained
2 cans pinto beans, drained (cook beans yourself is better)
2 large cans crushed tomatoes
1 can tomato diced or pieces
Simmer for at least an hour
Add generous chopped cilantro
Serve with homemade salsa and sour cream
and grated Monterey Jack cheese.
Cornbread is the best accompaniment.
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