Thorin Oakenshield’s snow day #richardarmitage

We’re supposed to get some significant snow today and tomorrow (most area schools closed today for fear they would not get the kids home in the afternoon). First several inches (top predictions are 12 in and I think we have a solid 4 already), and then some blowing around to come.

The Thorins could tell something was up, because I soaked a large container of red kidney beans last night and cooked them this morning so I could start a large pot of classic Wisconsin-style chili. I’d sauteed my onion and celery which got a good smell going through the upstairs.

Cardboard cutout Thorin was not curious — in fact, he retreated further into his cellophane wrappings. POP!Thorin, on the other hand, wanted to catch some of the atmosphere, so I let him go outside.

Unfortunately he refused to put on his snowsuit. He insisted that it makes it hard to go to the bathroom. He has a point.

Here he is at 11:40, about twenty minutes after the snow started. “You should have put me in the refrigerator first, the snow is melting on my head!”

I browned my ground venison (dad harvested a deer in November) and ground chuck (because venison all by itself is, well, very venisony — even the deer from our part of the state, which eat a lot of corn).

At noon, everything was fine and he looked like he was having fun. “Are you sure you don’t want to put on your snowsuit?” “No, I’ll be fine!”

I stirred up the pot and added my beans and stewed tomatoes and checked the consistency. I added tomato paste, some water, and some tomato juice.

At 12:30, I was a little concerned. “What about your sword?” “I’ll be fine!” “It’s really sweet how the snow is starting to pile up on your tiny little nose!” “Bah!”

The soup’s consistency looked good, so I added two of the three crucial ingredients — chilli powder and paprika. Since it was snowing extra hard I put in an extra tablespoon of chilli powder. Sadly, we were all out of the third crucial ingredient — the bay leaf. I usually don’t salt at this point because salt can make cooking beans tough. Put the lid back on and set it to simmer.

This is how the yard looked at 1:00 p.m.

So I decided to check on Thorin again.

“Thorin, I’m concerned about your beard.” “I’ll be fine! Leave me alone!”

Went back inside and put the noodles on. I usually cook them half in water and then add them al dente to the soup so they don’t soak up all the broth. I like at least a little soup in my soup. I also salted at this point. When the noodles were half done I added them to the soup.

At this point the house was starting to smell pretty nice, and I was thinking about doing some writing. I made a big glass of unsweetened iced tea (perverse — I really should be drinking milk, but you know how I feel about milk) and sat down, when I heard a muffled noise from the porch.

“Can I come in now? I think I am turning into a snowdrift!” “Nah, in order for you to turn into a snowdrift the wind would have to be blowing harder.”

Snow is an insulator, so he was probably warmer under the snow than he had been earlier, but I didn’t want to risk him turning into a dwarf popsicle over the afternoon, so I let him come in.

“Aw, don’t cry, Thorin!” “I’m not crying!” “Of course you’re not.”

*snuffle, snuffle* “Here, have a towel washcloth!”

I told him he could have some chili, too, and he nodded his head gratefully.

“You said we were having chilli! What the heck is this?” “You’re in Wisconsin, Thorin, get used to it!”

But I just looked, and I noticed he ate the whole thing. Venison and all.

~ by Servetus on February 2, 2016.