all in the family

i made chili last night. no applause necessary. i tell you this because for the last 7 years and some odd months my husband has made the chili. best chili you could eat. i occasionally would cut up the meat but i let the master do the rest. he opens cans, adds some stuff, makes a terrible mess and lets it cook in the crockpot overnight. surely, i could not duplicate this taste. with the new job and extra hours i decided i would make the chili. plus, our carpenter was here and he needs a nice meal for all of his hard work too. otherwise, it's cereal. so, i get the meat cut. put in the beans. add some chili powder. i didn't cook it overnight so i was skeptical on the taste. i waited with anticipation all day. as we sat down for dinner i was anxiously awaiting approval. my dad took a bite. my husband took a bite. i think it passed. i took a bite. it tasted exactly like my husband's chili. exactly. because it's bush's freaking chili. all of these years i thought he was adding a special concoction. apparently, even the dog could have made this chili. and the mess he creates must just be for show. now, i cannot fault my husband for this for two reasons. one, i don't ever complain when someone else is cooking. second, it's hereditary. yes, hereditary. you see, about six years ago we made a trip to arizona to see his grandparents. gram and pap. she was in her late eighties and he in his early nineties. they have both certainly earned grambo status. they never cease to amaze me in what they are still doing. driving and going out for chinese are two of my favorites. gram can even kick both legs up to her head while sitting. i can't even bend over to tie my own shoes. she also makes the best pies in the entire world. not only does she make her own crust but the edge of that crust is formed so perfect you would think it came out of sara lee's factory. i think we had fresh pie every night for a week while we were visiting. now, her pecan pie is my husband's favorite and i have to say it is mine too. they have their own pecan trees and pap shucks the shells and gram makes the pie. good living. so, i was absolutely thrilled that gram gave me her pecan pie recipe before we left. a family heirloom. and pap shucked me a gallon bag full of pecans to take back. enough to make two pies. oh, i couldn't wait to get back home and make me a pie. of course, i used the store crust but it was going to be good. i start to put the ingredients into the bowl and as i am pouring the karo syrup i noticed there was a recipe for a pecan pie on the label. out of curiosity i started to read the ingredients. i read them again. and again. it's gram's recipe. i couldn't believe my eyes. here i thought i really had something only to find out every one else in the world had the same recipe. and the pie? oh, the crust got burned and it of course did not taste like the pie gram made. i called her shortly after and thanked her for the 'family recipe' and to tell her my pie didn't turn out so good. she laughed and said with her quick wit that i didn't put enough love in it. i guess i must have put enough love in the chili.