The wheel has spun and Heather & I find ourselves with 17 dogs.  The two newest pack members, 9 year old Matt and 12 year old Bucky, have instantly settled in and the pack is showing their typical indifference.  Pictures coming soon.

• 2 lbs lean ground beef
• 3 cups cold water
• 1 large onion, finely diced
• 6 oz tomato paste
• 2 oz unsweet baking chocolate
• 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 3 bay leaves
• 4 tbsp chili powder
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 1-1/2 tsp salt
• 1-1/2 tsp ground allspice
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves

Put the ground beef in a large (6-8 quart) stockpot and cover with 3 cups of cold water.  Mix vigorously by hand – it is important to mix using your hand to achieve the proper texture – until the ground beef is broken up and completely mixed with the water.  The mixture should be thick and slushy.

Add the diced onion, tomato paste, unsweetened baking chocolate, and red wine vinegar and mix again by hand.

Add the spices and bay leaves and mix again by hand.

Place stockpot on high heat and bring to a boil, stirring often.  (Obviously you should use a spoon now, not your hand.)  Once boiling, reduce heat to a hard simmer and cover.  Cook for 1 hour and 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.  Remove lid and cook for 15 more minutes.  (2 hours total cooking time.)

Serve over spaghetti.  Cover with shredded cheddar cheese and finely diced onions.

China’s famous cliff tea, grown in the legendary Wu Yi mountains in the Fujian Province. Long, hand-rolled leaves are pan-fired at their aromatic peak, then charcoal-fired in small batches to produce the dark green color and rich, complex flavor. One of China’s “Ten Most Famous Teas.”

The Tea Table’s Wu Yi Yan Cha is a well-bodied oolong tea with a buttery, vegetal finish.  It’s murky gold-green brew tells the eyes what the tongue will quickly discover – this is a very complex tea.

This selection will produce well-balanced pots for two or three steepings.

Tea: Wu Yi Yan Cha
Price: $11.50/ounce
Vendor: The Tea Table
Direct Link to Tea: http://www.theteatable.com/product/WYYC.html

Superior Ti Kuan Yin (”Iron Goddess”) is a hand-made oolong with a complex flavor/aroma from China’s Fujian Province. A bit darker than the Jade Oolong with a more intense flavor and characteristic orchid-like aroma.

The Tea Table’s Superior Ti Kuan Yin tea is a lightly sweet and flowery oolong.  The subtle orchid undertones can be compounded with a few drops of honey mixed into a cup of tea.

This selection will produce a second pot that tends to have a higher complexity than the first.

Tea: Superior Ti Kuan Yin
Price: $4.00/ounce
Vendor: The Tea Table
Direct Link to Tea: http://www.theteatable.com/product/STKY.html

My taste in music is pretty diverse, but there are a few artists I count among my favorites that draw the inevitable question of “why?” coupled with a dropped jaw. Eminem is on that list. And for those that care, I find his music gripping and playful and I think his lyrics provide astute observations on culture. His new video is out now and the new CD drops on May 15.

Heather and I have been obsessed with stand up lately.  We saw Jiim Gaffigan last September and immediately decided that we would see all of our favorite comedians if they performed between Charlotte and Atlanta.  Last night we saw Brian Regan in Atlanta.  As an added bonus his brother Dennis opened for him.

The show was great.  His new material continues on the foundation of his earlier work, poking fun at the sub-par moments of everyday life.  If he performs anywhere near you, go see him.

Tung Ting Jade Superior is grown in Taiwan’s Tung Ting mountains at 6000 feet.  This hand-made Oolong is only oxidized about 22%, giving it a lovely pale green liquor. It has a delicate orchid-like flavor, very smooth and naturally sweet with an almost buttery mouth-feel.

The Tea Table’s Tung Ting Jade Superior is a delicate oolong tea with a lingering orchid bouquet.  The flowery nose and tongue invite you to close your eyes and take in every sensation from this sweet liquor.

This selection will produce well-balanced pots from its first three steepings.

Tea: Tung Ting Jade Superior
Price: $5.00/ounce
Vendor: The Tea Table
Direct Link to Tea: http://www.theteatable.com/product/TTJOS.html