Quick Chili

Who knew that when I moved to the Southwest my favorite recipe for chili from "Pasta Presto" by Norman Kolpas would continue to be so satisfying. Harvey demands a bowl of it at least twice a month, and enough to take to work with him the next day. Instead of pasta I use a combination of basmati and wild rice. The sauce can then be made as hot as you want, and I always use San Marzano canned tomatoes, breaking them up with my hands, and adjusting the flavoring as I go.

We have many southwestern and Mexican restaurants here in the valley of the sun. We visited the Heard Museum and had lunch at the excellent Arcadia Farms restaurant. My salad had a southwestern kick to it, and I can't wait to try their new branch at the Heard Museum North. We also like to eat at Sam's Restaurant downtown, where in the winter you can eat under the open air plaza, they have the most amazing tortilla chips, as well as a delicious salmon.

Our favorite southwestern restaurant is the Spotted Donkey, located in the El Pedregal shopping center where you sit among thousands of year old boulders,and have a view of the desert while sipping your Margarita. I do hope they do open their promised new restaurant, I hear they may be taking over at the Boulders Resort. We also love their Geronimo Restaurant in Santa Fe