Chili in the Southern summer of August? why, yes. My family will eat chili and soups year round, even when, like today, a “cold front” moves through bringing down the temperature to 90 degrees with the real feel 100 degrees!
So, apparently, Texas chili is meaty with no beans and spicy hot. Well, I love beans in chili and do not like spicy hot. I managed to find this chili recipe on a Texas cooking website. One reason, though, I chose this recipe is because of the name – Friday Night Chili! This Friday is my husband’s first football game against Trinity Christian School – Cedar Hill, a school is Texas…so chili it is…
I came across the sheet cake and had to make. I usually do not make heavy, rich desserts but this one is a must!!!! Oh my…so good!
For the book…
I love Brian Kilmeade’s books! I have read all of them except the one on Andrew Jackson (we have it at home but I haven’t read it yet). I hate to admit (very embarrassing for a history nerd) but I know very little (if close to nothing) about the Alamo and this part of Texas history. I know, I know! Weird! Shameful! But…I really do not remember even studying the details of this time period. Also, my love is British history, French history, and American Revolution/Founding of Nation history. I normally do not just pick up books on this time period. However, saying that, if you want to know more about this time period AND read it in a “story-telling” manner, get this book. I did find myself fading in and out when talking about the battle strategy parts BUT not at the fault of the book (I tend to do that in any battle analysis).
I have always heard “Remember the Alamo” but never knew the reason for the saying OR who said it (and when and why). Now I do…
I didn’t know everyone was massacred at the Alamo. Now I do… (I know, I know…embarrassing)
I grew up singing “Davy, Davy Crockett…king of the wild, wild west.” I have now realized I was singing the wrong lyrics the entire time – king of the wild frontier. LOL If that wasn’t bad enough, I didn’t realize he was executed after surrendering. Now I do…
I didn’t realize Santa Anna idolized Napoleon, calling himself “Napoleon of the West” and was beyond ruthless or that he believed that despotism was the only way to govern, ruling with an iron fist. Now I do…
What I loved the most about the book: the emphasis on leadership qualities of Sam Houston – a guy who was not so arrogant in position that he forgot the work of those “at the bottom.” Many times, he related to those whom he led by helping get a wagon out of mud, working on guns (blacksmith)… one aspect he learned from his mentor, Andrew Jackson, is you win allegiance of men when you “became one of them.” What a great leadership quality that is missing in so many organizations.
One aspect that was missing from the novel that I wondered about…the legend behind the “Yellow Rose of Texas.” Because there is so many inaccuracies about Emily West, my gut tells me Kilmeade may have chosen to leave that out because it has not be factually proven. But…I did grow up singing the song (played the record over and over again).
I am going to leave you with a summation of this time period in history – from pg. 227 of the book:
“The Alamo itself assumed a place in the history and the mythology of Texas. The narrative is irresistible: Brave men fighting for freedom and democracy are crushed by a brutal autocrat and then avenged. It is a tale of good and evil, with the democratic future taking on a dictatorial regime that had robbed the people of their rights. The men at the Alamo lost both the battle and their lives, but they gained immortality in the epic of Texas.”
May all the people of our great nation never forget what those before us fought for to establish the “land of the free.”
