block party! chili cook-off winner!

It is once again block party! Our block's 58th anniversary party--one of the first and longest running block parties in Chicago. It is Andy and my 29th.
The theme this year was County Fair. As usual, I hang several of my quilts on our porch railings.

 We collected ketchup and toilet paper for the neighborhood food pantry.

  I won the chili making contest! We also had a pie baking contest.

 Dunk tank, bouncy house, pony rides.

Just a day enjoying our neighbors. The band and dancing in the streets starts at dusk.

Lynn's Award winning Chili!

(all amounts are estimates)

3-4 lbs ground beef--browned and drained (collect, discard fat, return liquids to meat)

To the pot of browned meat, add the spices and stir until the meat is evenly mixed with the spices.

Spices: (vary amounts by your taste  preferences)

1 tablespoon cumin

2 teaspoons chili powder

2 teaspoons ground red pepper

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

Rinse and drain three-four 15 oz cans of beans.

I use a variety, including black Beans, light red kidney, and dark red kidney

In a large crock pot, place

1-2 chopped onions

2/3rd of the meat

the beans

the rest of the meat

Pour over top:

One 29 oz can petite dice tomatoes

One 8 oz can of  tomato sauce

1-2 small cans of diced mild green peppers

I rinse out these cans, adding the water to the crock pot to bring liquid level to 1 inch from top.

Put above ingredients into large crock pot. Cover and cook for 4-5 hours on low.

About 1/2 hour before serving, add:

1 cup of frozen corn

about 1/2 cup of dried polenta mixed with about 1 cup of water (if no polenta, use corn meal)

Cover and cook for 1/2 hour, stirring twice

Serve sprinkled with grated cheddar or jack cheese

Block Party 2014

A lovely day where we celebrate our neighbors.
Our block of LeClaire has one of the longest running block parties in Chicago--this was our 57th.

block party 2012! with ponies!

luau on LeClaire! Block Party 2011

Hula Girls as the Block Heads throwing out candy, waterslide, frisbee golf, and the neighborhood pickup band. All went well once the lighting strike during the morning storm was over!

block party 2010

We have a great band this year, Green Sugar. http://www.thegreensugar.com/
In true Chicago fashion, a neighbor "knew a guy" and we were able to book them.

Hung some of my quilts up again.

In the street is ping pong, corn toss, basketball, street hockey, jumping jack, and more. Tonight, dancing in the streets.

another block party

The theme this year was a mix of speak-easy/untouchables in honor of the Johnny Depp movie about John Dillinger being filmed in our neighborhood. I still haven't seen the film, so I don't know if we actually made the final cut. Things start off by having candy thrown by a "Block Head" which used to be a kid with a box on his head, but has evolved in recent years to reflect the theme. We've had Elvis, a Pirate, Clowns, Olympians. This year it was this nefarious bunch of mopes.
Our block party has been held since 1955, one of the longest running in the city.

Our service project was the local food bank and my quilt brought in $321 plus about 2 dozen jars of peanut butter and jam.
I displayed quilts again off the porch.

our wonderful block party

Block Party time again. It was a glorious day, perfect weather, and a cast of thousands. We took a block party portrait I will post when I get it.
We decorate our houses for the day. I, as usual, pulled out quilts that seem to fit the theme--this year Fiesta LeClaire.

My neighbor, also a quilter, put hers out this year too!

There was face painting and balloon hats
A puppet show and a talent show with joke telling. The jumping jack and fire truck came to visit.



A scavenger hunt, corn hole, obstacle course, Mexican Hat Dance, the Limbo, musical chairs, the wonderful pick-up band of talented block and neighbor musicians.
And dancing in the streets until the police shut us down.
Summer in the City.
Life is good.