Firehouse Chili and World Trade Center Building # 6

Photo courtesy of James Tourtellotte The American flag flies precariously out of an office window at the New York Customhouse at the World Trade 6 building at ground zero.

Photo courtesy of James Tourtellotte Construction workers painted "Gods House" on the exterior wall of the U.S. Customhouse at the World Trade Center to direct construction workers and rescue crews to the site of the crosses within the building.

Photo courtesy of James Tourtellotte This debris field in the center of the U.S. Customhouse  was caused by pieces that fell from the North Tower. Steel beams formed several crosses in the midst of the debris field.

Photo courtesy of James Tourtellotte This cross, one of several found in the debris of the U.S. Customhouse, was preserved by construction workers and blessed by clergy in a solemn ceremony held outside the building on Thursday, October 4, 2001.

Photo courtesy of James Tourtellotte U.S. Customhouse - World Trade Center Building #6 - following the attack.

Photo courtesy of James Tourtellotte The American Flag flies in front of the remains of the NY Customhouse.

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...It was years ago. It was yesterday. When the air finally cleared, a camera zoomed to a devastating shot of the US Custom House - World Trade Center Building # 6. I gasped and as my brain processed the scene I began to cry. I knew this building well. My job included technical responsibility for custom's clearance and duty payment and I was often here for consultation and program updates. I last visited in 2000, the year of my retirement. At that time, # 6 stood tall and strong and proudly flew colors that spoke of permanence and freedom. It wasn't a particularly handsome building, but its squat strength bore an air of invincibility that seemed to belie the fact that all walls eventually crumble. Whether it was a vagary of fate, or the work of a higher power, all who worked here were evacuated before # 6 imploded. At the very least, it was a tender mercy shown on that surreal and brutal day when few, if any, miracles occurred. While the walls collapsed, those who understood the importance of symbols kept our colors flying. I thank them for their efforts.

I thought this recipe for firehouse chili, developed by a fireman, would be appropriate for this post. Jerry's recipe, as well as recipes developed by other firemen, can be found Here.

Jerry's Firehouse Crockpot Chili

Ingredients:
1 pound ground beef or pork
1 pound stew meat
2 cans kidney beans, drained, divided use
1 can black beans, drained
1 onion chopped
1 green pepper chopped
2 tablespoons butter
1 small can tomato paste
1 regular can tomato sauce
1 can Rotel tomatoes
1 can beer
5 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon sugar sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon dried sage
2 cups water

Directions:
Brown hamburger or pork, drain & set aside. Brown stew meat in butter with onion and bell pepper. Place ground beef, stew meat, onion and bell pepper in crock pot. Add 1 can of kidney beans, black beans, tomato paste and sauce, Rotel tomatoes, beer, and all seasonings to crock pot and mix well. Add water. Turn crock pot on high and cook until chili gets hot,about 1 hour. Reduce heat to low and cook 6 hours longer. About 1 hour before you plan on eating, add reserved can of kidney beans. Yield: 6 to 8 servings.

You might also enjoy these recipes for firehouse chili:
Shortcut Slow-Cooker Chili - Sugar High
Chili Mac - Our Life in the Kitchen
Three Bean and Corn Turkey Chili - Cajun Chef Ryan
Hot! Love That Chipotle Chili - Mother Rimmy's Cooking Lite Done Right
Turkey Chili - Chantel's Recipes
Chocolate and Black Bean Chili - One Perfect Bite

This post is being linked to:
Pink Saturday, sponsored by Beverly at How Sweet the Sound.