Come Home to Chili
By Cary Magazine

Saucy, meaty, chock full of beans and spices — you probably have a go-to chili recipe that rolls all your preferences into one bowl of home-cooked goodness.
You may already make the best chili in town, but why not expand your horizons and give someone else’s favorite recipe a try?
These recipes turned heads at the Western Wake Farmers’ Market Chili Cook-Off in October. A slow cooker makes prep easy, and dinner can be ready when you get home.
Another bonus: Many of the ingredients can be sourced from local farmers when in season.


Butternut Squash Chili
Janice Crawford

1 pound dry black beans

2 tablespoons butter

1 cup chopped onions

3 garlic cloves

1 cup chopped celery

3 cups peeled and diced butternut squash

2 chopped jalapeno peppers

4 cups chopped kale

2 tbsp chili powder

2 tsp ground cumin

14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes (or use fresh)

1 1/2 cups red wine

1 tsp salt
Soak beans overnight in water. Drain.
Sauté butter, garlic, onions and celery until soft.
Combine allingredients in slow cooker and cook on low 8 hours.



Best Darn Chili Ever
Chris Harper

1 pound ground sirloin

1 pound filet mignon, cubed (or substitute sirloin)

1 pound kielbasa, cubed

1 large yellow onion, cut into large diced pieces

1 or 2 large green bell peppers, cut into pieces

6 jalapeño peppers, sliced1 can of each of the following beans: dark red, light red, pinto, black, white northern, chili (you can add more if you like more beans)

28 oz. can diced tomatoes, drained

28 oz. can whole tomatoes, cut into halves, drained

chili powder, to taste

onion powder, to taste

cayenne pepper, to taste

16 oz. can beer
Add all ingredients to slow cooker and cook on high 4-6 hours or low 8-10 hours.




Sara's Hot Buffalo Chicken Wing Chili
Sarah Coyrea

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

1 1/2 pounds ground chicken breast

1 large carrot, peeled and finely chopped

1 large onion, chopped

3 celery ribs, finely chopped

5 cloves of garlic

1 small chili pepper

1 tablespoon chipotle chili powder

1 bay leaf

salt and pepper

1 cup chicken stock

1/4 cup Frank's Red Hot sauce

28 oz. can tomatoes (or fresh)

19 oz. can white kidney beans, drained and rinsed

blue cheese dressing

Place a large pot over medium heat and heat oil. Add chicken and brown. Add next 7 ingredients. Cook for a few minutes. Transfer to slow cooker. Add stock to pan and scrape the bottom then add to slow cooker. Add hot sauce, tomatoes and beans to slow cooker and stir. Cook on low for 4 hours. When almost done, add blue cheese dressing to taste. Serve with tortillas, carrots and celery and crumbly blue cheese.


Read more: http://www.carymagazine.com/features/come-home-chili#ixzz2IvEGr73L

Winter Wonderland
Event Description:

Bring your sled for a sledding adventure at Bond Park. Tickets are $12 for Cary residents and $16 for non-Cary residents. Tickets are per person and space is limited. Pre-registration is required; no tickets will be sold the day of the event.

Date:
Saturday, January 19, 2013 - 9:30am
Sunday, January 20, 2013 - 9:30am
Monday, January 21, 2013 - 9:30am

Time:
sessions at 9:30 a.m., noon, 2:30 p.m.

Location:
Bond Park Multipurpose Field

Address:
801 High House Road
City: Cary
Contact: (919) 469-4100

Website:
http://www.townofcary.org/Departments/Administration/pio/Annual_Events_C...

Read more: http://www.carymagazine.com/social-calendar/event-3670#ixzz2IKq8v8Pl

Check out our 2 bedroom Colonial Townhomes for only $780.00 & our 3 bedroom x 2 Bath apartment homes for only $830!

This special is for a limited time and on select apartments, so act fast...come see us today!

Apply within 48 hours of your visit and waive the $100.00 administration fee!

Available for new move ins only. Apply by January 25, 2013 & move in within 30 days of receipt of application.

8 Ways to Show You Care

By Nancy Pardue

Life is better for all of us when we step out to help others — so says Kristen Johnson of Garner, who is president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Eastern North Carolina.

“I was taught by example from an early age that if someone needs help, you find a way to make a difference,” said Johnson. “Volunteering is a natural extension of what is important to you, helps others, builds character, hones skills, and the list could go on and on.”

In 2012, Make-A-Wish celebrated its 25th anniversary and the granting of its 2,500th wish in Eastern North Carolina, milestones Johnson says could not have been reached without the dedication of volunteers.

“Volunteers are the eyes, ears, arms, legs and heart of an organization,” Johnson said. “Everyone can volunteer! You just need to find what you are passionate about and what you are good at doing.

“The feeling of knowing you made a difference in someone’s life is one of the greatest feelings in the world,” she said. “It is a connection, a bond that can never be taken from you.”

Inspired to find your own special way to help others? Here are eight local starting points:
• Cary Magazine has a new online Charity Directory at www.carymagazine.com/charity-organizations , to serve as a resource for you in offering help to our neighbors.
• Ring ‘em up at the register, or help unload the goods at Garner Area Ministries. Offering financial assistance, food and clothing to the needy, GAM is always on the lookout for volunteers to staff its thrift shop and food pantry, help in the office and more. And of course, donations of new and gently-used clothing, household items and food are appreciated; www.gam-nc.org.
• Become a Townie: From acting onstage to behind-the-scenes roles like stage crew, prop master, lobby staff and more, theater group the Towne Players of Garner welcomes volunteers. Check out the opportunities at www.facebook.com/TownePlayersofGarner.

• Boost downtown! The Garner Revitalization Association, at www.downtowngarner.com, welcomes input on development efforts to take Garner into the future. Join a committee, such as Events & Marketing, Beautification or Economic Restructuring, and be a part of progress.

• Be a friend at Able to Serve, which helps adults with special needs focus on their abilities and roles in the community, www.abletoserve.org. From service and vocational learning programs to van drivers, the opportunities to volunteer are here.

• Wield a hammer for good at Community of Hope Ministries, which offers practical help such as home repairs to at-risk people. Programs also include afterschool, summer camp, food pantry and benevolence fund; for volunteer opportunities, see www.communityofhopeministries.org.

• Reading buddies are needed at Schools and Community Organized to Read, or SCOR. In 30 minutes a week you can help Garner second-graders raise their reading scores and boost school success. Contact Martha Liles to get started, at Martha@rand-bryanhouse.com.

Read more: http://www.carymagazine.com/features/8-ways-show-you-care#ixzz2I3kqYCpQ