The last of the Birthday Months

Birthday Months came out with a bang at my parents the day after all the moving.

Of course, my favorite meal (spaghetti) was served with a twist. Cincinnati Chili made by Nate.

Oh soooo goooooood!

Meat, chili, spaghetti and cheese. Nothin' else.

The locals in Cincinnati call it a three-way.

The recipe:

from allrecipes.com

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 2 pounds ground beef
• 1/4 cup chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 (1 ounce) square unsweetened chocolate
• 2 (10.5 ounce) cans beef broth
• 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
• 1/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions

1. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring frequently, until tender, about 6 minutes.
2. Add beef, in batches if necessary, and cook, breaking up with a wooden spoon, until browned.
3. Add chili powder, cinnamon, cumin, allspice, cloves, bay leaf, chocolate, beef broth, tomato sauce, cider vinegar, and red pepper. Stir to mix well. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
4. It is the best if you now refrigerate overnight.
5. Remove the bay leaf. Reheat gently over medium heat. Serve over hot, drained spaghetti. Top with shredded cheddar cheese.

After dinner. . .

Cookies and Cream, ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins. My dad surprised me when he told me that he was the one who picked it out. I love it!

Can't believe I'm 25!