My aunt passed away yesterday... mostly from liver failure, but she had other problems too. She wasn't actually my aunt at all, really she was my second cousin ~ but when we were kids, she was an adult so called her "aunt" anyway.

So a few months ago the doctors told her she needed a liver transplant, but then proceeded to tell her they wouldn't put her on the waiting list because of her age and her other health problems. Can you imagine the doctor/hospital saying NO? What would it have hurt to put her on the list, considering it was obvious that she wouldn't make it to see a transplant anyway? Even if they told her yes, and put her on the "You'll Never Get a Transplant ~ Ever" List, atleast she could have had hope. What ever happened to simple compassion and the gift of giving a person hope? Talk about a failing health care system...

Anyway, if I'm asked to bring a dish to a family funeral dinner, I usually opt for something easy and generally liked by most... Chili. I shared the recipie on another blog today, so I'll just share it here too.

*large cans of kidney beans
*2 jars prego or ragu spaghetti sauce
*2 lbs browned ground beef or cooked chicken
*large can of bush's baked beans, minus that weird bacon chunk
*couple of cans of diced tomatoes, including one in zesty jalapeno flavor
*can of black olives (sliced) and two large onions (sliced) ~ both cooked with the ground beef
*lots of black pepper, red pepper, chili powder & fresh garlic

Serve with cheesy garlic bread! Usually, that makes enough to feed all 8 of us very very heartily plus atleast a gallon zip bag left over to freeze.

We're expecting up to 10" of snow to fall overnight and into tomorrow. As I was out doing errands today, I was rather amused to see the "milk-bread-eggs" buying frenzy just because the weather predicted a big storm. What are the chances, really, that it will take more than 24/48 hours for the township to clear the roads enough to drive to the store? IMHO, the only people that should be out there in the buying frenzy before a storm are people with infants ~ the ones that need formula and diapers. To everyone else here I say "get a GRIP"! You'll manage for *one day*, even TWO without milk or bread or eggs. Sheesh.

Hi Rox,
I am so sorry about your Aunt..

I am going to try your chili recipe..It sounds like something we would like..

Your so right Rox really you would think Americans don't even understand the concept of fasting, and most could easily live off the fat they currently have with no problems for at the very least a few days, lol, my cat could live off his body fat for a month at least, he he just kiddin, I have to laugh with yah cuz I used to work in a grocery store and people would come in, in droves with a bad weather forcast, it looked like the store manager paid the weather man off.

P.S. sorry to hear about your aunt, hope all is going well, I'll be thinking of you, :)