Jim's Place

Yep, Campaigns & Grey just signed up 9 hours ago. Making nice with the blogger set ey?

Entourage’s Jeremy Piven is the latest Hollywood actor to weigh in on the Pacquaio-Margarito fight. He was in Texas and caught the match live, then tweeted the next day: “I think Pacquaio hit so hard. He broke my cel from just being in the building. Lost all my contacts!” We think Piven should consider some cloud-based mobile contacts sync solution.

First of all, I had no idea the Hugh Hefner even had a Twitter account. But now that we’ve established that one of the world’s most famous consumers of Viagra does, what do we see but a little tribute to Manny Pacquiao. Looks like it was fight night at Playboy Mansion West. I think a Pacman portrait by LeRoy Neiman is coming up next. Or a feature on the “Girls of Sarangani.” Me, I’m waiting for Pacman: The Playboy interview. Now wouldn’t that be a gas.

When I first went vegan, I had this notion that I would be condemned to a lifetime of easting nothing but salads. But that before I delved into the world of vegan recipes that abound on the net, and before long I was not only surviving, but  actually thriving on all the new eating possibilities that opened up in the meatless universe.  

What clinched the deal was the realization that I could make a chili that was just as incendiary as the one I used to make with ground beef, albeit a lot less greasy. This is something I would make by rote, and I never tried to write down the procedure as a recipe - well until now that is. Chili saved my life and sealed the deal as far as staying meatless is concerned. I love the flavor, and I could eat it three times a day, seven days a week, for months. It keeps well in the fridge and as with all chili, the flavor improves with each reheating.

I usually like this dish very hot - when making a batch for myself, I just dump in the fresh and powdered chilies and it becomes inedible for everyone else but myself. When cooking for others, I have to consciously tone down the heat - it comes off as too bland for me, but just a little too spicy for others. Luckily I keep bottled of El Yucateco habanero sauce around as backup.

This recipe makes use mainly of canned vegetables so it’s quite easy and fast to whip up a batch if you’re in a hurry. I usually make a large batch of chili ahead of time and keep it refrigerated when I want fast meals - just add rice and microwave it and you’re done.

Thanks to the beans, this is a very high fiber dish, especially when eaten with brown rice. This will boost your fiber consumption up to stratospheric levels and really clean up your gut.

ingredients:

one large red onion, chopped

1 teaspoon olive oil (optional, for sauteing onions)

2 tablespoons water, for steam frying

2-3 sili labuyo, chopped (red pepper or any chilies you have lying around)

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper powder or chili flakes (add more to taste)

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)

A dash of italian seasoning or pizza seasoning herbs (oregano, parsley, thyme).

1 can or 400 grams of red kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1 can or 400 grams diced tomatoes.

1 can or 400 grams of whole yellow corn kernels, drained and rinsed

1-2 cans or 400-800 grams of sliced mushrooms. I go for the big 800 gram can. 

1/4 cup leeks, for garnish

procedure:

1. prepare a large stock pot or dutch oven. Heat the oil over medium heat. If you’re a low fat vegan, you can eliminate the oil altogether and use water for sauteing.

2. Pour in the chopped red onions and saute in oil or water until brown. Add the chopped fresh chilies. If you’ve used a little oil to cook the onions, pour in the water and then close the pot with a lid and let the onions steam-fry till soft.  

3. Open the can of mushrooms, drain the water (or use a little of the water for the steam frying), then pour in the mushrooms and mix with the onions and chilies.

4. Add the diced tomatoes, red kidney beans, and corn and mix with the mushroom mixture. Simmer under low heat for about 25-30 minutes, stirring constantly.

5. While the chili is simmering, add the spices. Sprinkle the cayenne pepper first, then the black pepper, then the italian seasoning. Stir into the chili.

6. After about 25 minutes, taste the chili. If the thickness is just the way you want it (some people prefer a more watery consistency, other like it thick) then turn off the heat.

7. Pour into serving bowls and garnish with chopped leeks. Enjoy!

Notes:

For a “meatier” chili, use more mushrooms, or use fresh mushrooms. I use Shitake or Oyster mushrooms when these are available. If you like this really hot, you ratchet up the flavor by putting in more spices, just make sure your table napkins are flame resistant.

Ok, so the cat is out of the bag. SMART is having a big mobile internet promotion on Friday (July 30) called “Thank God It’s FreeDay” - where all SMART users can use the mobile internet for free. That’s right, all data charges will be waived for this period.

Here’s the poster:

And here are the FAQs - originally posted on the event’s Facebook page:

Q: WHAT IS T.G.I.Freeday?

A: Its Smart’s one-day offer for all Smart MOBILE subscribers to enjoy using mobile internet services for FREE. That means there are no charges to visit all internet sites using your mobile phone.

Q: When is T.G.I.Freeday available?

A: T.G.I.Freeday will start from 12:00 am of July 30, until 11:59pm of the same day. If you start browsing at 10pm, you only have 11:59 pm to enjoy free mobile internet.

Q: Do I need to register?

A: No registration needed. Just open your web browser, your Uzzap or GoMail application and go!

Q: Is there a special keyword or URL to visit?

A: No need to key in a keyword or a URL to use mobile internet. For as long as you have a data capable handset, you can do mobile surfing all your want. To get more information, text FREEDAY and send to 211.

Q: I don’t know how to use mobile internet. What’s the first thing I do?

A: You need to configure your 3G settings. Text SET <HANDSET MODEL> send to 211 to get your 3G configuration for FREE. Save the configuration and then launch your mobile web browser to start browsing. As simple as that.

Q: Can I use 2G to browse the internet?

A: Yes you can. But for a faster and better experience, it is suggested that you take advantage of Smart’s nation widest coverage by using Smart’s superior 3G, HSPA, HSDPA network.

Q: I want to avail of a daily surfing package on Friday. Will this be allowed?

A: No. Well, you won’t need to since it’s a Freeday anyway. You will receive an SMS notification that today is a free day and that you will be able to use the service you wish to avail unlimited for the entire day.

Q: Will I be allowed to avail weekly and monthly package of the data services that I register to?

A: Subscribers can still avail of weekly and monthly packages every Friday but they will be reminded of T.G.I.Freeday Promo and they have to confirm their purchase before transaction is completed.

Q: I have a weekly/ monthly package. Will I be given additional 1 day extension as a result of T.G.I.Freeday?

A: Subscribers with current weekly and monthly packages that include Fridays will not be given extra one day as a result of the free day Friday. The existing validity of their availed package will be retained.

Q: Is there a limit as to the number of services that I can avail for free?

A: For as long as subscribers have a data capable handset, there is no limit as to how many services subscribers can avail of for free.

Q: Is there a minimum maintaining balance?

A: Prepaid subscribers should have minimum balance of P1 to avail of the free services

Q: What if I browse after 11:59pm of Friday?

A: Should subscriber continue to browse even after 11:59pm, default charging P10/30 will commence and transactional fees for chat services will apply.

Q: What are the sites that I can access?

A: You can access all the sites that you want. All the Web Unli Sites offered currently at P20 per day by Smart will be FREE on TGIFreeday. 

Q: Are downloading and video streaming also free of charge?

A: No. Any site that you visit that normally charges for downloading or streaming content will charge your account accordingly

Q: I don’t have a mobile internet capable phone. How can I participate in the promo?

A: In order to browse the web using your phone, you must have at the least a GPRS handset. To find out the most affordable handset offers Smart has to offer, simply go to the Smart shop, http://shop.smart.com.ph/ However, you can still participate in T.G.I.Freeday because Go Mail can be done even with a non-internet capable handset. All you have to do is text MAIL <HANDSET MODEL> and send to 7077. You will receive a notification message on how to register your email and receive and send email through your phone without having to connect to the internet.

Q: Is this open to Smart BRO prepaid or postpaid subscribers?

A: Nope :) This is just for MOBILE CELLPHONE users

Q: Is this available to CORPORATE subscribers?

A: Nope, sorry this is a promo only for consumer subs, corporate subscriptions are not included. 

For more information, check out SMART’s page on Facebook. 

Finally joined Tumblr. Yeah, yeah, I know I’m late to the party, so sue me.