Anybody that’s been listening to the Podcast for a few years knows that Aaron and John have called me “Ned” for as long as I can remember.  Well, a few years ago, Aaron introduced me to this refrigerated Chili starter called “Bloemers” – I’m pretty sure it is a small Mom & Pop outfit out of Louisville, KY - but they make the BEST starter for Chili I have ever had.  I call this recipe “Ned’s Party Chili.”  While my chili recipes continue to evolve, I now order Bloemer’s online in quantities of 10 – and always start with the base recipe I am posting here!  Feel free to make it your own – I’ve tried adding various exotic peppers (I like it HOOOOTTTT!!), and I love it served over spaghetti with mounds of cheese!  Maybe next year, you can serve at your SB Party as we watch the Redskins go for a fourth Lombardi Trophy! Enjoy!

Welcome all Redskins Fans. Everyone else should just leave now. Just click somewhere else and go there if you are not a ‘Skins fan – cause I don’t want you here. On the off chance that you are a Dallas Fan, I Joke you openly, and here is a link to the Dallas Cowpansies Website.

To begin with, let me tell you a bit about myself:

I HAIL from the great town of Virginia Beach, VA – born and raised there… second generation graduate of the great Princess Anne High School (Go Cavs). My folks still live there along with other family folk. I have two brothers – Bay, the youngest – who lives in PA; and Aaron (of Harry Hog Football) the middle’un – who lives in Louisville, KY. To quote sister Mamie from Jesco White (The Dancing Outlaw, a documentary) “I am the biggest and the meanest.”

I did my college stint in the early 90’s at Otterbein College in Westerville, OH- the town where Prohibition was started. While Otterbien, I studied Technical Theatre Design and Production, and eventually (after 5 years and getting hitched) recieved my BFA there. I am a member of Pi Beta Sigma, Otterbein’s oldest and finest fraternity founded in 1908. We tend to Rule.

From there, with my wife, Amy, & Labrador, Indigo – we took a journey that (skipping the boring parts) landed us in NYC where I worked as a Lighting Designer & Production Electrician for Broadway/Off-Broadway/TV/Film/Dance. Eventually, a few years back, we moved to the Carolinas where we now live with our three year old son, Sam & our new pup, Lucy. We are members of Hope Community Church where I serve as coach to the Common Grounds (Coffee Shop) ministry. I still design, I am a member of IATSE local 829 United Scenic Artists in NYC, and am a Theatre Consultant with Theatre Consultants Collaborative, designing performing arts facilities worldwide.

Check back again – still more to come….

Josh’s Junkroom….yeah