By Christmas at Mama's. Pop in the recliner. Aiden and Zaria running through the house. Standing rib roast. Mac and cheese. Greens. Mama's three pies. Pop fell asleep before dessert. We left the slice on the table for him.
Pop's in the recliner. Tigers on. Sugar in range this week. Sunday at Mama's. She made greens with hambone the way she has since 1985.
Beef stew Tuesday. Chuck roast cubed. Browned. Braised with carrots and potatoes and pearl onions. The kitchen smelled like winter.
Aiden's 10. The youth basketball league. I'm coaching. He's the best player on the team and he knows it. Zaria's 8. Helps me cook on a step stool. Has opinions about the seasoning.
I drove home Sunday past the plant. The plant lights were on. The line was running. The line is always running.
Truck needed an oil change Saturday. Did it myself in the driveway. Took an hour. The neighbor across the street gave me a thumbs-up from his porch. I gave him one back. Detroit men do not waste words on car maintenance.
Pop sat in the recliner Sunday. He fell asleep before the third quarter. We covered him with a blanket.
Mr. Williams across the street had a heart scare. He is okay. We are all watching each other now. I took him a plate of greens and chicken Wednesday. He said, "DeShawn. You're a good neighbor." I said, "We're even, Mr. Williams. You shoveled my walk in 2024." He laughed.
The block had a small drama Tuesday. Somebody parked in front of Ms. Diane's driveway. Ms. Diane addressed it directly. The car moved within the hour. The neighborhood polices itself on small things.
The basketball court at the rec center got refurbished. New floor. Plays different. Bouncy. I shot a few from the elbow before practice Wednesday. The knee held. The shot fell short.
Filled the propane tank Wednesday. The smoker is the only appliance I baby. Wiped it down. Checked the gaskets. Checked the temperature gauge. The smoker is mine the way Pop's torque wrench was his.
Watched the Tigers Sunday afternoon. Lost in extras. Detroit reflex. I yelled at the TV the way Pop used to yell at the TV. The TV did not respond. The bullpen will probably not respond either.
Drove past Jefferson North on Tuesday. The plant is still the plant. The trucks coming out. I waved at the gate guard out of habit. He waved back even though he didn't know me. The plant is its own neighborhood.
Aiden had practice Tuesday and Thursday. I drove. He shot threes for an hour after.
The Lions on TV Sunday. Lost on a missed field goal. Detroit. The neighborhood collectively groaned at the same moment. You could hear it through the windows.
I took a walk around the block Sunday morning. The neighborhood was quiet. The trees were the trees. The light was good. I waved at three porches. The porches waved back. Brookline holds.
I cleaned the smoker Sunday morning. Brushed the grates. Emptied the ash. Wiped down the body. The smoker repays attention. So does most everything that matters.
The kids next door knocked over my trash cans Tuesday night. Their dad made them help me clean up Wednesday morning. Good man. The kids apologized. I gave them each a Capri Sun. Cycle complete.
A song came on the radio Tuesday — old Stevie Wonder — and I had to sit in the truck for the rest of it before I went into the store. Some songs do that. Detroit is a city of songs that do that.
Between the Tigers blowing it in extras and the Lions missing that field goal, Sunday at our house requires something to do with your hands besides yell at a TV that won’t listen. I’ve been making these Loaded Cheesy Pretzel Nachos on game days because they’re the right kind of low-effort, high-return — something Zaria can help build on her step stool and Aiden will clear off the plate before halftime. Pop would’ve been asleep by the time they came out of the oven, but we’d have left him a bowl anyway.
Loaded Cheesy Pretzel Nachos
Prep Time: 10 min | Cook Time: 15 min | Total Time: 25 min | Servings: 6
Ingredients
- 1 bag (16 oz) hard pretzel nuggets
- 1 can (15 oz) chili (beef, with or without beans)
- 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/3 cup pickled jalapeño slices
- 1/4 cup diced tomatoes
- 3 green onions, thinly sliced
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat. Heat oven to 375°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil and lightly coat with nonstick spray.
- Layer the pretzels. Spread pretzel nuggets in a single even layer across the prepared baking sheet.
- Add the chili. Spoon chili evenly over the pretzels, leaving a few exposed around the edges for crunch.
- Season and cheese. Sprinkle smoked paprika and garlic powder over the top, then layer on the cheddar and Monterey Jack evenly across the pan.
- Bake. Bake for 12—15 minutes until cheese is fully melted and bubbling at the edges and the pretzels along the border are darkening slightly.
- Top and serve. Remove from oven and immediately top with sour cream dollops, jalapeño slices, diced tomatoes, and green onions. Serve directly from the pan while hot.
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories: 390 | Protein: 17g | Fat: 19g | Carbs: 40g | Fiber: 3g | Sodium: 940mg