Season’s Change…Oh so Chili!

Bold, rich and spicy…Chili, not your dream date here people. Focus. Chili, one of the most simple, comforting, cheap and versatile meals for the fall and winter months. You can make a large batch and freeze it for later too!

Now, I am not going to go into the different types of Chili in this post, but come back later, we will sample a few of the most argued over ways to cook chili.  My Chili is simple. It does have beans. That is all. Find it here or continue reading and it will follow this post below.

Smokey! That is never how I would have described the Chili I ate growing up, but it is how I like it now. Once introduced to Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce through a lot of southern and Mexican cooking, it seemed to be the missing burst of flavor in a lot of my dishes. It can be subtle, mild or hot, the control is in my rubber gloved hands…and how long I can keep my eyes from burning.

Did  you know that a Chipotle is simply a smoked, dried jalapeno pepper?

I decided to raid the cupboard of the cans of beans and tomatoes I keep stocked.

And so it began…Enjoy!

Bold, Rich and Spicy Chili

Yield: 8 Servings

Ingredients

2 T. Oil

1 Green Bell Pepper, Diced

1 White Onion, Diced

3 Cloves Garlic, Diced

1 lb. Ground Beef

1 14 oz. can Fire Roasted, Diced Tomatoes

1 6 oz. can Tomato Paste with Garlic & Herbs

1 7.5 oz. can Tomato Sauce

1 14 oz. can Dark Red Chili Beans

1 14 oz. can Light Red Chili Beans

3 cups Beef Broth

¼ cup Chili Powder

1 T Mexican Oregano

1 T Smoked Paprika

1 tsp. Worcestershire

2 tsp. Cumin

2 tsp. Hot Sauce

1 Chipotle Pepper in Adobo sauce (from can) + 1 tsp. Sauce

Method

Heat oil over medium heat in a large pot.

Sauté onion, garlic and pepper until soft.

Add beef and cook until browned.

Add all other remaining ingredients and cook, stirring frequently 20 minutes.

Turn heat to low, cover and simmer, stirring occasionally for 1 hour until thickened.

Turn off heat and let cool. Throw on some wool socks, a sweater and grab a good book. 

Then, prepare for a nap.

Suggested Toppings: Sour Cream, Green Onion, Radish, Red Onion, Bacon, Cornbread Crisps (found at the local Trader Joe’s in the snack aisle), Cheese, etc.

Enjoy!