Alrighty then, last time, I was kinda complaining (well ok, not kinda, I just was) about the never-ending food demands of my family. I briefly mentioned that I liked easy recipes like chili, so that got me thinking that I should MAKE some of my chili, which I did and while making it, I decided to take some pictures of it and share the recipe. I’m no Martha Stewart or Rachel Ray, but my food is pretty good and made with easily available stuff and my kids eat it. So, please try my chili and I hope you enjoy my accompanying comments and extra directions.
1 Can Dark Red Kidney Beans – The brand is unimportant
2 14/15 oz cans tomato sauce or tomatoes
1 1/2 pound ground beef
1 small onion finely chopped
1/2 green pepper finely chopped
2 cloves crushed garlic
1-3 Tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
Salt to taste
First of all, if you like turkey chili, you can make this recipe with turkey, I’ve done it, it’s pretty good. I’ve also made it with a combination of turkey and beef and that was better. All beef is best. Don’t buy cheap beef (anything labeled ground meat should be suspect, if you go with chuck, drain it after you brown it). You can also make it with soy if you are a veg. The flavor is just fine, but as has been previously established, we have texture issues in this house, so the rubbery balls of soy didn’t go over too well, but if you like it go for it, again, the flavor is fine.
Finely chop the onion and green pepper. Don’t whine and tell me you don’t like green pepper. If you chop them fine, you won’t even know they are in there. The undertone of their flavor is crucial to the success of the dish, so man up and put them in there. My kids hate GP and they have no idea that this chili has any in it.
Brown the ground beef in a skillet with the green peppers and onions. If you or the kids are super hungry, you can put a little of this well cooked mixture on a piece of folded bread and have a little snack while you wait for dinner. It’s super good and my mom used to do it for me. While the meat and veg are browning, drain your beans. The toots are in the liquid. It is gross and stinky and will make you stinky if you don’t drain them.
If the grease in your meat doesn’t cook away, drain the mixture and put it in a big pot. Add everything else. One comment on the tomatoes. Again, due to dislike of slimy things, we don’t care for canned tomatoes. They result in yucky lumps of stringy tomato gooze in the final product and we don’t like that, so I use tomato sauce. Either one will work. Also, if you don’t have actual cloves of garlic, use garlic powder or something like Tastefully Simple’s Garlic Garlic. I usually put in about a tablespoon and then if I want more in it, I can add it. Just remember, once it’s in there, you can’t get it out, but you can always add more. With regard to chili powder. You need at least one tablespoon to make it taste like chili. I usually use two and it isn’t too spicy at that level. Three, and the kids don’t like it.
Stir it all together, bring it to a bubble, turn the temp to low, put a lid on it and let it meld together for 45 minutes or so. You need to check it every so often and stir it so it doesn’t stick or anything. If you think it’s too thick, add some water. I usually fill up one of the tomato sauce cans and dump it in before I put the lid on because it WILL thicken again as it cooks.
If you have picky children, who would eat chili, but not vegetables, one of my favorite additions to this pot is to finely grate a large carrot and put it in with all the other ingredients. If you grate it on the little holes on the grater, they cook down so much, they are not noticeable and they do not change the flavor.
When it’s done, serve it with shredded, sharp cheddar cheese and crackers. It is delicious, easy and comforting. This recipe doubles or triples well if you are feeding a crowd.Enjoy and be kind to one another 🙂