Chili - Your Way
You've heard of Chili: two-way, three-way, four-way. Today it's chili the Sassy way!
That's the thing about chili - you can make it YOUR way. Over the years, I've tried and added and subtracted and rejected a variety of ingredients. The more I've learned about flavor, the more bold I get in what goes into the pot.
Go ahead and read the recipe for Sassy Chili and then make it how you like it. If you need more heat, go for it. If you like certain kinds of beans, dump them in. You can even skip the beans! Ground beef, pork, beef stew meat, bacon, even Little Smokies can all go in there. Tomatoes are a whole category by themselves, and you get to decide if you like whole, diced, sauce, paste, fire roasted, green chilis added. Spices, liquids, finishing touches each have their own purpose and pleasure.
Serve it how you like, whether it's over rice, noodles, cornbread, Fritos, tortilla chips, biscuits or baked potatoes. Cheese, sour cream, green or yellow onions, hot sauce are all ideas for toppings.
I'd LOVE to hear if you try and like my recipe. I'd also LOVE to hear what makes your family chili great.
Following is an average amount of chili for a normal family. We here at Chez Sassy are far from normal, nor do we eat an average amount of chili :) I made a quadruple batch of the following recipe, because tomorrow is New Year's Day and our annual skating-sledding-games party with friends. There will be five adults and 16 kids. And I want leftovers!
Happy New Year!
Sassy Chili
1 large onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, chopped
4 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
3 - 15 ounce cans diced, fire-roasted tomatoes
1 can diced green chilis
1 tablespoon dried oregano
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons cumin
2 teaspoons coriander
1 teaspoon chipotle powder (or dried red pepper flakes)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
3 tablespoons apple cider or red wine vinegar
1/2 - 1 cup beer (dark or light as you prefer, we like an ale)
EXTRAS: 1/2 pound bacon, cooked, drained and crumbled; 1/2 pound Little Smokies sausages, cut into bite sized pieces; 3 cups pinto beans (soaked overnight and then cooked, or 2 -15 ounce cans).
HOW TO: In a large pot, saute onion and garlic in the butter until softened. Add ALL other ingredients (except extras) and simmer for a hour or so. Taste and then correct seasonings. Stir in bacon, sausages, and beans and simmer for another 30 minutes.
SERVE WITH: Shredded cheddar or colby-jack cheese, sour cream, chopped green or yellow onions, hot sauce, and over Fritos is our favorite way!
That's the thing about chili - you can make it YOUR way. Over the years, I've tried and added and subtracted and rejected a variety of ingredients. The more I've learned about flavor, the more bold I get in what goes into the pot.
Go ahead and read the recipe for Sassy Chili and then make it how you like it. If you need more heat, go for it. If you like certain kinds of beans, dump them in. You can even skip the beans! Ground beef, pork, beef stew meat, bacon, even Little Smokies can all go in there. Tomatoes are a whole category by themselves, and you get to decide if you like whole, diced, sauce, paste, fire roasted, green chilis added. Spices, liquids, finishing touches each have their own purpose and pleasure.
Serve it how you like, whether it's over rice, noodles, cornbread, Fritos, tortilla chips, biscuits or baked potatoes. Cheese, sour cream, green or yellow onions, hot sauce are all ideas for toppings.
I'd LOVE to hear if you try and like my recipe. I'd also LOVE to hear what makes your family chili great.
Following is an average amount of chili for a normal family. We here at Chez Sassy are far from normal, nor do we eat an average amount of chili :) I made a quadruple batch of the following recipe, because tomorrow is New Year's Day and our annual skating-sledding-games party with friends. There will be five adults and 16 kids. And I want leftovers!
Happy New Year!
Sassy Chili
1 large onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, chopped
4 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
3 - 15 ounce cans diced, fire-roasted tomatoes
1 can diced green chilis
1 tablespoon dried oregano
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons cumin
2 teaspoons coriander
1 teaspoon chipotle powder (or dried red pepper flakes)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
3 tablespoons apple cider or red wine vinegar
1/2 - 1 cup beer (dark or light as you prefer, we like an ale)
EXTRAS: 1/2 pound bacon, cooked, drained and crumbled; 1/2 pound Little Smokies sausages, cut into bite sized pieces; 3 cups pinto beans (soaked overnight and then cooked, or 2 -15 ounce cans).
HOW TO: In a large pot, saute onion and garlic in the butter until softened. Add ALL other ingredients (except extras) and simmer for a hour or so. Taste and then correct seasonings. Stir in bacon, sausages, and beans and simmer for another 30 minutes.
SERVE WITH: Shredded cheddar or colby-jack cheese, sour cream, chopped green or yellow onions, hot sauce, and over Fritos is our favorite way!
Sassy Chili before the extras and toppings