Fall is definitely in the air and it happened overnight. Friday was warm and balmy. Saturday was decidedly chilly. It never really seems like fall until you make that first batch of chili. I am a chili fan and I have to confess I am very
traditional, but that doesn’t mean you have to be. Make your chili with your own unique twists. If you are like me, it is impossible to make a small batch of chili. One of my fondest childhood memories was coming home from school and mom having a big pot of chili simmering on the stove. Maybe that’s why I make a roaster full of chili for the Butcher and I. The great thing about chili is that it’s even better the next day and if there are any leftovers you can freeze the chili in small containers and pull one out when you need to be warmed from the inside out.
Chili
2 pounds of extra lean ground beef (available at your local meat market)
1 Tablespoon of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 to 3 onions peeled and diced
1 packet of Checkerboard chili seasoning packet (available at your local butcher shop)
2 Tablespoons of chili powder
2) 15 oz. cans of diced tomatoes
2) 32 oz. cans of tomato puree
2) 15 oz. cans of dark red kidney beans (you can substitute black beans or pinto beans)
To make this Paleo friendly, omit the beans from the recipe.
Optional Toppings
finely grated Mexican Cheese
diced onions
Put olive oil in a roaster pan and heat over medium high heat. Add onions and brown for 2 minutes. Add extra lean ground beef to the onions, reduce heat to low and cook the ground beef. Add the chili seasoning packet and chili powder to the ground beef and thoroughly mix. Add diced tomatoes and pureed tomatoes to the ground beef mixture. Allow the mixture to heat as you stir. Reduce the heat to simmer and put a lid on the pan. Stir every 15 minutes to prevent sticking.
Simmer 1 hour and add the beans to the chili. Remove the lid from the pan. Heat for an additional 30 minutes and serve.
This is a dish that always warms me. Maybe it is remembering those childhood memories.
Until next time…From our Butcher Block to your Table.
