That's so cool, B'sgirl. Bet it was yummy. How much did you have to make? How was the weather? Cool enough to enjoy it? It's still low 80s here and still too warm to appreciate one of my fav. cool weather treats - chili
It is definitely cool enough here. We had our first snow several weeks ago, and it has been freezing every night for weeks. It's perfect chili weather!
Wow, congrats, B'sgirl!!! That's fantastic!
Is your recipe a secret? If not, would you please post it? My neighbor has just been diagnosed with celiac disease, and his wife is not a cook. I'd like to make him something.
I don't believe in secret recipes. If I've got useful knowledge I'll share it and the world will be richer for it! Unless of course, you want to sell it, which I don't. So here's the recipe:
It is adapted from a gourmet cookbook
From Our House to Yours, but I've changed it quite a bit.
olive oil (enough to fry onions and brown beef)
abt 3lbs beef (I used a chuck roast), cubed
2 medium yellow onions, chopped
4 or 5 outer cloves of garlic, minced
2 or 3 hot peppers--to desired hotness (I prefer serranos), finely chopped
1 tbsp cumin, then taste when cooked and add more if desired
1/2 cup flour (I used brown rice flour to make it gluten-free, but any flour will do)
1 tsp salt
freshly ground black pepper to taste (I like a lot)
1 cup grated carrot
3 stalks celery, chopped
tomatoes--I used two quarts drained home-canned tomatoes, 1 14.5oz stewed tomatoes w/chipotle chilies, and about 5 fresh tomatoes. You can also use 4 cans instead of using home-bottled tomatoes, or a similar amount of fresh tomatoes. Just add until it looks "tomatoey" enough.
3 or 4 Anaheim peppers, finely chopped
2 cans black, pinto, or kidney beans (I used black and kidney)
Garnishes: chopped fresh cilantro, sour cream, grated cheese, finely chopped red onion
1. Fry onions in oil until soft, add beef and garlic. Cook until beef is browned.
2. Dump beef and onions into crock pot or stock pot. Add cumin, flour, salt and pepper. Add hot peppers, Anaheims, celery, carrot, and tomatoes. (If using crock pot cook on high for 3-4 hours, low for 5-6 hours, and if using a stock pot it only takes about an hour--I used a 14qt crock pot). As it cooks check to see if it needs more flour to thicken or more water if it gets too dry.
3. 30 minutes before it's finished add rinsed and drained beans. Taste and add salt, pepper, and cumin if needed.
4. Dish in warmed bowls and top with garnishes.
It's a lot of work but it is so worth it. You can freeze it for a month or refridgerate for 5 days.
Barbara
