"Do not follow where the path might lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail" Ralph Waldo Emerson
Dude....I feel your pain. We used to have a chili cookoff at work, and it was fun. Last time we had one....dude 'won' with a yellowish, greenish, awful contraption that didn't even come CLOSE to resembling chili. In the aftermath....he admitted that he flavored the entire disaster with taco bell seasoning packs. No joke.
In the after-aftermath...everyone eventually admitted that they voted for it just to poke the ego of the already egomaniac. It was pretty fun to watch him gloat...but damn, I worked hard on a venison tenderloin chili, marinated for 3 days in bourbon and my 'secret' chili seasoning, then smoked.....and then chilied with fresh garden peppers, tomatillos and onions. It truly was a masterpiece. And NO....I'm not butthurt at all.
"Do not follow where the path might lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail" Ralph Waldo Emerson
I got ripped off like that once, our company had a Halloween theme cooking event:
Most people brought their little bat cookies, and cupcakes with a candy corn pumpkin on them.
I got a jello mold of a human brain from a novelty catalog.
I found the recipe to make gray jello, mixed honey, powdered sugar, and red food coloring to look like blood.
The 'presentation' was perfect......… It was the nastiest looking thing ya ever saw.
Once you got over the appearance -- it tasted pretty good.
Everybody voted, and a common apple pie won.
Probably because the CEO submitted it.
I'm not sure, but it might have even come from the grocery store.
Last edited by Winger Ed.; 11-01-2019 at 12:24 AM.
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OK People. Enough of this idle chit-chat.
This ain't your Grandma's sewing circle.
EVERYONE!
Back to your oars. The Captain wants to waterski.
No need to be butt hurt, as my momma says, "the proofs in the pudding"! I've never won, but I never bring any chili back home either!
I have hung back and waited Chili threads out, no telling who is gonna post about BEANS or NO BEANS and BLASPHEMY! Well, chili is what you make it and what you like. I use beans in mine, but I like a complex flavor profile, some crunch and some color. I have used this recipe 30yrs or more, it IS brand specific as the outcome is best with the brands listed, i.e. there isn't another stewed tomato on the market that tastes like Del Monte so if you want it to come out best, follow the recipe closely..
Doug's own Kick Butt Chili - smaller recipe
Ingredients:
2 1/2 to 3lbs very lean ground beef, preferrably 93/7 (note: you won't have to drain this when it is browned, keeps the flavor better too!)
1 large yellow onion (Vidalia onion preferred, if you can get them)
1 green bell pepper (red and orange add some NICE colors if you like!)
1/2 large celery heart
1/2 lb white mushrooms (portobellos are -nice- in this chili also)
1 24oz can red kidney beans drained and rinsed.
2 16oz cans chili beans (your choice here, can use black beans, chili flavored beans, etc, mix and match as you wish.) drained and rinsed.
1 16oz can Del Monte stewed tomatoes
1 16oz can Heinz tomato sauce
1/2 can tomato paste
1 12oz can corn (any kind, it just adds color and crunchy texture)
1 12oz beer of your choice (3 required, preferrably domestic American brand, one for chili, two for the cook! NOTE: Strong European or German beer may be too strong in flavor for this recipe, so don't use say a Guiness extra stout or a black and tan. Stick with something plain unless you -like- bitter chili)
1/4 cup Old El Paso jalapeno slices, with vinegar (1/8 for less spicy)
1 package Carroll Shelby's chili mix (discard the masa flour, use the seasoning package, cayenne pepper package, and the salt package)
1-2 cloves fresh chopped garlic (or 1 tablespoon minced garlic)
1 tablespoon sugar
Salt, pepper, tabasco sauce or tapatio hot sauce, to taste
1/8 to 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil (use to your liking to brown beef and saute vegetables with
)
1 tablespoon butter (use along with some olive oil, to saute mushrooms with)
2oz dark chocolate (70% cacao or better)
Directions:
Start by browning the meat in a large deep skillet, in olive oil. Brown thoroughly, breaking the meat into small pieces as it cooks. Add salt, pepper, and garlic. Place entire contents of skillet in 8qt stockpot and turn heat on medium. (If you used ground meat with higher fat content, drain the meat in a collander before putting it in the pot)
Add beans, tomato sauce, stewed tomatoes, tomato paste, corn, and one beer.
Coarsely chop onion, saute until semiclear, add a bit of olive oil if you like, then add to pot.
Chop celery and bell pepper to your liking, medium-coarse is good. Saute these in olive oil, add to pot.
Coarsely slice mushrooms, or cut into cubes if you use portobellos. Saute these in a little olive oil and butter, add to pot.
Let chili come to a simmer, stirring often, but do NOT let it stick to the bottom of the pot, or get scorched.
Add the chili mix package, add salt, pepper, jalapeno slices and some of the jalapeno vinegar, add tabasco or tapatio sauce if you like, add the sugar. (If you can't find this Carroll Shelby mix in your grocery store, use chili powder and season to taste).
Once chili begins to simmer well over medium heat, add chocolate, turn heat lower, simmer for 2-3 hours, stirring often to prevent scorching on the bottom, and drink the other two beers during this cooking time.
Serve hot.
This makes a very hearty, rich, meaty chili that is great in cold weather, it warms the bones and sticks to the ribs, people love it.... Feeds about 6-10.
My favorite way to enjoy this kick butt chili? I like it with a grilled cheese sandwich, and plenty of dill pickle slices on the side.
There you have it!
Last edited by DougGuy; 11-02-2019 at 09:22 AM.
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I looked up the word chili and its definition. About all the dictionary's say its a pepper not a bowl of something. The only one that did was https://www.freethesaurus.com/chili and its said a mix of peppers or chili powder, meat and beans.
The actual name is chili con carne, chili with meat. And, you pretty much hit it on the head your second post back. Chili will last a whole lot longer, unrefrigerated than raw meat. A little chili with a big stack of corn tortillas will stretch a little meat for a lot of mouths.
Last edited by gbrown; 11-05-2019 at 06:24 PM. Reason: Additional info
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