Chili {Like My Mom Used to Make}
We all need easy recipes to turn to when times are busy. Like now, right? Speaking of which, where did the weekend go? Ours was a blur of Christmas lights (so happy the weather was nice enough to get that done!), gift shopping, house cleaning, and entertaining. Now suddenly it’s Monday and I have no idea where the last two days went. Such is life this time of year.
It’s all good stuff though – we got all of our Christmas cards done on time, I’m almost done shopping, and only four days stand between me and two whole weeks off from work – hallelujah! Oh, and the best news, my mom arrives this Friday to spend Christmas with us. It’s been four years since we’ve spent the holidays together and I’m so, so happy that she’ll be with us this Christmas.
So let’s get to the chili…
It’s a simple concoction – ground beef, tomatoes, tomato sauce, a couple veggies, and beans – and it’s so easy to make. This version is inspired by the one my mom used to make every Christmas Eve – it was usually freezing cold outside, so my brothers and I would have big steaming bowls of homemade chili before our family headed off to Christmas Eve services. It warmed us up for the frigid cold car ride (in Wyoming your car is finally warmed up about the time you arrive at your destination) and it kept us full and happy.
There are a few things to love about this recipe. First, it’s pretty low maintenance – there’s one onion and one bell pepper that need to be diced, but the rest of it is pretty much dump and stir. Second, it can all be made in one pot on the stove, which is something I’m sure we all can appreciate – no pile of dishes to worry about once it’s all said and done. Third, it’s versatile – it’s great served up in a bowl with sour cream, cheese, and green onions, but what about spooning it over baked potatoes? Or maybe some nachos? How do chili dogs sound? You should make a big batch of it, freeze it (did I mention it freezes well?) and use it for all sorts of things.
I love it because it reminds me of Christmas in Wyoming and my mom who always made the holidays so special for me and my brothers.
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1 bell pepper (I used red, but use whichever color you like), diced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ cup chili powder
- ¼ cup enchilada sauce (see note)
- 1½ tablespoons garlic powder
- 28 ounce can diced tomatoes
- 15 ounce can tomato sauce
- 15 ounce can black beans
- 15 ounce can pinto beans
- Up to 1½ teaspoons salt, to taste
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Grated cheddar cheese (for garnish)
- Chopped green onions (for garnish)
- Sour cream (for garnish)
- In a large pan (I used a 5 quart pan), heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onions and cook for about 10 minutes, or until they’ve softened
- Add in the diced bell pepper and continue cooking for another five minutes
- Add in the chili powder and garlic powder and stir to coat all of the vegetables
- Add in the ground beef, breaking it apart with a spatula, and cook it until it’s no longer pink
- Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, enchilada sauce and both cans of beans and stir until everything is well incorporated and then bring to a simmer
- Let the chili simmer on the stove for at least two hours or until thickened (see note)
- Serve with a dollop of cream cheese, grated cheddar cheese, and chopped green onions
If your chili gets too thick you can thin it with either water or some beef stock. About half-way through the simmering I added about a ¼ cup of water just to keep it from getting too thick too fast.
The post Chili {Like My Mom Used to Make} appeared first on Girl Gone Gourmet.
Source: http://www.girlgonegourmet.com/2014/12/chili-like-mom-used-make.html
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