Fall Time = Chili Time

One of my favorite things about fall is the food. There is so much you can do and so many different flavors to experiment with. But on Saturday and Sunday afternoons with a bunch of hungry guy friends asking for food, my go to recipe is.....Chili. There wasn't a whole lot of suspense there since I named the title of this post Chili, but I think the ..... really adds something ;).

It's still pretty warm here during the day, but early mornings and right around dinner time the temperature has been dropping pretty quickly. Which means it's the perfect time to whip out mom's chili recipe. It takes a lot of time to make, but not a lot of prep time which is nice. Today Texas played at 2:30 and the Rangers stepped up to bat at 7, so it was perfect timing. Right after the first quarter of the football game I got everything set up and dinner was ready right before my boyfriend Ian (Yeah I know he's married) stepped up to bat. We also made some jalapeno poppers to go with it! A spicy meal but DELICIOUS!

Here is the recipe:

Mom's Chili

Cook time: about 3 hours and 15 min

15 min prep time

3 hours cooking

Serves 4-6

3 Tbs. Butter (or olive oil)

1 large onion (minced)

2 cloves garlic (minced)

1 pound chopped Beef

    *At the store they often have a package labeled "Chili Meat" that's what I use

1 1/3 c. diced tomatoes (I use Hunts petite diced)

1 green pepper minced

1/4 tsp. Cayenne

3 cups water

1 tsp. cumin

1 small bay leaf

2 tablespoons chili powder

1/8 tsp. basil

1 1/2 tsp. salt

1 can kidney beans (optional)

Sharp Cheddar Cheese

Step 1

     I think it's easiest to chop everything up before you start.

Step 2

    Heat the butter or oil in a skillet (I just go ahead and put it right in a big pot), add onion and garlic and saute until golden brown. Add the meat and brown.     

Step 3

     Transfer the meat mixture to a large saucepan (if you didn't start this way) and add the remaining ingredients. I'm pretty generous with the spices because I like the strong flavor, but it's pretty flavorful as is. Bring pot to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, until the sauce is as thick as desired or about 3 hours. 

      It will look a little soupy at first, but don't worry it will thicken I promise! It just takes time.

Step 4

     Grate the cheese. Add kidney beans just before serving. Pour into bowls add cheese and Fritos or any chip/cracker you want! 

It's really easy to make a double or triple batch if you are serving a lot of people. It goes quickly so be prepared! Email me if you have any questions about the recipe. Happy Fall Y'all!

P.S. Countdown to Halloween: 18 days!!!