Saturday, January 20, 2007

Chili weather

Don't you love it when meteorologists get all excited because "WEATHER" is on the way? It has been a rather boring winter for our local weatherman, except for some flooding. It has now become what January usually is in this part of the nation...cold...cold and snowy.

When I was at the grocery store this morning, I decided the conditions were perfect to prepare chili for my husband. It seemed a good thing to do and just the right time with the cold weather, snow on the way, and...football...Chicago football...this weekend. Oh yeah, there is another Midwestern team that is playing some team from the Boston area (the favorite of a certain son-in-law) but in my house...The Monster's of the Midway.

Chili is one of those recipes I love. It is simmering away so I have time to peruse some favorite blogs and post the book review of My Mommy, My Teacher on Semicolon. My reward for jobs well done throughout the day will time on the Internet to get caught up on favorite blogs.

Here is the chili recipe I have used for years (and years). It was originally from a Beverly Nye cookbook. I've tweaked it a bit since I first began making it as a bride. I will be posting about "deepening the pantry" soon. This is a perfect pantry recipe and the ingredients can easily be increased to serve a crowd or "tweaked" to make it hotter.

Beverly Nye's Chili

1 lb. ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1 large can or 2 small cans tomatoes
1 can condensed cream of tomato soup (the original recipe called for 2 cans)
1 tomato soup can of water
1 large can or 2 small cans chili beans
salt, pepper, cumin to taste (original recipe called for chili powder)
(I also like to add a few dashes of Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning)

Sprinkle a little salt, pepper, cumin, and Tony C.'s on ground beef and brown in a dutch oven or small stock pot. Even before the ground beef is browned completely, add onion and green pepper and saute until they are somewhat soft. Unless there is a lot of fat left after browning, I leave the drippings in the dutch oven for extra flavor.

Add the can of tomatoes, can of tomato soup, the tomato soup can filled with water, chili beans, and extra water if needed. Simmer on medium about half an hour and taste, add a little water if necessary and adjust seasons with more salt, pepper, and Tony Chachere's if you are using it. (I like it because it adds a little extra flavor when sprinkled lightly on a dish. I have two Midwestern guys who do not like too much of that kind of seasoning.) Simmer on medium about another half an hour or on low if you are serving it much later.

I like to serve it with shredded cheddar cheese on top.

As with all recipes, I will also be adding this one to my recipe blog for easy reference.

8 comments:

Andrew McAllister said...

That should be hearty enough to hold anyone through a long football game :o)

Andrew (To Love, Honor, and Dismay)

Brenda@CoffeeTeaBooks said...

Yes...chili, snow and football!

Anonymous said...

Oh, Brenda...can we still be friends if I root for the Saints? I'm afraid one of my favorite teams is the Patriots but I'm going for the underdog this year.
No Bears fan, I.
Joanna (hanging head and trembling)
:)

Brenda@CoffeeTeaBooks said...

Yes...we are very fond of their quarterback since he was the quarterback at my husband's alma mater.

We still want the Bears to win. :)

Anonymous said...

Just came across your blog. It is wonderful! Your other blog with all of the recipes is also great. I am a food writer for my city's newspaper, and I'm always on the lookout for good recipes...you have so many! Best wishes to you.

Brenda@CoffeeTeaBooks said...

Thank you! I plan to post a lot of new recipes soon. I'm just a TAD behind. :)

smilnsigh said...

Ahhhh yes!!! I too, was just told that... there's a _Foooooooo'balllll_ Game' on today! -chuckle- Silly me, I thought it was over, till Super Bowl. {I'm not complaining, Football is the one sport I don't mind watching}

But even before I knew of this 'Foooo'ball Game' today ~ I chose "Eggplant Parm" for dinner. Well, since he is the house Chef, I chose it, for him to make. And I'll make the pie he's been wanting. :-)

We have Sunday dinner with next door family of son/d-in-law/grands, and son has been earning his own 'Chef's Wings.' But today, I made the 'executive decision'... tis Dad's super 'EG' and that's that!

See, along with having to be careful of sugar for diabetes, I have to _not_ have dairy/tomatoes/etc., for assorted other issues. So, I have to 'save myself,' for splurges. Today is my "EG" splurge day. :-)

Your Chili sounds wonderful also, but there again, it's one of those off-limits-now things for me. But you and your family _enjoy_!!!

And Goooooooooo Payton Manning and the Colts! {They are playing your s-in-law's team, this evening} -grin-

'MN'

Brenda@CoffeeTeaBooks said...

Our community is near enough to the Bears and the Colts that there is a split over fans "in town".

So we are used to seeing both the Colts and the Bears jackets around. However, should it end up (God forbid) being New Orleans against Indy, we'd probably have to go with New Orleans and risk the shock of neighbors in the Midwest. We are big fans of their quarterback and it IS a great comeback story.

Still...go Bears!