A two-fer blog post today! My mom's chili was always the best. Mine's not too shabby, either (I make mine with steak instead of ground beef, and I use more tomatoes than Mom did), but I made Mom's the other night, which is a more traditional, meatier kind.
Mom's Chili
2 pounds ground round
1 green pepper, chopped
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 8-ounce can tomato sauce
8 ounces water (fill the empty tomato sauce can with water)
1 tablespoon chili powder (I use a little more than that)
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon salt
1 16-ounce can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
Brown the ground beef with the onion, pepper and garlic. Drain off fat. Add remaining ingredients, except for kidney beans. Simmer slowly for about 45 minutes (or you can put it in a crock-pot for 4-6 hours on low). Add beans and heat through. For hotter chili, increase cayenne pepper and/or chili powder.
Personally, I add about double the chili powder, and a touch more cayenne. To temper the heat, you can add sugar. But really, the best way to do this is to start low on the heat, let it cook a bit, taste it, then add a little more. Don't add a ton and then try to take it back--it's harder to subtract heat than add it ;-). I also like my chili just a bit more tomato-y, so I also add a can of those Petite Diced Hunts tomatoes. You can get them flavored, Mexican, or Onion and Garlic. I just add whatever I have on hand.
Every day, I miss my mom, even though she's been gone more than two years now. I miss talking to her, mostly. She was really good at advice. She used to sing--she took singing lessons for a while--and every time I hear one of the songs she sang (she did mostly 70s hits, the ones made popular by Burt Bacharach, et al.), I get all emotional. Sometimes I can sing along; sometimes I have to change the station. Either way, I can make her chili on a chilly weekend night, and feel, for a little while, like I'm back home at her dinner table.
Shirley
New York Times Bestselling Author
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Yummy
What a great way to remember your mom~ and a yummy sounding recipe, too!
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This sounds like a great
This sounds like a great recipe! It's a nice way to remember your mum. I am going to have to try it, dfiancee loves chili.
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Thanks for the recipe Shirley
I have been looking for a good chili recipe. I will have to try this one next week, especially since we are expecting some really cold weather again. I made chili from Rachel Ray's cookbook - Fire-Roasted Tomato, Beef, and Chipotle Chili - and almost burned our insides off, that's how hot it was. My DH thought I didn't measure the spices right
. I have been cooking for more than 30 yrs., I think I know how to measure and follow a recipe. The next time I made it I used half the measurement of spices. It was still spicy, but much better tasting. I'll let you know how we like your recipe. Thanks again.
Kathy
This sounds like a good receipe ......
I haven't tried making chilli with steak ... though I enjoy making it with pork ... I usually brown it with chopped bacon, then drain and set it aside ... mix all the other ingredients, including "fresh" ground corriander (really nice with pork) .... then add the pork back in the simmer ... I like lots of tomatoes in mine too, and just recently discovered the Hunt's diced ... great choices!
we lost Dad three years ago January ... there isn't a day that I don't miss him .... he was my bestest friend .. and I miss our Saturday morning dates .... I'm lost now on Saturdays
(((hugs)))
~~ KatherineT ~~ I'm a Harlequin Addict, and I'm proud of it!
~~ Quiet Canadians ~ 2008 Book Challenge Blog
Hope it Works Out!
Kathy,
LOL at the too-hot chili from Rachael! I've found some of her recipes are pretty spicy. I think she has a higher heat tolerance than me! Plus, I have kids, and they are not big on super-spicy stuff. I usually let them be the heat guides. They'll taste and decide if it's good to go or not. I figure DH can always add hot sauce to his, but the kids can only cool theirs off with cheese, etc., so much.
And Kim and Debbie -- hope you enjoy it!
Shirley
Shirley
New York Times Bestselling Author
BOARDROOM BRIDE AND GROOM, July 2008, in stores now!
SWEETHEART LOST AND FOUND: Book One, The Wedding Planners, April 2008: Planning perfect weddings...finding happy endings!
Visit: www.shirleyjump
Hugs, Katherine...
On the loss of your dad. I know what you mean about the weekends not being the same.
I have never tried ground pork with coriander! I will have to give that a try. Sounds delish!!
Shirley
Shirley
New York Times Bestselling Author
BOARDROOM BRIDE AND GROOM, July 2008, in stores now!
SWEETHEART LOST AND FOUND: Book One, The Wedding Planners, April 2008: Planning perfect weddings...finding happy endings!
Visit: www.shirleyjump
Pork ......
I use the whole corriander and grind it in a mill like you would peppercorns .... it's got a nice bite to it ...... there are three spices that are a must for pork for me ...... "fresh" ground corriander, ground cumin (or whole depending on use) and celery salt ..... as you know pork needs salt to come alive, and celery salt is more subtle and everyone wonders what that spice is! LOL
~~ KatherineT ~~ I'm a Harlequin Addict, and I'm proud of it!
~~ Quiet Canadians ~ 2008 Book Challenge Blog
Celery Salt...
I hadn't thought about that! Great idea, Katherine!
The D2K Paranormal Junkies 2008 Challenge
Love Celery Salt...
It's a staple in lots of little recipes here. I have SO many spices, I keep them alphabetized (trust me, I am not that anal in my real life), just because I don't want to spend an hour looking for the oregano ;-). I love going to home and garden shows and finding new, unique spices that I can try out. And I am a HUGE fan of the Food Network.
Shirley
New York Times Bestselling Author
BOARDROOM BRIDE AND GROOM, July 2008, in stores now!
SWEETHEART LOST AND FOUND: Book One, The Wedding Planners, April 2008: Planning perfect weddings...finding happy endings!
Visit: www.shirleyjump
ROFL .... I'll need you to come and organize mine then!
And how many Reiman Magazines do you subscribe to? .... I have Taste of Home, Light and Tasty, Country Woman, and Simple & Delicious ... thank goodness they are bimonthly!
there were a few years where I couldn't concentrate long enough on a book, and having such a strong desire to read something, I reached for magazines .... and what better mags, then ones filled with down-home family tradition recipes!
~~ KatherineT ~~ I'm a Harlequin Addict, and I'm proud of it!
~~ Quiet Canadians ~ 2008 Book Challenge Blog
Shirley, I have a question or two or three
When simmering the chili is the pot covered or uncovered? Also, have you ever made it in the crockpot? Which do you prefer if you have done it both ways?
Kathy
Reiman Magazines
I've subscribed to lots of them over the years but my favorites are the old standby Taste of Home and Quick Cooking. I wasnt as much of a fan of Country Woman, because I'm more into the recipes than the other stuff, though I did get CW for a while. I LOVE the Taste of Home annual books. I have several of them and they are my usual cookbooks. I did buy the whole big book they just came out with but I still like the annuals best.
Shirley
New York Times Bestselling Author
BOARDROOM BRIDE AND GROOM, July 2008, in stores now!
SWEETHEART LOST AND FOUND: Book One, The Wedding Planners, April 2008: Planning perfect weddings...finding happy endings!
Visit: www.shirleyjump
Simmering and Crock-pot
I make Chili in the crock-pot all the time. i do all the browning in a regular pot, then dump the rest into the crock and cook it on low for at least 4-6 hours. And I think I simmered it uncovered. My stove is old and cranky, so even when it says the burner is on low, sometimes it decides it's not ;-) and then it'll spit inside the lid. So I usually keep an eye on stuff like htat.
Shirley
New York Times Bestselling Author
BOARDROOM BRIDE AND GROOM, July 2008, in stores now!
SWEETHEART LOST AND FOUND: Book One, The Wedding Planners, April 2008: Planning perfect weddings...finding happy endings!
Visit: www.shirleyjump
Thanks Shirley
I plan on making it on Thursday. I will probably use the crockpot since it doesn't get much use. So far everything I have made in it the family has loved.
Kathy
I should have made a double batch
Shirley - We loved your mom's chili. My DH said to tell you it was fantastic. I made it in the crockpot and the house smelled soooo good all day. Next time I'm going to double the recipe and add some of the diced tomatoes you mentioned. The amount of spices your mom used was just right for us, although I did add a shake or two more of Chayenne pepper. At the table I had chopped onion, shredded cheddar cheese, & oyster crackers. The dh likes all three added to his chili, I like onion and cheese, and the dd likes cheese and crackers added to hers. Thanks again for this recipe. It ROCKS.
Kathy
P.S. We like ours without beans.
So glad to hear it!
I'm glad it was a hit!! My DH loves beans so we always add those. I can live with or without them, so sometimes I make a separate batch just for DH.
Shirley
Shirley
New York Times Bestselling Author
BOARDROOM BRIDE AND GROOM, July 2008, in stores now!
SWEETHEART LOST AND FOUND: Book One, The Wedding Planners, April 2008: Planning perfect weddings...finding happy endings!
Visit: www.shirleyjump