Chili

[mathnerd]

1 lb lean meat: cubed or ground (trim completely and run through a food processor for a course grind).
1 small onion: minced (or puree in the food processor)
1 stalk celery: minced (or puree in the food processor; see a pattern here?)
1 tsp salt
1-2 tsp pepper (depending on personal taste)
1-3 TBSP Chili Powder (depending on personal taste)
5-8 tomatos: diced (drop whole tomatoes in a bowl of hot water for 30-60 seconds to remove the skins)
1/2 cup diced sweet potato or butter nut squash (can be added raw and then broken up with a spoon once it's cooked)
1/2 lb dry small red kidney beans. Prepare before adding to the chili: cook as directed on the package.
Fresh or pickled jalepeno pepper to desired taste


Brown the meat with the celery and onion in a pot (may need a small amount of oil). After the meat is cooked thoroughly, add the rest of the ingredients along with enough water to cover all ingredients (keep adding enough water to ensure that ingredients are covered). Stew for an hour or so (the longer that you cook it the better the flavor)

FYI... The chili powder will tend to give a bitter flavor. The sweet potato/squash is a natural way to mellow the bitterness without cutting the flavor (traditional chili recipes use sugar, but since we are trying to avoid the evil white powder, I experimented with other options. Both squash & sweet tater's work very well). In addition, if pureed (simply smash the chunks, once they are fully cooked and the pieces will break up while the chili cooks), the squash/sweet tater helps thicken the broth without using that other evil white powder: flour.

The sweet potato/squash also works for other red sauces (e.g., marinara, spaghetti)


Short Cuts:
Canned tomoatos and tomato sauce (one 15 oz can of each would replace the medium tomatoes; leave out the salt) can be used in place of the fresh tomatos, but be careful and read the ingredients on the label (to ensure no added sugar and to find lower salt brands).

32 oz, Canned kidney beans, but you have to be REALLY, REALLY, REALLY careful and read the label. Virtually all canned kidney beans have added sugar.

[Keith S.]

wow, this is great. i've been looking for a chili recipe. i was wondering what else you guys eat with chili, i've been thinking of what to have it with but nothing comes to mind...anyone?

[Lost Dog]

Originally posted by zhuangshi:
wow, this is great. i've been looking for a chili recipe. i was wondering what else you guys eat with chili, i've been thinking of what to have it with but nothing comes to mind...anyone?

IMO, chili, like stew, needs nothing else. It IS the whole meal.

That being said, my family eats it with cornbread. I just eat it with more chili.

[Q.]

Originally posted by mathnerd:
32 oz, Canned kidney beans, but you have to be REALLY, REALLY, REALLY careful and read the label. Virtually all canned kidney beans have added sugar.

... and LOTS OF SALT!

[gardener]

Sorry, but I really like Wick Fowler's 4-Alarm Chili Mix, tamed to 2-Alarm. Even in NJ it tastes like Texas.

[poopy pants]

Originally posted by gardener:
Sorry, but I really like Wick Fowler's 4-Alarm Chili Mix, tamed to 2-Alarm. Even in NJ it tastes like Texas.

I would agree, Wick's chili is very good, especially when you make it with ground tenderloin. Have you tried Shotgun Willie's Texas Chili mix?

[poopy pants]

Well?! Have you?!

[Caffeine]

Any idea of a nutritional info on a server of this chili. it sounds good im going to get a crockpot and make some tonight

[Ruma]

mathnerd, I tried this recipe twice and it is a hit in my family. What more, I also made it for my friend. He and his wife loved it.

We don't get celery in this part of the world. It was good even without the celery.

Thanks for the great recipe.