Beanie Bumbles

Sometimes, I can’t wait to roll up my sleeves and concoct something with the rockstar, cutting-edge ingredients I’m learning about in school—ingredients like chia, kombu or xylitol. Words I couldn’t have pronounced a few years ago, let alone cooked with!

And then sometimes, all I wanna do is roll up my sleeves and create something tried and true and familiar. All I want is something comforting, that just tastes better because my mama used to make it and her mama used to make it.

In my opinion, it is just as crucial to hold onto and give life to these recipes as it is to experiment with the new kids on the culinary block. These recipes are magic and nothing but love.

My roommate Nellie and I had some girlfriends over the other night, and we both wanted to serve them my mother’s chili recipe; perfection on a cold December Monday.

With a few tiny exceptions, I left the recipe well enough alone, and it was absolutely delicious.

Don’t be scared by the long list of ingredients. It’s a super affordable recipe that makes tons of food, and once you have prep out of the way, the rest is a breeze! Well, a simmer really .

Mom’s Holiday Chili Recipe

Ingredients

• 1.5-2 lbs ground beef (I used a ratio of 85/15 and I wouldn’t suggest much leaner—you want the meat to render some fat and juices!)
• 1 15 oz can black beans
• 1 15 oz can kidney beans
• 1 15 oz can cannellini beans
• 1 15 oz can baked beans (these can come in odd sizes; just buy two small cans or one big’un and use about 15 oz if need be)
• 2 15 oz cans diced tomatoes and their juice (I used Muir Glen tomatoes that I wont in a giveaway!, but the original recipe calls for 1 28 oz can whole San Marzano tomatoes).
• 1 red bell pepper, cut roughly into 1/2 inch pieces
• 1 yellow bell pepper, cut roughly into 1/2 inch pieces
• 1 medium white onion, diced into roughly 1/2 inch pieces
• 2 cups beef or chicken stock (homemade and/or organic preferred!)
• 4-5 cloves garlic, finely minced
• 2 tbsp of BBQ sauce OR ketchup OR tomato paste OR brown sugar
• 1 ounce very dark chocolate (I used Green & Black Organic 85%)
• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tbsp cumin
• 1 tsp cayenne
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• salt to taste
• black pepper to taste
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Instructions:

Prepare your mis-en-place. Grab an empty bowl and put a plastic trash bag in it. This will make clean-up sooo much easier because you can clean as you go!

Chop your peppers and onions. Set aside in a small bowl. Mince garlic. Set aside in a smaller bowl. Measure out spices into a small bowl. Set aside. Open beans and drain in a colander. Rinse well to remove excess salt. Add to large bowl, along with canned tomatoes.

Ok, you’re finally ready to cook!

Turn a LARGE pot or saucepan on medium heat. Add a tiny bit of olive oil. Add ground beef and allow to brown and cook almost completely through. Add a pinch of salt to season. Stir occasionally but not too much—otherwise it won’t caramelize and leave some crispy bits.

When beef is cooked, empty into a bowl or onto large paper-towel-lined plate (you can prepare this before as well). Set aside. Add a tbsp of olive oil to the pot and turn heat down to medium-low. Add peppers and onions and sauté until translucent. Add garlic and stir frequently to keep from browning until fragrant.

Add beef back to pot along with spices. Mix all ingredients thoroughly and add stock. Turn back to medium heat and allow to cook for 5-10 minutes. Add beans/tomatoes and BBQ sauce or other “sweetener” of choice. Heat dark chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl until soft (about 40 seconds) and add to chili.

Now it’s really time to let the simmering do its magic! Alternating between medium and medium-high heat as you see fit, keep chili bubbling at a high simmer (but NOT boiling) for at least another 30 minutes. Stir every few minutes. Add seasonings as you see fit.

Once it tastes like all the flavors in your chili have melted together and enriched each other, remove from the stove and add whatever toppings you like! I enjoyed mine with sour cream and cornbread, but cheese would definitely have been in the mix if I’d had any lying around .

I hope you share this recipe with some of the ones you can’t imagine life without.

Have a fantastic start to the week, all!