I just made one of the best pots of Chili that I've made in years...about 2 gallons of it.

I normally use the usual ingredients, beef, pork, tomatoes, tomato sauce, onions, dark red kidney beans and ground chilies. Today, I decided to be a bit different, and added hominy. It added a nice contrast to the normal flavors.

My wife will freeze what we don't use tonight for quick and easy meals in the future, like coneys.

What bone warming comfort foods do you usually have when the weather turns cooler?

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

"Chili" ain't got no beans in it!!!!

A couple of my favorite cold weather comfort dishes are; Tucson beans and rice (frijoles y arroz), sliced grilled chili's, red and black beans, boiled rice, minced garlic, slivers of pork, chicken or beef (whatever's handy), stirred together in a bowl, topped with sliced cabbage and 'maters, dusted with grated cheese and served with a warm tortilla. Ay caramba, now THAT's eating! A splash of some real salsa to make your nose run and some diced jalapenos on top to remember it the next day.

Nice simple 'tater soup is a good one also. A big bowl of soup, a glass of milk and a pile of Saltine crackers while sitting around the fire is guaranteed to put you in the mood for some snooze time.

In cold weather, my wife makes spicy Beef Stew. I usually make some Deer Chili. Either one serves well on a cool, wet day. You're almost making me want to rush the cool weather.

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2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

That dish sounds great! Hearty meat with veggies and a kick...you can't ask for more than that.


Cream of 'tater soup is always a hit here...with bacon and shredded cheddar.

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

I have a thing about Cream of Potato Soup. When I was a kid I remember coming home from school starving sometimes for lunch and all my Mom would have for me would be a bowl of Potato Soup. She is a tiny person and eats like a bird while I was a hard charging, fast growing kid.

I still Love her, but I have a bad thought when I see Potato Soup.

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2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

I'm not talking about the canned type. We make it ourselves and add thick cut smoked bacon, pre-cooked til it's really crispy. The flavor it adds is great, and the cheese is added just prior to serving. The potatoes are still a bit chunky, so it's not thin.

My mom used to make it without the cheese, and add extra onions. Hers was good...dad used to tell me that mine was better.

I also like to make chicken and noodles, using Amish noodles. They soak up the broth. I add celery, onions, 'taters and carrots, then run them through a food processor to hide them...if my son knew they were in there, he'd turn his nose up at the table.

I hide veggies in soups often...if he can't seem them, he doesn't argue about eating them.

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

That's not chili. What you have is chili with beans. Maybe you should add some elbow macaroni while you're at it.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

Oh boy, this thread could prove to be every bit as divisive as a political thread...

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

I know. It's what my mom used to call it when I was growing up, it's a bad habit I have.

No thanks on the macaroni...mom used to do that and it just ain't right. She'd also add sweet corn...ruining the meal before it was served.

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

Just wanted to make sure you understood what chili truly is.

You just know that Bot will weigh in any moment with a beans/chili comment...

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

Lovely Bride thinks chili has ground beef, elbow macaroni, beans and sometimes corn. That stuff tastes OK but I did have to explain to her that it wasn't chili and it was, in fact, against Texas State Law to refer to that type of ground beef stew as chili.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

Frijoles y arroz de Tucson

Slice meat into "worms" (long strips about the thickness of your little finger), then cut into 1" long pieces. Splash with olive oil and ground pepper. Let sit.

Slice two large Anaheim peppers (or Bell peppers if'n you're a "gringo") into the same size pieces. Splash of oil to keep moist.

Drain large can of red kidney beans and large can of black beans.

Slice three cloves of garlic into thin slices. Mince two of the cloves but leave the one in larger pieces to brown with the meat.

Chop up a cup or so of cabbage. About the same amount of tomatoes. You can always add a bit of chopped green onion or whatever tickles your fancy.

A couple of diced jalapenos for optional topping.

Pour some olive oil into a heated cast iron skillet. Drop in the sliced garlic, when it begins to sizzle, add the meat. Stir the meat until LIGHTLY browned, add the sliced chilis. stir the blend until the chilis begin to blister, reduce to low medium heat, add the beans and stir. Blend well, reduce heat, cover and let simmer.

Make however much and whatever kind of rice you want. I've given up on telling people how to cook their rice. Do it your way. I like 2 or 3 times the amount of rice to the meat/beans mixture.

Blend cooked rice into the meat/beans. Add the rest of the garlic and maybe a splash of Worcestershire sauce.
Remove from heat.

Add a layer of cabbage to the bottom of a bowl, a big scoop of the beans and rice, a layer of cheese, more rice, another layer of cabbage, add tomatoes and dust with the cheese.

Keep the jalapenos and salsa handy for those who like to cry over their supper.

Serve with a heated tortilla and a cold Corona! Muy gusto!

LOL Mom would call that goulash.

Adding beans allows for less meat, but an increase in protein and fiber. Each region has it's own take on it, adding different fares from each area of the nation, which makes it such a great dish...even if it isn't "real" chili.

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

I'm printing this one out...we'll try it next week. Thanks!

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

The wife and I have the great chili debate also. I've solved the problem. I make up side dishes of beans and also macaronis. She can add whatever she wants without it polluting my chili! I do have to refrain from adding chiltipenes as an appeasement. Sigh, the things we must do to keep harmony.