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Effortless Chili for Cold Days

Effortless Chili for Cold Days
Valentine's Day occurs during the coldest part of the year for those of us who live in the Northern Hemisphere.  Here in Central Texas, winter is also the wettest part of the year which makes for pretty gross weather especially because it typically doesn't get cold enough for snow.  When it's cold and wet outside, there's not a whole lot that makes me want to go out.  I don't want to put on a fancy dress and fancy shoes and eat fancy food.  I much prefer snuggling up with my SO and a large steamy bowl of comfort.  He prefers that, too.

This Instructable shows how to make chili with almost no effort whatsoever.  It's tasty, warm, and full of lycopene and other healthy stuff, and it's been tested and proven.  It's also inexpensive ($7-14 for a large pot's worth), so you can buy your Valentine that prized Nepenthes pitcher plant she's been wanting for the past 14 months...  just saying.

So grab a bowl, a blanket, and your sweetie, and cozy up in front of a fire for some good V-Day lovin'.
 
 
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Step 1Ingredients

Ingredients
You'll need:
  • 1 onion (diced)
  • 3-5 cloves of garlic (minced)
  • 2 large cans of whole peeled tomatoes
  • 1 large can of crushed tomatoes
  • 3 regular cans of red kidney beans
  • 3 tbsps of olive oil
  • 2-4 tbsps of chili powder
  • Salt

Optional:
  • Cooked ground beef/turkey
  • Rehydrated Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP)
  • Cottage cheese or sour cream
  • Chives
  • Grated cheddar cheese
  • Croutons
  • Bread with a nice crust
  • Grilled cheese sandwich
  • Tabasco sauce

Note:  When I worked at a small nonprofit, we would have "Slow Cooker Fridays", and this was the favorite meal to make.  The ingredients were divided up.

-Onions, garlic, and olive oil
-Tomatoes
-Kidney beans
-Bread, croutons, cheese, etc.
 

I usually brought the chili powder, and there was already salt in the kitchen.  If you work in a small office, I highly recommend trying this out with your coworkers.  Freshly cooked food is such a relief, and it removes a bit of tension and stress in the office.

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22 comments
Mar 31, 2011. 1:17 PMdonicamm says:
I don't think this could be fairly called chili, but it is definitely a good looking soup. Chili is short for Chile con Carne, which literally means "Chili pepper with meat". Still, not being a vegan this looks pretty good. I think I might actually try it for dinner tonight.
May 12, 2010. 2:44 PMthepelton says:
I buy the canned Chili by the case.  If I can make it myself, that would be that much better.

Thanks!
May 15, 2010. 10:19 AMthepelton says:
Personally, I like to put chili on baked potatoes with some shredded cheese on top, microwaved until it is all melted.  I'm drooling.
Mar 8, 2011. 4:55 PMmiddlenamefrank says:
Wow, this does look terrific and especially easy since it's done in a slow cooker.

If you'd like it thicker, could you strain out all the lumpy stuff, thicken the gravy with a cooked roux and then add them back together? I know, it kinda takes away from the easy-cooking aspect....maybe just throw in a tablespoon or two of flour while it's still hot and stir until thickened a bit?
Dec 5, 2010. 2:51 PMgemtree says:
I make mine with cubed chuck roast. I dislike fat so cut all the fat and gristle off and cook it for hours. Otherwise, I just get out the Wolf Brand Chili. Then I use a brown rice base, mix in some shredded cheese and sometimes some Fritos! I used to put finely diced onions but it grieves my stomach too much. Later is WATCH OUT! So, I leave off the raw onions now. Nothing like hot chili on a cold damp Texas day.
Sep 30, 2010. 9:16 PMDomineke says:
I'm really excited to make this now that it's getting colder!
May 12, 2010. 2:41 PMdennistrack says:
That looks delicious!
Mar 12, 2010. 9:14 PMonrust says:
I did not know what Fiesta-ware was till I broke one and had to replace it!
Now......I'm mostly scared of it.
Mar 13, 2010. 11:32 AMonrust says:
I have an interesting living situation and one of my roomies graciously decorates the house with her stuff.  I felt more than compelled to replace a small piece of this set shown here.  After I replaced it and came clean, I learned I got took on the price.
The colors of her set are great and I only use the stuff on my instructable recipes.  I do not eat on it unless served on it!   She saved the broken plate for a mosaic she is working on. lol
Feb 10, 2010. 12:42 PMlemonie says:
Yum. I like the Scotch Bonnets in chilli, if you can get them they're better than powder, but not really traditional / authentic. (or are they?)

L
Feb 8, 2010. 11:23 AMkill-a-watt says:
Someone saying chilli with beans is not really chilli in 5...4....3...2...1...

Me, I prefer (small) red beans. And I further cut expenses by using dry beans, not pre-soaking them, and giving them an hour or so in the pressure cooker.
Feb 8, 2010. 5:44 AMJayefuu says:
Oooo. You collect pitcher plants? :D Snap!

I only have some easier to grow varieties at the moment (about 5) but as soon as I have somewhere warm for them I'll probably get some of the hanging varieties. :D
Feb 8, 2010. 5:46 AMJayefuu says:
Just had to look it up because I'd forgotten.... mine are all of the Sarracenia variety at the moment.

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Author:AngryRedhead(Not-So-Angry Redhead)
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