Introduction: Chili and Beans

By I support Smirnoff here
About: I am married with two children. Spring, summer, and fall are my very favorite times of the year. I enjoy working in the yard, sewing, cooking, quilting, gardening, and creating. I do this to keep my sanity.

Chili is one of my husbands favorite meals.  When he is working on an outside project; he does not like coming into the house for lunch. It is times like this that I make chili, soups and one dish meals.  He appreciates the hearty meal and I appreciate all his hard work!  I get a storage unit that I have wanted for many years.  We can actually spring clean this year and turn the junk room into a sewing room!  How sweet it will be!  Lets make chili and beans!

Step 1: Ingredients

Easy Chili 

1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 Small diced red onion
1/2 Leek washed and diced optional
1 Small can diced green chili's optional
1 lb. ground beef 
3 16 oz cans of Kidney beans
2 cups of mild chunky salsa 
2 cups of tomato juice
1 Can diced tomatoes 
Tabasco sauce  oops forgot to add it to the pictures
1 teaspoon of cumin
1 tablespoon of chili powder
1/2 teaspoon of cocoa powder
Salt and pepper to taste

Utensils:

1 Stock pot 
1 Large spoon
1 Strainer optional 
Sharp knife
Cutting board
Can opener

This recipe makes a large pot of chili. I always make extra because it is always better the next day! 





Step 2: Dice

Wash the leek.
Dice the onions.
Open the cans of chili's, beans  and tomatoes.
Set aside until step 4. 

Step 3: Measure Dry Ingredients

Measure all the dry ingredients: 

1 tablespoon of cumin
1 teaspoon of chili powder
1/2 teaspoon of cocoa powder
Salt and pepper to taste

Step 4: Saute Onions

Add the olive oil to the pan.
Add onions stirring occasionally on medium heat. 
Saute the onions for about 5 minutes until they are cooked down.


Step 5: Fry Hamburger

While the hamburger is cooking go to the next step.

Mix the dry ingredients into the hamburger breaking the hamburger up into small pieces with a fork or spoon.
I added a little bit of water to the hamburger.
Fry the hamburger on medium high heat until well done.
Remove from heat and drain the fat, I used a strainer.
Put the hamburger back into the pot and begin bringing it to a slow boil for 8-10 minutes adding the wet ingredients in step 7.

Please note: I got side tracked and did not add the dry ingredients to the hamburger so I added them to the tomato juice later.  
I made this correction above.  


Step 6: Tomato Juice

Measure the tomato juice.
Add several drops of Tabasco sauce to the juice.
Salt and pepper  to taste.
Stir.
Set aside until the hamburger is cooked and oil drained.
Then add the tomato juice to the hamburger.

Step 7: Add the Liquids

Add the tomato juice mixture to the hamburger if you have not already done so. 
Add the diced tomatoes, green chili's, beans, and the salsa.
Bring to a slow boil on medium heat for 8-10 minutes. 

Step 8: Sunshiine's Final Thoughts

Serve with your favorite chili toppings.  We like it with cheese, onions, peppers, or sour cream. Thank you for stopping by and please come again soon.  Until next time have a great day!
Sunshiine