Chili with a Kick | Family Economics

By Erin

Chili can be made in a thousand different ways. You can use meat, beans or strange ingredients like pumpkin and cinnamon. It can also be made spicy or mild. No matter what you prefer, you can always make a great chili based on the ingredients you love.

I love creating a simple and basic chili for my family and friends. I season it just right and leave a bottle of hot sauce next to the pot or serving bowl for everyone to enjoy. I leave out the sauce to let them decide how much “heat” they’d like in their chili. This works perfectly for small and large gatherings.

Here’s how to create your own “Chili with a Kick.”

Ingredients
•    1 pound ground chuck
•    1 onion, chopped
•    15-ounce can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
•    15-ounce can cooked black beans, drained and rinsed
•    15-ounce can jalapenos
•    6-ounce can  tomato paste
•    6-ounce can tomato, diced
•    2 tablespoon chili powder
•    1 tablespoon ground cumin
•    1 tablespoon garlic powder 
•    Salt and pepper, to taste
•    Hot sauce, to taste  

Directions

1.    Brown ground beef with the chopped onion and drain it.  

2.    Return it to the pot and add the black beans and pinto beans.

3.    Stir in the can of diced tomatoes and tomato paste.

4.    Stir in three to four tomato paste cans worth of water.

5.    Add chili powder, ground cumin, garlic powder, salt and pepper.

6.    Stir and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes.

7.    Before serving, add as much hot sauce to each serving bowl as you can handle.

What is it about chili recipes that you love so much? Is it the warmth, heartiness or ease in preparing? I would love to hear your thoughts!