Jeremy and I love this time of year because it is the best time to get fresh local peppers. The weather this week has been absolutely gorgeous and we decided it would be the perfect weekend for a hearty bowl of chili.
Almost all the ingredients below (except the canned and bottled) are from Common Ground, a Bloomington-Normal local grocery store providing fresh, local, and organic produce as well as bulk organic spices for much cheaper than you would find at a major grocery store. The meat is from Bloomington Meats, a local meat shop providing free-range and local meat. The recipe is partly our own, except the mix of spices which comes from the recipe for "Rainwater Chili" in Open-House Cookbook.
There is also another recipe from Jeremy's family for Johnny Cake, similar to cornbread but with a custard topping.
Chili Ingredients:
Olive Oil
3 large onions
5 cloves garlic
6 assorted bell peppers
2 cayenne hot peppers
2 hungarian hot peppers
1/4 cup chili powder
2 tbs cumin
2 tbs ground cumin
2 tbs dried oregano
1 tb sweet paprika
1 tb hot paprika
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp ground cardamon
3 tbs unsweetened cocoa powder
2 lbs ground beef
12 oz hot italian sausage
12 oz sweet italian sausage
1 can (35 oz) tomatoes
1/2 cup tequila
1 bottle of beer
1 can pinto beans
(We would usually add in 1 can of black and 1 can of kidney beans, but we didn't have any on hand)
Tomato juice for consistency
Salt to taste
Chop onions and mince garlic:
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Coarsely chop the sweet bell peppers and finely chop the smaller hot peppers:
Combine all spices:
Coat the bottom of a stew pot with olive oil and let it heat through on medium. Add onions, coat with oil, and saute for 5 minutes:
Add in garlic and peppers, saute for 5 minutes:
Add in spices, stir occasionally for 5 minutes:
Add in 35 oz canned tomatoes and canned beans, both undrained:
Add in 1/2 Cup Tequila and 1 bottle of beer:
Stir well and let simmer while browning ground beef and italian sausages:
Add meat into stew pot once it is completely browned:
Stir, add tomato juice until chili is desired consistency, then add salt to taste.
Stir, and simmer uncovered on low for at least one hour.
Johnny Cake!
Preheat oven to 350. Measure out 1 Cup of buttermilk:
Add in 1 tsp baking soda and let sit for a few minutes:
Beat together 2 eggs, 1/2 cup sugar, and 3 tbs of melted butter:
Stir buttermilk mixture into egg mixture:
Stir in 1 1/2 cups cornmeal, 1/2 cup flour, and 3/4 tsp salt:
Beat well then stir in 3/4 cup milk:
Pour mixture into 9x13 pan:
Slowly drizzle 1/2 cup of milk over mixture:
Put in oven and bake for 45 minutes or until golden brown:
Yum!
Enjoy with friends!
