Chili

When cold weather sets in, I start craving those hot comfort foods that warm you up from your toes. Things like chicken and dumplings, chicken pot pie and chili. I've found that there are as many different varieties of chili as there are families, but if you're looking for a recipe that has been used for years and proven yummy, this is it.

Slow Cooker Chili

1lb Ground Beef
1 15 oz Can of Tomato Sauce
1 14 oz Can Diced tomatoes
1 15 oz Can Kidney Beans
1 15 oz Can Pinto Beans
1 large onion, finely chopped
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
1/8 tsp Cayenne
1 tsp white sugar
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/4 cup Chili powder

Brown the ground beef, drain, and saute together with the onions until the onions are translucent. Add garlic and saute until fragrant. Add all ingredients to crock pot, turn on high for 4-5 hours or low for 6-8 hours. The longer it simmers the better it is.

I use my dutch oven for this, too. Brown the meat, saute the onions and garlic, add the ingredients and leave it to simmer for a few hours. All in one pot. That's nice for clean up, but it's also nice to throw it in the crock pot and let it cook without having to worry about being near it to make sure it doesn't burn or something.

I don't like to use store bought canned stuff if I can help it, but this is one of those things unless you canned it all yourself before hand, it would take all day to prepare the sauce, tomatoes and beans. So, I just buy organic canned goods. Check the label if you've got allergies. Kidney beans are hard to find without corn syrup or some other type of corn (i.e. dextrose, starch etc.). I've used red beans as a substitute successfully. 

Now, the picture above has my homemade corn bread in the background. Obviously not an option for my little corn-allergic guy. Back to Nature has a saltine cracker that is corn free. I buy them at Kroger in their health food section or at Publix on the cookie/cracker isle in the greenwise section.

Also, when you're in a pinch and can't find the organic brands, the Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Saltine variety are corn-free. I buy them at Kroger. Kid's get a kick out of fish shaped crackers in their chili, too. Jackson usually just picks through and eats the crackers and meat.