Cowboy Firecracker Chili Food

TEXAS CHILI

Steps:

• Remove the stems and some of the seeds from the ancho, arbol and guajillo chiles; then tear the chiles into large pieces. In a large saute pan over medium-high heat, toast the chiles until they start to change color, about 2 minutes. Add 1 cup hot water to just cover the chiles; turn off the heat, cover the pan, and let steam for 15 minutes. Transfer the chiles and liquid to a blender and puree until smooth. Pour into a bowl and set aside.
• In a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, add the olive oil, onions, peppers, Fresno chiles and Anaheim peppers. Cook until the onions are translucent, 6 to 7 minutes. Remove from the pan and set aside on a baking sheet or in a bowl.
• Sprinkle the beef chuck and ground beef with salt and pepper, then add to the Dutch oven. Cook until well browned, 7 to 8 minutes. Add the garlic, cumin, oregano, cayenne and cinnamon; saute until fragrant, about 2 more minutes. Add the sauteed vegetables, beef stock and the chile puree, stirring to combine. Bring to a boil and reduce to a very low simmer. Simmer until the beef is very tender and the liquid has reduced, about 2 hours. Stir in the beer and paprika, then add the masa harina to tighten sauce. Stir over low heat for 10 to 12 minutes, breaking up some of the beef so it gets worked into the sauce slightly. Add salt and pepper to taste. Remove from the heat, cover and keep warm.
• Serve generous portions of chili in bowls, drizzled with Cheddar Beer Cheese Sauce and garnished with sour cream, scallions, red onion and crackers.
• Remove the stems and some of the seeds from the ancho, arbol and guajillo chiles; then tear the chiles into large pieces. In a large saute pan over medium-high heat, toast the chiles until they start to change color, about 2 minutes. Add 1 cup hot water to just cover the chiles; turn off the heat, cover the pan, and let steam for 15 minutes. Transfer the chiles and liquid to a blender and puree until smooth. Pour into a bowl and set aside.
• In a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, add the olive oil, onions, peppers, Fresno chiles and Anaheim peppers. Cook until the onions are translucent, 6 to 7 minutes. Remove from the pan and set aside on a baking sheet or in a bowl.
• Sprinkle the beef chuck and ground beef with salt and pepper, then add to the Dutch oven. Cook until well browned, 7 to 8 minutes. Add the garlic, cumin, oregano, cayenne and cinnamon; saute until fragrant, about 2 more minutes. Add the sauteed vegetables, beef stock and the chile puree, stirring to combine. Bring to a boil and reduce to a very low simmer. Simmer until the beef is very tender and the liquid has reduced, about 2 hours. Stir in the beer and paprika, then add the masa harina to tighten sauce. Stir over low heat for 10 to 12 minutes, breaking up some of the beef so it gets worked into the sauce slightly. Add salt and pepper to taste. Remove from the heat, cover and keep warm.
• Serve generous portions of chili in bowls, drizzled with Cheddar Beer Cheese Sauce and garnished with sour cream, scallions, red onion and crackers.
• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add the butter and flour and mix together to make a roux. Cook until nutty and fragrant but still light in color, 3 to 4 minutes. Pour in the beer and half-and-half, whisking to create a smooth, thick sauce. Add the Cheddar, cream cheese, Worcestershire, salt, dry mustard, paprika, cayenne and pepper. Cook over low heat, while continuing to whisk, for 7 to 8 minutes. Remove from the heat, cover, and keep warm until ready to serve.
• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add the butter and flour and mix together to make a roux. Cook until nutty and fragrant but still light in color, 3 to 4 minutes. Pour in the beer and half-and-half, whisking to create a smooth, thick sauce. Add the Cheddar, cream cheese, Worcestershire, salt, dry mustard, paprika, cayenne and pepper. Cook over low heat, while continuing to whisk, for 7 to 8 minutes. Remove from the heat, cover, and keep warm until ready to serve.

COWBOY CHILI

Steps:

• Mix chili powder, paprika, cumin, garlic powder, salt, and flour together in a small bowl. Brown meat over medium-high heat in a 6-quart pot or 14-inch Dutch oven. Add spice mixture and stir well. Add water gradually and stir well. Reduce heat to low and simmer for about 45 minutes.

FIRECRACKER CHILI

Steps:

• 1. In a large skillet, cook the sausage or beef until brown. Drain off fat. 2. In a 3 1/2 to 5 quart slow cooker, combine cooked meat, beans, celery, onion, sweet pepper, and jalapeno peppers. Add undrained tomatoes, vegetable juice, tomato paste, garlic, chili powder and cumin. 3. Cover and cook on low heat setting for 8 to 10 hurs or on high heat setting for 4 to 5 hours. Ladle into bowls. Pass cheese and sour cream with chili.

COWBOY CHILI

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, cook ground beef, garlic and onion over medium heat, stirring until beef is browned, about 10 minutes.
• Drain well.
• Stir tomatoes with liquid, broth, chili powder, cumin, oregano and cayenne pepper into beef mixture.
• Reduce heat to low.
• Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 1 hour.
• Add pinto beans and salt.
• Cook stirring, for 15 minutes longer.
• note: The flavor of the chili actually improves once the ingredients blend making this the perfect do-ahead meal.
• Refrigerate chili until ready to use, then reheat over low heat.

COWBOY FIRECRACKER CHILI

Steps:

• 1. Pinto Beans cooked the quick cook method - wash and drain, place in a soup pot covered with water and bring to a boil. Boil gently for 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and cover for 1 hour. Return to the burner and add water if needed. Add the salt pork and simmer until tender. When they are done, remove the bacon and discard or have a bite.
• 2. Brown the ground beef with the onions and peppers, drain if necessary.
• 3. Add the mixture to the pinto beans once they are cooked.
• 4. Add all of the tomato products, spices and garlic.
• 5. Simmer for a couple of hours so that the flavors are incorporated together.
• 6. Note: If you want to reduce the heat, replace the rotel tomatoes with regular tomatoes. Do not add the medium hot chili powder. If it does not have enough heat, add more chili powder to taste. If you like it thicker, add a can of tomato paste. Garnish with shreddded cheddar, sour cream and chopped scallions if desired. This is super easy and the flavor can be changed easily. Use my basic recipe and tweak it until it becomes yours. I know you will love it.

FIRECRACKER CRACKERS

Steps:

• Whisk the canola oil, crushed red pepper flakes, ranch dressing mix, and chili powder together in a bowl.
• Divide the saltine crackers evenly into 2 1-gallon-sized sealable bags. Pour the oil mixture evenly over the crackers. Seal the bag and flip to allow the oil mixture to run over the crackers for 5 minutes; flip again. Repeat the flipping every five minutes to evenly coat the crackers for about 1 hour. Remove the crackers from the bags and spread onto large platters. Allow to sit overnight before serving.

EASY FIRECRACKER CINNAMON CHILI

Steps:

• Drain and rinse beans, add to crockpot or large soup pot. Brown and drain ground meat, add to crock or soup pot.
• While meat is browning, measure out all spices and place in small bowl, stirring to blend. Set aside. Pour diced tomatoes and tomato sauce over brown meat and beans. In same pan you browned meat, over medium heat; add butter, once melted add diced onions and sauté until soft and caramel colored. About 6-7 minutes. Or swap and brown your onions and spices ahead of the beef, cooking the beef in the spices.
• Add garlic and sauté 1 minute until fragrant. Add bowl of spices to the browned onions and garlic, stir around until spices are fragrant. Toss in bay leaf and cinnamon sticks and stir around, remove from heat and pour onion and spice mixture on top of tomatoes. If using, add shredded zucchini, carrots and/or pumpkin puree, mix in well. Empty can of olives into crock along with juices.
• Cover and cook on low for 4-8 hours (if longer needed, stir in ½ cup water) or high 4 hours (be sure to add a little extra water). Serve hot with desired toppings.

FIRECRACKER CHILI POWDER

Steps:

• Mix the ground dried chilies, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, black and red pepper blend, garlic powder, ground cumin, and ground nutmeg in a small bowl. Store in an airtight container.

SPICY COWBOY CHILI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°. Remove papery outer skin from garlic bulb, but do not peel or separate the cloves. Cut off top of garlic bulb, exposing individual cloves. Brush cut cloves with 1 teaspoon oil. Wrap in foil. Bake until cloves are soft, 30-35 minutes. Unwrap and cool slightly. Squeeze garlic from skins; mash with a fork., Meanwhile, in a large dry skillet over medium-high heat, toast chilies on both sides until puffy, 3-6 minutes. (Do not blacken.) Cool. Remove stems and seeds; coarsely chop chilies. Place in a small bowl; cover with beer. Let stand until softened, about 30 minutes., In the same skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Brown beef in batches, adding additional oil if needed; transfer to a 6-qt. slow cooker. In the skillet, heat 2 teaspoons oil over medium heat. Add onions; cook and stir until tender. Add to beef., Stir in the remaining ingredients, mashed garlic and dried chilies mixture. Cover and cook on low until meat is tender, 7-9 hours. If desired, serve with cheese and jalapenos.

SLOW-COOKER COWBOY CHILI

Steps:

• In a large skillet, brown the beef and drain.
• Place the beef in the crockpot and add all the ingredients except the onions.
• Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.
• Add the onions and cook on low for an additional 2 hours.