The Generals Chili Food

THE GENERAL STORE CHILI

Steps:

• In a large, heavy pot set over medium-low heat, brown the beef, stirring it if it starts to stick to the bottom and breaking up any clumps, about 20 minutes.
• Add the onion, jalapeño and garlic and cook until the onion is translucent, about 4 minutes.
• Add the chili powder and stir well. Cook for about 5 minutes over low heat, stirring occasionally.
• Add the tomatoes and tomato paste. If using a can, add about 1/4 cup water to the can to remove excess paste and add it to the pan. Stir vigorously to incorporate and let simmer for 1 to 2 minutes.
• Add the beans and their liquid, stirring gently so as not to break them. Simmer over very low heat for 1 1/2 hours.
• Turn off the heat and stir in the cocoa powder and sugar. Add the salt and pepper, taste and season as needed. Serve with buttered cornbread if desired.

THE GENERAL'S CHILI

Steps:

• Fry, then crumble the sausage.
• Add all ingredients except crumbled sausage and beef to a stockpot, bring to a boil. Add the beef a little at a time, so that the pieces don't stick together, and reduce to a medium simmer for about 1 hour or until beef cubes are almost tender, stirring every 15 minutes.
• Add crumbled sausage and reduce heat to a low simmer until beef cubes are tender, another ½ to 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.
• The wheat bran flakes add no taste, but makes the chili thicker, and the fiber content is good for digestion.
• Most chili recipes use coarsely ground beef. This one uses ¼ inch cubes of beef, which would be like very, very coarsely ground beef. It gives the dish a unique heavier texture, and this recipe is a little soupier than most chili recipes. I now use a #22 meat grinder with a grinder plate that has 3/4 inch holes to grind the beef instead of spending the lengthy time to dice the beef into 1/4 inch cubes.

GUY'S TEXAS CHILI

Steps:

• Remove the stems and seeds from the dried chiles and tear them into large pieces. Toast the chiles in a large skillet over medium-high heat until they start to change color, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and add hot water to just cover the chiles. Cover and let steam for 15 minutes. Place the chiles and liquid in a blender and puree until smooth. Set aside.
• In a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, combine the olive oil, onion, garlic, bell pepper, Fresno chile and Anaheim chiles and cook until the onion is translucent, 6 to 7 minutes. Add both kinds of beef and cook until browned and cooked through, 7 to 8 minutes.
• Add the flour, chili powder, cumin, black pepper and cayenne and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Deglaze the pot by adding the beer and scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Add the stock, blended chiles and salt and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a low simmer.
• Partially cover the pot and simmer until the beef is tender and the chili has thickened, about 2 hours. Remove from the heat. Stir in the cilantro, cover and keep warm until serving. Serve with toppings.

THE GENERAL STORE CHILI

Steps:

• In a large heavy pot over medium-low heat, add the beef and cook until browned. Make sure to stir it if it starts to stick and break up any clumps that form. Add the diced onion, habanero, jalapeno and garlic. When the fat has rendered from the meat, add the chili powder and stir well. Cook for about 5 minutes on low heat, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in the tomatoes, tomato paste and the chicken stock. Stir vigorously to combine and simmer for 1 to 2 minutes. Gently stir in the beans so as not to break the beans. Simmer over very low heat for 1 1/2 hours.
• Turn off the heat and add the cocoa powder and brown sugar. Stir vigorously, and then add the salt and pepper. Transfer the chili to a serving bowl and serve.

IT'S CHILI BY GEORGE!!

Steps:

• Place ground beef in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until evenly brown. Drain, and crumble.
• In a large pot over high heat combine the ground beef, tomato juice, tomato sauce, kidney beans, pinto beans, onions, bell pepper, cayenne pepper, sugar, oregano, ground black pepper, salt, cumin and chili powder. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Simmer for 1 1/2 hours. (Note: If using a slow cooker, set on low, add ingredients, and cook for 8 to 10 hours.)

COWBOY STEAK CHILI IN A CROCK POT

Steps:

• Turn the crock pot on to low.
• Prepare the Cowboy Steak Seasoning following the separate recipe posting.
• Roll cubed steak around in the seasoning mix until they are thoroughly coated.
• In a large, heavy fry pan over medium high heat, brown off the bacon (if using) until crisp.
• Remove and drain on paper towels or clean newspaper, reserving the drippings.
• Brown the coated cubes of steak in the bacon drippings (or oil), working in batches if necessary.
• Transfer browned steak to the crock pot.
• Add the chorizo or pork and cook it down, stirring, for about 5 minutes.
• Transfer the chorizo or pork to the crock pot.
• Add all the "aromatics" to the fry pan and sweat them down, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer them to the crock pot.
• Stir in all the "other good stuff" and the reserved bacon to the crock pot.
• If there's not enough liquid to cover, add some beef stock or more beer. Put the lid on. Cook for @ 7 hours and then give it a taste and adjust the seasoning if needed and let it simmer at least another hour. The longer the better!