Update

Remember how I mentioned that I'm not eating out? For six whole weeks?! Well, so far I've made it a week and two days! That may not seem like much to someone who is used to cooking at home, or people who don't have the luxury of eating out every other day (because that's what it had come to for us) but for me, it's a huge accomplishment! I think the week before I quit we'd had Red Lobster, Chili's, IHOP, Razorback Pizza, and Mcdonalds. Yes, in one week. That's kind of really embarrassing to admit (mostly because of the Mcdonalds. It's not our normal choice, but we always eat there during Monopoly time) but I think a nice slap of truth is necessary to remind me why I'm doing this.

Not that it's hard or anything. So far, in fact, I've felt better, have more energy to get up and do things, and more time since I'm not spending an hour or two a day out, and, we're saving money. Which means more money to spend on clothes and shoes. How is that not a win?!?!! Oh, that reminds me, I should have a package from Gilt coming this week! (I love that site! Are you a member? Do you love their deals? If not, join up!! It's so fun to wake up every day and wonder what amazing deals are going on.)

Anyway, this is more of just a note-to-self kind of thing, a way to keep myself accountable and on-track than it is a real post, but I think that these sort of life cleanses are good for the soul every once in a while. Taking a step back, breaking out of the rut, and looking at life with a new perspective.

Plus, it forces me to cook more, things like The Most Amazing Chili in the World. (What? I'm a good cook, and I have no shame.) And since there's only two of us, that's like a weeks worth of chili.

31 Days Series: Chili

I actually woke up in a really productive mood today and made chili, which I'll be sharing my recipe for today, and also started working on my angora sweater accessories. I finished the hat and leg warmers, but am still working on making gloves so I'm going to hold off and share that tomorrow. I may not have won the 31 day challenge (I know it wasn't a challenge, and I know there is no winner; I'm just talking about my own desire to actually do it) but I started strong, and I plan on finishing strong, so I think not giving up counts for something, right?!

Anyway. My chili. It's based on a recipe I found online a few years ago (I don't remember where) and have tweaked and messed with until I perfected it. It's been eaten by a pretty good number of people, and I've never had anyone not like it. I have had people not be able to finish it because of the heat (it's hot. like, HOT.) but even then, they tried. (I'm not bragging. Just sayin' if you make it, they will come.) So here's the recipe + the process, and if you try it, let me know how you like it!

(Fair warning: it really is hot. So if you're not tolerant, or will be serving it to children or weaklings, tone it down by eliminating the serranos or cutting back on the overall number of peppers.)

Part I: The ingredients.

You'll need the following:
1 lb of beef stew meat
1 lb of ground sirloin
*3 slices of bacon
1 onion
3 cloves garlic
4-5 jalapenos
*2-3 serranos (or habaneros, or eliminate these altogether; this is where the real heat comes from.)
1 can diced (or stewed) tomatoes
1 can tomato sauce
2 cans black beans
1 can beef stock/broth
1 cup strong coffee
1 bottle dark beer
3.5 tbsp chili powder (I use half regular chili powder and half chipotle chili powder.)
½ cup of brown sugar
1 tbsp cocoa
1 tbsp cayenne pepper
1 tbsp cumin
1 tsp corriander
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp salt

 (*optional)

Also: A crock-pot to cook it in.

Part II: The Preparation.

Start by making sure you have everything you're going to need clean and easily accessible. Once you get started you don't want to have to be stopping every few minutes. Now, I start off with the bacon. I cut it up into tiny pieces with my kitchen scissors and let it cook low and slow. While that's going I chop up my onion. I have a handy dandy little chopper thing ($4.00 at the flea market, and worth it's weight in gold) that makes this easy and keeps me from getting the onion cries. Toss the onion in a separate, larger pan and start it cooking (low) too. Add the three cloves of garlic. Once the onions are clear, add the meat and turn the heat up a little. You just want to brown the meat. Meanwhile, check on your bacon, it's probably done. Let it rest on a paper towel while you chop up the peppers. Once the meat has browned properly, you're ready to move on...

Part III: Bringing it all together.

Now that everything is ready to go, you just have to toss it in the crock-pot and let it work it's magic! This is my favorite part though, I love adding things one at a time and watching it all come together.

Personally, I start with the meat and bacon, then add the black beans, coffee, beer, tomatoes, and peppers. Give it a good hefty stir, then start adding your spices. I always save the beef broth for last because sometimes I don't have room for the whole can, and I like to make sure I get all the important stuff in first! :)

Now for the hard part; the waiting! You can cook it one of two ways: 4 - 6 hours on high, or 8 - 10 hours on low. I've tried it both ways, and I've even done it 4 hours on high, then another 4 hours on low. It's one of those things that isn't an exact science so don't worry too much. The longer you leave it the thicker and better it will get.

And that's it. Let it cook up real good, making sure you stir it often especially if you cook it on high, and then ENJOY.

P.S. Linking to: