Chilies & Pepper Chili

Another Clean It Out Recipe:  Slow Cooker  Chilies & Pepper Chili

This is another recipe based on what I have in my cabinet.

Let me tell you a little story first.

I moved to New Mexico two years ago today.

When I moved here I did not realize that there were some laws

that were different from any other state. 

One of those laws was regarding chili.

After the first year of cooking and sharing food where I lived I was made aware that I was breaking the law. 

The law here is everyone must have green and red chilies in their home at all times. Lucky for me the law does not insist it has to be fresh chilies just chilies so I prefer  chilies I buy that last  much longer either roasted or frozen.

 Most people prefer Hatch I am a rebel and I like Old Santa Fe brand. 

Anyway as soon I found out about this law and not wanting to be arrested I went right out and bought chilies. You may not believe me but how do you explain the festivals that happen several times a year featuring chilies NM? Yup you are saying to yourself well maybe its true...

Now to the recipe.

I had several cans and jars of chilies in my cabinet, refrigerator, and freezer. Time to use some up plus I had a two pound bag of dried red kidney beans on my counter. I did have two bags but a friend decided to take one bag so I only had to come up with a recipe for one, two pound bag.

Here is what I did: 

Another Clean It Out Recipe: Slow Cooker 6 Chilies & Pepper Chili

Ingredients:

2 Lbs Dried red kidney beans

2 cans of tomatoes with green chilies (I use Ro Tel)

1 onion

1/2 cup of celery

1/4 cup of jalapenos from the jar or fresh 

1/4 cup of banana pepper from the jar or fresh

2 1/2 Tablespoons of red roasted chili or fresh 

2 1/2 Tablespoons of green roasted chili or fresh

1 cup of beef broth or a cup of water with a teas. of bullion or    1/2 envelope of onion soup mix

2 teas garlic ( I use the already chopped in the jar but fresh works well too)

2 Tablespoons of Taco seasoning (it is easier than using all the spices to make chili but you can do it of course )

1 cup of frozen pepper onion mix (call stir fry at the Dollar Tree)

1/2 Lb ground beef:

2 tablespoons baking soda

Directions:

1. Wash your dried kidney beans after you sort though them them then put them in a pot with two tablespoons of baking soda.(baking soda helps soften the beans)

2.  Bring the beans to a boil then let simmer on med heat for half hour while you get the other ingredients ready to put in the crock pot. When you are ready to use the beans remember to wash them well.

2. I mince all of the peppers, celery, onions, and chilies then add them all to the crock pot.

3.  Next I open two med size cans of tomatoes with chilies  and dump then in the crock pot and mix them in.

4. Next I add cooked ground beef. This is where I will tell you a little secret. What I do is take the ground beef right from the freezer and add a little salt and pepper then microwave the ground beef for five minutes in a zip lock bag. lets face it this is going in the slow cooker so cooking the ground beef this way works just fine.

I use the zip lock bag because it makes it easy to separate the ground beef while running cold water over the bag.  No water gets in the bag don't worry and this way you don't burn your hand.

If this method does not appeal to you then brown the beef the way you are use to doing it.

5.  Once all the ingredients are in the slow cooker add the cup of beef broth,  or a cup of water with bouillon, or onion soup.

 mixed together with the other ingredients.

Cook on high for 4 hours or on low 6 to 8 hours. 

Don't forget to use a liner in your slow cooker as you see in  your slow cooker like I do. It saves a lot of clean up time.

Then serve and enjoy.

I know that the cost to make this is more than two dollars for all the ingredients but  you will get several meals out of this pot of chili  bringing the cost down to about one dollar a dinner.

I am going to make corn bread to go with the chili  I have cooked tonight, but then I always have corn bread mix or corn mean on hand. It is up to you what you serve with your chili.

Other meals I will use this chili with will include hot dogs, hamburgs, and taco salads.