It's Chilly So I Need Chili

I hope everyone will forgive me.... I've been so overwhelmed with the sweet comments and new followers thanks to the iPad giveaway.  I'm trying to follow you all back and write you back.  I just haven't had the time.  So please don't think you are going un-noticed.  You aren't!  :)

Now on to Friday Foods.  I started this for two reasons.
1.  I'm a firm believer in having home cooked meals and family meal time together!  Family time is important and often the only time we get to focus on each other is during a meal and the health benefits of home cooked vs. "out to eat" food is incredible.
2.  I have stolen so many recipes from others blogs when I got in a cooking slump, so I decided I needed to give back.

So if you are new around these parts...  Welcome to Friday Foods!

I don't know about you, but it has gotten pretty cold around here which means warm comfort foods are a must.  So today I'm going to show you how to make the world's best chili!  I have tried several but this one is my ALL time favorite.  So here ya go....

The World's Biggest Frito Chili Pie!

I kid, I kid.  To much of a good thing if you ask me.  So now that I got that out of my system.  Let's get started on the normal size chili.

Start by sauteing 2 large bell peppers in about 2 tsp of salad oil.  (the recipe calls for green but all I had was red... it's called improvising people, so pretend they are green)

Next dice you up 2 medium onions and add them to your peppers.  Stir around until they become tender.

Next add 1 clove of garlic, 1/4 cup of chopped parsley (oops I was out of that so pretend parsley is in there), 2 14.5 oz cans of diced tomatoes, 1 TBSP of salt, 3/4 tsp of pepper and 3/4 tsp of cumin.
Stir and let that simmer.

While that is simmering, melt a little bit of butter in a skillet.  (omit this step if you are trying to be healthy) and cook up your meat.   If you want healthy substitute turkey meat and turkey sausage... it's awesome.  Not feeling super healthy?  Go with ground beef and sausage.

Brown that meat.. and I don't care if you are going unhealthy or not... DRAIN THAT MEAT!
Sorry to sound bossy but excessive grease just grosses me out so I always drain!  ALWAYS.

Now dump your meat into the tomato pot and add 1/4 cup of chili powder.

Stir it all up.  Make sure that chili powder is evenly distributed and your tomato to meat ratio is right.  

Ok just kidding, just stir until you like the way it looks.

Now comes the tricky part..... You ready?

Put a lid on it and cover it for at least an hour.  

Whew, that's a tough one, huh?

Now I usually let the pot cook on low for 3-4 hours.  I make it during Little Miss's nap time and let it cook the rest of the day.   About 30 minutes before I'm ready to serve it, I dump in 2 cans of pinto beans and stir it up and let it cook uncovered.

Set a bag of Fritos on the table, grate up some cheese and let everyone dig in!  It's amazing!  I promise!

 

And while you are letting this baby simmer... I recommend you pop over for a Find and Follow Blog Hop!  Just click below!  :)