halloween chili

photo via kevin h.'s flickr

Chili and Halloween go hand in hand where I come from. Every year my Mom always serves chili and breadsticks to the neighbors. It is a tradition that my siblings have continued as we have moved away from home. Here are some of our favorite chili recipes.

CHILE CON CARNE

1 lb. Red kidney beans

2 quarts Water

3 Tb. Green Chili pepper, chopped

2C. Tomato sauce

Salt to Taste

1 ½ tsp. White pepper

½ C. Bacon fat

2 medium–large Onions

2 lb. Ground beef

1 ½ tsp. Garlic powder

2 Tbl. Chili powder

1 qt. Tomatoes, chopped

Soak beans overnight, then cook in same water until tender. Drain an add chili pepper, salt, white pepper and tomato sauce. Let stand 2 hours. Heat onions, ground beef, garlic powder and chili powder in bacon fat; cook 30 minutes. Add tomatoes; cook 1 hour and serve.

This recipe is from Rancho De Los Cabelleros, in Wickenburg, Arizona. Chili con carne represents the essence of Southwestern cooking. This luxury ranch-inn is set in the high desert, about an hour’s drive north of Phoenix. Treasured Recipes of Country Inns

My sister prefers to serve this white bean chili

WHITE BEAN CHILI

6 – 8 cans white beans (small)

2 cans black beans

2 tablespoons cumin

1 large onion

1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon Old Bay spice

3 (7 ounce) cans diced green chilies

1 can Salsa Verde (Herdaz brand)

1 (4 ounce) can jalapeños

7 cans of chicken stock

2 cans diced tomatoes

1 cup chopped cilantro

4 chicken breasts, cooked

3 – 4 tablespoons lime juice

Sauté onion. Add cumin, chili powder, Old Bay and Salsa Verde. Simmer 5 minutes. Add chicken broth, tomatoes and cilantro – bring to a boil. Add beans, jalapeño, green chilies and chicken. Simmer at least one hour, can simmer all day. Before serving add lime juice. Serve with sour cream. Makes a ton. Note: if you choose to simmer all day you may want to hold the jalapeños out until near the end depending on how hot you want the chili.