This is our favorite recipe for chili. If I don’t have any chorizo, I just use 2 lb. of ground beef and increase the paprika and cumin to 2 T. each. Some of you might think it odd to add the cocoa powder or chocolate chips. However, this adds a richer taste and color to the finished product.
Rinse black beans. Put in pot and cover well with water. Bring to a boil. When the water boils, turn the pot off and let set for 1 hour. Drain beans, cover with fresh water and continue cooking until tender. Add to chili when the beans are tender.
Chili
While beans are soaking, brown beef and chorizo with onions, sweet pepper, garlic, and oil in a Dutch oven.
Add remaining ingredients (except black beans) and simmer for a couple of hours. Add water as needed for the consistency that you desire. Add black beans when they have finished cooking. This is even better if made the day before and reheated.
Recipe Notes
If I don’t have any chorizo, I just use 2 lb. of ground beef and increase the paprika and cumin to 2 T. each.
I used to make this recipe for parties a lot!: https://www.cherylsrecipes.net/recipe/chili-dip/ It was super fast and easy.
However, when I found out that I had wheat and soy allergies, I could no longer make it because every single canned chili I can find has soy (along with a lot of preservatives) in it! I am also not a big fan of Velveeta because it is so processed. So I came up with this recipe as a replacement and it is even better, although obviously not as easy! It is still not too difficult though. I will certainly be making it again!
If you would rather used canned chili for the convenience, just use 3 cans of chili in this recipe. Or, if you have a favorite chili recipe (with or without beans), substitute about 6-7 cups of that for this chili.
This recipe came from a friend many years ago. It is super quick and easy and is always popular! Only 3 ingredients! This is about the only way I would ever eat Velveeta.
Heat together until cheese is melted and serve warm with tortilla chips.
Recipe Notes
I used to make this frequently with Hormel canned chili. However, I have since discovered I am allergic to wheat and soy, both of which are in this chili. : ( So I came up with this recipe instead, which we like even better and is healthier because it doesn't have the preservatives and chemicals: http://www.cherylsrecipes.net/recipe/chili-cheese-dip/
Brown meat mixture ingredients together with olive oil.
Add all Seasonings.
Note: If you are making this for another day, stop here. It will be easier to cool down and store in the refrigerator at this point, then finish it the day you are serving it.
Combine all ingredients and simmer until ready to serve. You will need to add water as it is cooking so it is not overly thick.
Serve with Frank's Red Hot Sauce, shredded cheese, sour cream, Fritos, sliced jalapenos, etc.
Recipe Notes
The chocolate chips add a richer flavor and beautiful color.
In a skillet, brown ground beef with onions and mushrooms, crumbling as it cooks. Add pepper, beef base and flour and stir to combine. Add water. Stir over medium high heat, until thickened to desired consistency.
Recipe Notes
Although spelt is actually a type of wheat flour, most people with wheat allergies can digest spelt with no problem. Obviously, you should not eat spelt if it is a problem for you.
This tastes better than the box of Hamburger Helper, but is nearly as easy! No nasty chemicals or preservatives and it is easy to make it gluten free, wheat free, or soy free, since you are in control of the ingredients!
Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the olive oil and brown the ground beef. As the beef is cooking, slice the mushrooms and add the mushroom slices to the partially cooked ground beef.
Combine the seasonings while that finishes cooking.
Add all other ingredients (except sour cream) to the cooked beef.
Stir to combine and cover. Bring to boil, then lower heat to medium low and allow to simmer for 10-12 minutes, or until the noodles are cooked through. (The time may vary depending on the type of noodles you use. Read the directions on the package.)
Add the sour cream and let sit for 5 more minutes. Serve immediately.
I had never heard of this before we went to a hayride a few years ago and someone brought some stuffed pepper soup for the potluck. I loved it! She didn’t have a recipe, so I had to come up with one for it. I like this even better than Stuffed Peppers, and it is super easy and fast!
In a Dutch oven, brown beef with onion and peppers. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Cook until rice is fully cooked.
This can also be made in a crock pot. Cook beef, onion, and peppers in a skillet first, then transfer to crock pot with all other ingredients. Cook about 4 hours on high, or until rice is cooked through.
Cook ground beef, crumbling as it cooks. While that is cooking, combine dry ingredients. Add seasonings to skillet with cilantro, lime juice and water.
Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has been absorbed.
We like to use fresh corn tortillas and cook them on a greased griddle until they are soft and starting to turn brown. Update: We have recently been toasting them over an open flame on our gas stove. That makes them lower calories and fat. Suggested garnishes include: cheese, fresh, chopped cilantro, sliced green onion, salsa, chopped lettuce, chopped tomato or guacamole.
A mixture of various kinds of canned beans, ground beef, bacon, BBQ sauce and molasses. You can also used dried beans (see my notes below). This could even be a main dish. Even our grandsons loved it and they are picky eaters!
Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour in a 9x13" pan. This also works well in the crock pot on low for several hours.
Recipe Notes
I like to use dried beans and I had a lot of beans in my basement, so I used black turtle beans, pinto beans, baby lima beans, and cranberry beans. I started with about 1 1/4 cups of each variety. You can cook them in the crockpot with some water on low until they are done. I would like to try the oven method that I just recently learned about. Place the beans in a dutch oven and cover with water to 1" past the top of the beans. Bake at 350 for an hour and 15 minutes, or until done. When they are finished cooking, drain the extra liquid off, and use as you would the canned beans. Note: I still used Bush's baked beans. These took the place of the canned butter beans, kidney beans and lima beans.
Mix first five ingredients and shape into 3/4" thick patties (about 10). Bake meat patties at 375 for 20 minutes. Transfer to baking dish.
In large skillet, saute onion in a little oil. Add mushrooms when onion starts to cook. Stir in flour to thicken. Add water and beef base and stir over medium high heat until thickened. Pour over meat patties and bake at 350 for 30 minutes. (This can also be done on the stove over low heat. Stir frequently.)
Recipe Notes
Although spelt is actually a type of wheat flour, most people with wheat allergies can digest spelt with no problem. Obviously, you should not eat spelt if it is a problem for you.
Be careful of the beef broth if you are avoiding wheat or soy. I use Better than Bouillon Organic beef base and, for this recipe, I use two times the amount suggested on the jar for 3 cups of beef broth.
If you don't need gluten-free or wheat-free, go ahead and use all-purpose flour and regular breadcrumbs.
I used a 3 oz. scoop for the meat mixture and ended up with 11 patties plus about a half sized one.
