Anna’s Working Person’s Chili

This recipe originally came from my good friend Anna, another culinary genius who I am lucky to have in my life. We sometimes meet for lunch exchanges since we are frugal and don’t like to pay other people to make our lunches. This is a quick and delicious chili that you can even whip up after you get home from work.

Recipe

1 batch of bunions (2 – 4 Tbsp olive oil, 1 chopped onion, 4 – 6 cloves chopped garlic, 1 tsp salt)

2 – 3 bell peppers, depending on size (yellow/red/orange are yummiest), chopped

2 poblano chiles, chopped

1 lb ground buffalo (extra lean ground beef works too)

28 oz can of chopped tomatoes with juice

6 oz can of tomato paste

8 oz frozen corn

two 15-oz cans of black beans, drained and rinsed

15-oz can of red kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1 tsp cayenne

3 Tbsp chili powder

2 Tbsp cumin

1 tsp black pepper

1/2 cup cornmeal

1. Heat oil, add onions, garlic, salt, stir occasionally as you chop your peppers.
2. Add chopped peppers to pot and stir occasionally as they cook.
3. When peppers are tender, add ground meat IF you have the extra lean kind. If you do not have extra lean ground meat, brown it in another pan and drain off fat before adding to the pot of peppers.
4. Stir pot to break up meat as it is browning. When all meat has cooked, add tomatoes, tomato paste, and corn.
5. Add spices and then beans (drained and rinsed). Stir.
6. Add cornmeal to thicken the chili (this was a stroke of pure genius by Anna – to thicken the mixture with cornmeal).
7. At this point, the chili only needs to be heated through so cook for maybe another 10 – 15 minutes.
8. Top with chopped cilantro, a nice sharp cheddar, avocados, or sour cream.
9. The next morning, reheat and top with a fried or poached egg – IT’S DELICIOUS!
10. Also delicious with cornbread – I’ll post the recipe for this later.

Vegetarians, You’re in Luck!!

Substitute an extra can of rinsed and drained red kidney beans for the meat. The proportions are just right, and it will still be DELICIOUS.

Vegans, You’re in Luck, too!!

Substitute an extra can of rinsed and drained red kidney beans for the meat, and don’t top with cheese. The proportions are just right, and it will still be DELICIOUS.