Texas Chili Bride Groom Cookbook Recipes

TEXAS CHILI WITH ALL THE FIXIN'S

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large 8-quart-heavy bottomed stockpot over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 7-10 minutes.
• Add in the chili powder, paprika, cumin, and oregano and stir until the spices are well combined.
• Add in the ground beef, sausage and 1 teaspoon of the salt. Increase heat to medium-high and cook the meat, stirring frequently, until cooked through, 8-10 minutes.
• Stir in remaining ingredients. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 1 hour. Adjust the seasonings with more salt or chipoltle chiles if necessary. Serve with any or all of the suggested fixin's.
• Fixin's: Grated Sharp Cheddar, Chopped Green Onion, Sour Cream, Crumbled Corn Chips, Red Pepper Flakes, Chopped Jalapeno Chiles.
• Note: You can find canned chipoltle chiles in adobo sauce (smoked jalapenos in a thick red sauce) in supermarkets and Latino specialty markets.

DADDY'S 'IF THEY'DA HAD THIS AT THE ALAMO WE WOULD'HA WON!' TEXAS CHILI

Steps:

• Melt the bacon drippings in a large heavy pot over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until they are translucent.
• Combine the beef with the garlic, ground chile, chili powder and cumin. Add this meat-and-spices to the onions in the pot. Break up any meat that sticks together as you cook, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes, until meat is evenly browned (very browned, not just gray). Sprinkle in Hungarian paprika and oregano.
• Pour in the tomato sauce, tomato paste, water, salt, parsley and jalapeno. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 1 hour. NOTE: True Texans DO NOT add beans to their chili, but my husband loves them, so this is the point where you can add as many cans of drained and rinsed pinto beans as you wish (I add 2 cans, but shhhhhh don't tell my Daddy!!!).
• During cooking you may squeeze the jalapeno as it softens against the sides of the pot to release more heat if desired.
• Mix in the masa harina, and cook while stirring for 30 minutes longer, or until desired consistency is achieved. Taste and adjust seasonings.

AUTHENTIC 1840 TEXAS CHILI

Steps:

• Render the fat to liquid.
• Add the beef, and brown lightly, then add onions and garlic.
• (IMPORTANT Do NOT drain the fat or drippings).
• Cook over medium heat, until onions are translucent, then add spices, stirring gently until blended.
• Continue over low heat for at least two hours, stirring every 30 minutes.
• Add salt to taste, though it doesn't need much.
• If it gets too thick, you can add water, but remember that chili is reputed to be able to stand a spoon up straight!
• Its edible after two hours, but improves vastly with time, so don't be afraid to cook 6 or 8 or ten hours --
• After you've tried the "original" recipe as above, you could add one or two jalapeno's, a single tomato and/or green pepper, just to fully appreciate how far this dish has evolved -- .