Chilly Weather Chili

There is something about snowy weather that has me craving Tex-Mex food. I'm not the biggest fan of beans, but aside from that, I LOOOOOVE Mexican food and flavors.

So when I heard we were getting snow last week (I'm a little behind on my blogging!), I had Sean get the provisions to make Liz's Chili.

Chili, as we know, is a dish everyone likes to play with. There are so many recipes, so many ways of doing things. But I have to say, this recipe is one of the best chilis I've ever had.

But here's where I make myself vulnerable to your angry comments: I didn't put beans in my chili.

I know, I know...sacre bleu! I was gonna go for it, but Sean didn't really want them either.

First off, chop up your peppers and DO NOT RUB YOUR EYES RIGHT AFTER LIKE A DUMMY. Who would do that? This girl.

Then dump a can of diced tomatoes in your stock pot. I crushed them in my hands (ewwww).

Brown ground beef spiced with ...

Cumin, chili powder, oregano, salt and pepper. I tossed in some of my chipotle chili powder as well.

It will smell insanely delicious and make you crave tacos. But carry forward! The end game is worth it!

Liz recommends adding the beef to the pot with a slotted spoon and push the extra grease out with a spatula.

Don't do anything with that grease! Add diced onions to the grease and let them saute until they're fabulous and toss them in your pot.

Then add peppers and garlic to the now oniony grease. Liz warns it will hurt your nose, so we turned on the fan and didn't lean in too close. Once they're done, toss them in the pot.

Add half a beer; we had Yuengling. Melt a square of bakers chocolate in the pan. Beer and chocolate and chili? No, not crazy. Delicious.

Try to get it thick. We struggled a little because I didn't have baker's chocolate, so I was scraping by with chocolate chunks.

Add the beer chocolate to the pot and bring it to a boil. Once you get to the boil, turn it down and simmer for an hour or two. Yes, this demands some serious planning ahead. We were starving by the time we ate so we may have eaten too much.

Top with cheese, a dollop of sour cream and crushed tortilla chips.

It was sooooooooo goooooood. I made us go stand on the porch in the snow so it would be that much better when we came in to eat and it was. But I ate a little too much and got a little too stuffed and had to lie down and moan a little. And it was worth it.