Sexy, Spicy Chili For The Gourmet Cowgirl - Wstrn North Carolina

Total Time: 2 hrs 20 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients

• 2 lbs ground beef or 2 (12 ounce) bags veggie crumbles
• 1/2-1 teaspoon cumin
• 2 large sweet yellow onions, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 red bell pepper, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 orange bell pepper, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 green bell pepper, coarsely chopped
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons garlic, minced
• 3 (14 1/2 ounce) cans diced fire-roasted tomatoes
• 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can diced tomatoes with chipotle peppers (petite, diced furmano's)
• 1 (4 1/2 ounce) can diced green chilies (chopped, old el paso)
• ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 (19 1/2 ounce) can charro beans (found in authentic mexican grocery section, pinto beans, la sierra)
• 1 (19 3/4 ounce) can pinto beans (whole pinto bean, la costena)
• 1 (27 ounce) can pinto beans in chili sauce (bush's best chili beans~ pinto beans in chili sauce)
• 1 serrano pepper, cut into small pieces (i used a jarred pepper)
• 2 fresh new mexico green chilies, diced
• mrs dash southwest chipotle seasoning mix
• 3 -4 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• cayenne pepper
• sour cream (optional)
• 1/4 green onion, chopped (optional)
• 1 -2 tablespoon shredded cheddar cheese (optional) or 1 -2 tablespoon shredded mexican blend cheese (optional)

Recipe

• 1 brown meat in skillet and sprinkle with cumin. brown in large chunks and do not overcook - the insides of the big chunks should be a little pink. while you are browning the meat, heat up a large pot or dutch oven on another burner. if using veggie crumbles you can skip this step.
• 2 in large pot or dutch oven, saute onions and peppers in olive oil for about 5 - 7 minutes. they should just start to turn golden. if using veggie crumbles - add them once the onions start to cook down.
• 3 add garlic, cans of tomatoes and can of green chilies, cook until heated through (about 5 min or so.) season with pepper.
• 4 add cans of beans to tomato mixture along with drained browned ground beef (if not using veggie crumbles).
• 5 add hot peppers and seasonings.
• 6 lower heat and let simmer for 2 hours. taste chili throughout cooking period and adjust all seasonings as needed. i found i needed to add more chili powder as it cooked. add chipotle seasoning as it cooks until there is just a hint of smokiness. adjust heat at this point with cayenne.
• 7 serve with your favorite cornbread.