Here’s something for everyone stuck in the Midwest blizzard!
I’ve mentioned I love my slow cooker. I love to make chili in my slow cooker, and the recipe varies a bit each time depending on what I have on hand. All good, but this batch was so tasty, I knew I had to actually write the recipe down because I definitely want to replicate it.
Double Chile Chili
1 lb. ground beef, cooked
1 large onion, chopped
4 cups beans (or 2 cans)
1 14.5 oz can tomato sauce
1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes with green chiles
2 Tbs chili powder
1 Tbs cumin
Salt to taste
Everything in the slow cooker for 6-8 hrs on low.
This is a great “pantry meal” – if you have a well-stocked pantry, everything should be on hand. Handy when there’s a foot of snow outside. The beef was from the freezer from the huge meat delivery we just got. The beans were also from the freezer. I did buy the tomatoes this week for this meal, but when they go on sale I try to stock up, so I often have a stash in the pantry.
If you have some cold nights in the forecast, give this a shot. Actually, it’s good even when it’s 75 degrees like it is here. ;)
My ingredient upgrades: homemade beans, local grassfed beef, organic tomatoes
grit & grace 
When I was at the grocery store ahead of the storm, I found myself on the aisle where beans, tomatoes and packaged seasonings are sold. I heard a young girl ask her mother, “why are we having chili?” The mother’s straight faced reply was, “when there’s a big snowstorm, everyone HAS to eat chili.” The girl nodded dutifully and through the rest of the store I heard her informing various people, “when there’s a snowstorm you HAVE to eat chili.” I could imagine Hannah providing a similar public service announcement.
The mother would have made a much tastier chili with Diana’s simple recipe than with the packets of generic brand seasoning.
Haha! After growing up on your real-spices chili, I have a hard time with the seasoning packets. Too salty.
Right now, I’m kinda bummed I have more-or-less everything on the list except a large onion. Not venturing out for that, so I’ll have to wait until the next snowstorm.