One of my favorite dishes I make on a regular basis and have since my teens is a very simple and easy and healthy one as well. Chili. My mom used to make it occasionally when I was a kid, and as I always loved to cook, it was one of the first things I made. This recipe is my own, not taken from any cook book and it freezes very well. It is delicious with warm bread dipped in it and is very versatile as well. I went through a vegetarian period of around two years in my early twenties and made it without the meat and it tasted fine, but I do prefer the flavor beef gives it and it makes it a much more filling meal with beef, but it can certainly be made without it and if you like less beef or more beef, you can change it to suit your tastes. The same with the amount of chili powder, some like spicier and can add more, some like less and can add less than the amount I’ve given I use.
1 lb ground beef
2 large cans whole tomatoes (796 ml or 28 oz can)
2 cans red kidney beans (540 ml or 19 oz can)
2 large green bell peppers, coarsely chopped
3 medium yellow onions (3 cups coarsely chopped)
5 Tablespoons chili powder
Brown the ground beef, add in the cans of whole tomatoes, the red kidney beans and the juice, do not drain it off, the coarsely chopped peppers and onions and chili powder. Mix and bring to a boil. Turn down to just above a simmer and let cook for 6 hrs, stirring maybe once an hour. Should yield 10-12 cups depending how much you let it cook down.
When I have made a batch of this just to freeze, it will fill up 5 empty cottage cheese containers, 500 ml/2 cup size to put in the freezer. This is not only good to eat by itself and with bread, but a delicious alternative to putting on top of cooked spaghetti rather than marinara sauce.
I use Club House chili powder, which is a good brand of spices, some things store brands are fine for, salt is salt, sugar is sugar, but when it comes to spices, do not get some cheap store brand, it can literally ruin a good dish to use cheap spices. That is one ingredient I urge you to get a good brand of, the difference in taste can be night and day. The ground beef is not the healthiest of course, but otherwise, the beans and vegetables are extremely healthy and an excellent source of fiber.
Melt the butter or margarine in a good sized pan on medium high heat. Add the chopped celery and onions, stir fry them until they begin to turn brown, then add in chopped apple, drained raisins, brown sugar and allspice and cinnamon. Continue stir fry cooking until the apples are no longer firm. Turn off heat, mix in the previously cooked white rice. Serve and enjoy!