Chili with a Secret

Chili with a Secret

Chili. It’s one of my go-to meals when it’s cold outside. I’ve made a lot of chili recipes before, but this one is my favorite. Yes, there is a secret ingredient…

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp of vegetable oil

1 red bell pepper, diced

1/2 medium red onion, diced

1 jalepeno, seeded and diced

1 Tbsp of garlic, minced

1/4 cup of chili powder

2 Tbsp of cumin

2 Tbsp of paprika

1 cup of brewed coffee

2 1/2 cups of slow-cooked chuck roast, cut into 1” pieces

2- 15 oz cans of red kidney beans

2- 28 oz can of diced tomatoes

In a large stock pot, heat oil.  Add red bell pepper, onion, jalepeno and saute for 3 minutes.  Add garlic and spices.  Continue to cook over medium heat another minute or so.

Add coffee.  Stir and bring to a boil.  Add beans, steak and diced tomatoes.  Simmer on low for 45 minutes to an hour. 

Chicken Chilaquiles

Chicken Chilaquiles

Pronounced Chee-lah-KEE-less, this Mexican dish is perfect if you have leftover chicken, pork or beef and a whole stack of crispy tortillas.  A perfect brunch on Sunday or a fun twist on a weeknight dinner.  Tip: if using store-bought tortilla chips, heat them in the oven just beforehand to get them extra crispy and warm.

Ingredients

2 cups of shredded chicken (see recipe for Citrus Tequila Chicken)

2 Tbsp of oil

4 Tbsp of chili powder

2 tsp of cumin

2 tsp of salt

1 4.5 oz can of green chiles

1 15oz can of green enchilada sauce

1 15 oz can of diced tomatoes, drained

1 16 oz bag of corn tortilla chips

Cilantro

1 jalepeno, seeded and diced

1/2 cup of minced red onion

1 dozen eggs

Heat a medium-sized saute pan with oil.  Add chicken, chili pepper, cumin and salt.  Cook for 3 minutes or until chicken has absorbed the oil and seasonings.  Remove from heat and set aside.

In a small saucepan, combine enchilada sauce, drained diced tomatoes and green chilis.  Bring to a slow boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally.

Divide tortilla chips among all the plates.  Top with chicken and then green chili sauce. 

Quickly fry eggs according to liking.  Place fried eggs on top of each tortilla pile.  Garnish with jalepeno and red onion.