Food

[chezmax]

First, there's a new mexican place in town! (YAY!!!!)

Next to the Mongolian Grill in the University Plaza, in the former-former-home of PC Waterloo, Casa Salsa opened this week. They're massively busy (which is a good sign), and their food is pretty good. It's not gourmet Mexican by any means, but it's awesome for quick non-Taco-Bell Mexican. B++. Would eat again.

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I made some awesome slow-cooker chili on Sunday. It's also not gourmet chili, but I adjusted my recipe a bit, and the results were really quite tasty. In case anyone else is curious, I've included the recipe. If you're of the opinion that chili doesn't include beans or tomatoes, don't read. This is the style of chili I'm used to around here.


You'll need:
1 Large Can (29 Oz.) Diced Tomatoes
1 Can (tiny: 5.5 oz?) Tomato Paste
1 Lb. Ground Beef
1 Package Sliced White Mushrooms
1 Mediumish Onion (I used standard white cooking onions)
1 can (19 Oz?) Red Kidney Beans
1/2 can (uh, 7 oz?) Black Beans (I would probably use the entire can next time I make it)
2 Utterly Heaping Tablespoons of Chili Powder (this is probably equivalent to 6 regular table spoons)
3 Cloves Garlic (or less, or more...)
About half-teaspoon of dried basil (optional!)
About a teaspoon of salt
Pepper to taste.
A few dashes of Worcestershire

I browned the ground beef with a few dashes of Worcestershire, and then added the garlic and onions and cooked for a bit. Then I combined everything in the slow-cooker, and let cook for 6-8 hours.

You may want to add other vegetables, or peppers, or cayenne powder, or the like (I make my chili quite mild, so that everyone can eat it; you can always add more spice, you can't take it away... :P)

Comments

[billijean.livejournal.com]

Chili without beans or tomatoes? uhhh... huh? Then it isn't chili. It's um... fried mushrooms with beef.

For less watery - use half diced and half crushed tomatoes. Also, add a bit of cumin, yes. Yes. I said yes. And a wee bit of dark chocolate. Yes. No, really. The darker the better. Trust me :)

[chezmax]

The chili powder already has cumin!

Apparently chili, originally, chili con carne, was literally just beef and chilis. No tomatos, no vegetables, no beans.

[billijean.livejournal.com]

Yes, but most chili powders don't have enough.

Ah. I guess that's why we make chili and not chili con carne, huh? ;P

[chezmax]

Apparently in certain parts of the world, what constitutes chili is really contentious ;)

Interesting idea about the chocolate, what does it do to the taste?

[billijean.livejournal.com]

umm.. makes it better? lol You can't taste the chocolate, but somehow, it just pulls it all together, smooths the tomato or something.

Helpful, non?

[billijean.livejournal.com]

you can get dark chocolate with cayenne that is amazing. You're like.. mmm.. chocolate... kick! mmmm... chocolate... kick! and it all seems perfectly matched.