Cheater Chili

Rose's Cheater Chili

“Wish I had time for just one more bowl of chili.”
Alleged dying words of Kit Carson (1809-1868), Frontiers Man and Mountain Man

Guess what we had for Super Bowl? Too much food as usual, but it was all so good…I call this cheater chili because I used some pre-mixed chili seasonings, I mean after all someone went to all the trouble to package Wick Fowler’s 2 Alarm Chili, why not use it since I use the same stuff making chili no matter what recipe I use. Wick Fowler is one of the original pioneers of the ICS (International Chili Society) and a 1970 chili winner, so I figure he knows his chili.

I have probably 20 recipes for chili and often make one with no heat and with beans, this is one favorite. Feel free to add your own touches to make it your own

Rose’s Cheater Chili
2 packages Wick Fowler’s 2 alarm chili seasonings-skip the cayenne if you want no heat to your chili
3 pounds mixed ground beef, 1/3 each, chuck, round and sirloin
1-1/2 large jalapeños, diced
1-1/2 large onions diced
6 cloves fresh garlic, minced
1 dark beer or your favorite beer, I didn’t check the bottle size, but about 12-16 ounces
2 15 ounce cans fire frosted tomatoes
1 28 ounce diced tomatoes
2 cups Zing Zang’s bloody mary mix or other brand with a kick
2 cups beef broth, reserve one if chili is too thick
1/2 tablespoon Mexican oregano
3 cans dark red kidney beans or pinto beans if you prefer, drained and rinsed
1 tablespoon additional New Mexico chile powder
1 cinnamon stick
1 tablespoon cocoa
Masa flour to thicken
Salt and pepper

Saute onions and garlic in 2 tablespoons olive oil, empty seasoning packets except the masa flour and cayenne if you don’t want the heat. Stir, cook for a minute or so, add beer, turn to low toss in the drained and rinsed beans, stir and turn down to low. Brown beef in batches and add to pot of beans, season with oregano pepper and more chili powder, cinnamon stick and cocoa. Start with 1 cup of broth and 2 cups of bloody Mary mix on low simmer for 30-45 minutes, stirring often. Taste and add more seasoning to taste, add more broth and bloody Mary mix and simmer for another 30 minutes or so. Cool and refrigerate, reheat on low allowing 1-1/2 hours to finish cooking, taste. Serve hot with your favorite garnishes. Mine sliced jalapenos, grated pepper Jack, home made pico de gallo.
Cheater Chili in a Pot