Recipe Corner: Award Winning Chili

Today's recipe corner is "borrowed" from my other blog, Country Life Adventures. I don't really post there much these days, but, anyway, if you have already seen this posting, I apologize. Here is my Award Winning Chili recipe...

Start with about 3 pounds of ground meat. This time I used 2 pounds of ground beef and 1 pound of ground turkey. Brown the meat in a big pot... like a 5 quart size. You can add salt, pepper, garlic and/or onions to the meat as it is cooking. Drain the fat off when it is finished browning.

Next add a large can of crushed tomatoes, 2 cans of diced tomatoes (or use fresh if you're so inclined), a can of Ranch Style Beans, and a can of black beans. And really, you can add pretty much whatever combination of your favorite beans and style of tomatoes. I, anymore, usually just use the crushed tomatoes. But you can use stewed, crushed, diced, whatever...

Stir all of this in over medium-low heat. When it is thoroughly combined you can add the spices: garlic powder, ground cumin, chili powder, & ground cayenne pepper. I like ALOT of cumin and chili powder in mine. I probably use about a scant 1/4 cup of each for this size batch. The garlic powder, I usually use about 1 - 1.5 tablespoons. And the Cayenne, about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon.

Stir them in...
Now its time for my secret ingredient... brown sugar! My chili won an award for being the sweetest. And this is how my grandmother used to make it. So yummy! Add about 1/3 cup to the chili.

Stir it all together...
And add salt, pepper, & more spice when needed....just to suit your taste.
Continue heating over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally.


Until it is hot & thick.
Serve with crackers and cornbread!

Here is the pretty picture:


Here is the southern method with cornbread (the way my husband and sons eat it!):


Enjoy!