2011 SuperBowl Feast - Post Game Report

Ugh...I think I'm still full from yesterday! I spent the entire morning in the kitchen and it was absolutely worth it. Here's a rundown of what we had (some homemade, some store bought):

• Sweet Chicken Bacon Wraps (special request by J - http://www.food.com/recipe/sweet-chicken-bacon-wraps-paula-deen-146427)
• Slow cooker Chili with Fritos
• Caprese Poppers
• Turkey Pepperoni Pretzels
• Cocktail Weenies with cranberry mustard glaze
• Turkey Keilbasa with brown sugar
• Nachos
• Jerk Chicken Kabobs
• Carrots and Tzatziki
• Onion Dip and Chips
• Chipotle Cheddar Cheese and Wheat Thins
• Cheesy Stuffed Cubanelle Peppers
• Jalapeno Poppers

I know everyone has got their favorite chili recipe - and as a cook with an aversion to super spicy foods - I think mine has a nice balance of flavor and heat. Joe typically adds more hot sauce (Cholula is the old standby - http://cholula.com/) while I opt for a little extra sour cream, and we both have a great meal!

Ingredients:

2 lbs ground beef (or turkey if you prefer)

3 cloves of garlic, minced

1 medium yellow onion, diced

1 medium red onion, diced

1 12 oz jar of roasted red peppers, drained and diced

2 14 oz cans of diced tomatoes w/ chilies 

3 14 oz cans of light red kidney beans, drained

1 8 oz can of tomato sauce

1 pkg of McCormick Hot Chili mix

Ok, before you say "PACKAGE OF CHILI MIX?!?" here's my excuse - I still haven't quite perfected the seasoning blend, so why have sub par chili if I can get a packet that's consistent and tastes great? When I figure out the right mix I'll be the first to let you know :)

This makes a huge batch so you are going to need at least a 5 qt slow cooker. In a large pan, brown the ground beef, making sure to cook it all the way through. Drain the fat and add the meat to your slow cooker. Take about 1/3 of the beans and mash them with a potato masher in order to thicken the chili in the cooking process. Next, add your onions, garlic, peppers tomatoes, mashed and whole beans, tomato sauce and spice blend. Mix throughly and set the cooker on low and cook for 6 hours. 

It's going to be hard not to dig in early, but it's worth the wait. I keep toppings on hand like the old standbys: diced onion, shredded cheese, sour cream - and our favorites: Frito's and of course hot sauce.

Piece of cake right? I'll have more recipes from SuperBowl 2011 soon, just got to get over this food hangover...

- "Jess" A Pinch