Crock-Pot-Simmer-All-Day Chili

Hey,

Today sufficiently reached "monumental" on my sliding scale of culinary wonders, which is sized in relative approximation to my suite kitchen.

I made chili, in a crock pot, and old-fashioned rice. And you know what? It was actually extremely delicious. Again, it was made mostly by memory and experimentation.

I've always loved the look of chili. All of the colors together, beans mingling around, spicing up the kitchen with teasing smells as different flavors pop forwards in momentary boiling bubbles of self-excitement. I've never liked it to be too spicy, but I can appreciate a little zing.

Crock-Pot-Simmer-All-Day Chili

-Medium-large sized crock-pot

-1.5-2 pounds ground beef/turkey/pork (whatever you want)

-1/2 an onion, chopped (light a candle as you chop it. stops the terrible stinging.)

-1 or 2 cans of kidney bean

-1 or 2 cans of black beans

-1 or 2 cans of diced tomatoes

-Carroll Shelby's "Original Texas Brand Chili Kit"-this little box includes little packets of corn masa flour, cayenne pepper, salt, and chili spices (ground chili pepper, garlic, cumin, oregano, onion, paprika)

-Agave nectar

-Long-grain rice

1. Defrost and brown the meat in the microwave and a large frying pan, respectively. Add the chopped onion and thoroughly cook through.

2. Pour the beans, tomatoes, and meat into the crock-pot. I didn't drain any of the cans, and I added plenty of the fat that came from the meat. Fat adds flavor!

3. The chili kit is a very handy little thing to have. I added half the packet of masa flour (to thicken it up a bit), some of the chili spice, some salt, and none of the cayenne. You can use the packets to really make the chili your own, and to suit your palate.

4. Place the lid onto the crock-pot and cook it low and slow for at least 5-6 hours, stirring occasionally if you feel like it. I lightly sprinkled a little agave onto the chili just for fun.

5. 25-35 minutes before serving the chili, cook long-grain rice on the stove in a sauce pan.

6. Season the chili and rice to taste with sour cream, cheese, chips, pepper, chili powder, whatever your Texas heart desires.