Beef Stew

Nothing's better than a bowl of chili when it comes to beating back the chill. Between the spices and the actual warmth of the chili, few people can turn it down on a cold day. Well, what is chili, and how is it made?

Chili is a stew first made in San Antonio, Texas by Spanish immigrants from the Canary Islands. The exact ingredients vary by chef, but if you're wanting a Mexican style chili, tomatoes, ground beef, and beans are all requisite. Just so that you're not making beef-tomato-bean soup, you're going to want some chili peppers too. The beans can be any or all of the following: Pintos (frijoles), Black Beans (frijoles negro), or Garbanzos (chickpeas). Spices and other ingredients vary widely, some recipes call for garlic while others call for cumin, cinnamon, or sometimes even dark chocolate. Also, if the recipe calls for black beans, it probably calls for corn and possibly squash as this recipe draws on traditional southwestern Native American recipes.

Like most stews and soups, chili is quite simple to make. Start off by browning the meat in a large skillet and draining the grease afterward. Next, mix in everything else you want in your chili and cook over a low flame. After the dish is ready, garnishes, sides, and toppings can vary as widely as the ingredients. Everyone has heard of a chilidog, but for a more authentic feel, try serving the chili with fried corn or flour tortillas or maybe pork tamales. Alternately, cornbread or corn chips make excellent sides. Shredded cheese should be kept on hand as a topping. If you cannot find any real Mexican cheese, the supermarket "Mexican Cheese Blends" will do in a pinch, but friends and family would be missing out on part of the experience.

Once comfortable with following a recipe, feel free to experiment. The results might just become the new "family secret chili recipe" that will be guarded and passed down for generations. Maybe not, but chili is great splash of color in one's diet and if there's a good chili recipe, write it down. Invite friends and family. Make it again.

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