My Kitchen My Table

Becoming a Chili Head

Upon departing Houston, I bought a bag of D.L. Jardine’s® Texas Chili Bag o’Fixins in the airport so that I could share a little bit of Texas at home with Paul.

It was the perfect rainy Saturday afternoon College Football viewing meal. I served it with tortilla chips, sour cream, grated cheddar cheese, onions, and cilantro.

This is the recipe that came inside the bag with my comments.

Texas Chili

1 D.L. Jardine’s® Texas Chili Bag O’Fixins Kit
2 lbs diced or ground chuck beef (I used cubed)
1 8oz can of tomato sauce
1 15oz can kidney or pinto beans (optional)

Sear meat until redness turns gray (don’t brown); drain off excess fat.

Add about 3 cups of water and tomato sauce. (I used chicken stock). Now add the contents of the large pak of our original Texas Chili spice blend and diced bell pepper/celery pak. Mix well and turn up the heat on the kettle. (Love the kettle, although mine was more like an All-Clad stock pot)!

The test of a genuine Texas Chili Head comes next…. (Who knew I was becoming a Chili Head). You choose how hot the chili is by how much of the crushed red pepper pak you add. For chili that is near hot, add ¼ teaspoon of red pepper. Try one teaspoon for chili that is “hotter than a two dollar pistol on Saturday night.” If you want your Texas Chili even hotter, keep pouring and may the good Lord help you. Watch for smoke and fallout.

Return top to kettle and help keep the flavor in and let chili simmer for 1 hour or until the meat is tender. Add water as needed (no additional water was needed for mine). Salt to taste.

About 30 minutes before you are ready to dig in, add beans if desired. (I did kidney beans).

Now is also the time to mix in the Masa for those that like the flavor and thickness it adds to their chili. Mix the flour with enough water to form a pourable mixture and stir into chili until it reached desired thickness. (I used it all).

Just simmer another 20-30 minutes and you’re ready for the best bowl of authentic “Texas Red” that has ever been fixed. Enjoy!

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