Hey!

Doing something a little different today and sharing a recipe! Happy Halloween, BTW! As most of you know, I am not a super-fan of the Holiday, however I do have some traditions (oddly enough) that I am super fond of sticking to.

Ever since Kev and I started living together, I have started a tradition of homemade chili and cornbread on Halloween. I know it seems so simple, but the future wife in me and “future future Mom” in me, wanted to start making traditions for Holidays. I can remember as a kid, we would go to my Great Grandma and Grandpa’s house with our cousins every year after trick-or-treating and my great grandma would load us up with king sized candy bars and $20 each.

I only make chili ONCE a year. This is usually because with just two of us, one batch of chili can typically last us quite a while. By the end of it, we are so sick of it that we have to wait an entire year to WANT it again! This is why I now call it, “Halloween Chili.”

There is something you MUST know however… every year, I try a different chili recipe. Ya, it’s true! I like trying different versions of chili and different cornbreads to keep it interesting. All of my trials have been worthy of a re-make but for now, I will continue trying new recipes.

“My Mom’s Chili”

Okay okay, so quick little background story before I share this years recipe. This year, I decided to shut Kevin’s trap ONCE and for all about Chili. EVERY year I make chili, and Kev says…”it’s good, but my favorite recipe is still my mom’s.” You know, I have learned one thing about my Kevin… the way to his heart is through his stomach (like every man) but… not just any recipe will do it for my Kev. The way to his heart, is through his stomach with his Mom’s recipe’s.

Kevin’s mom, my future mother in law, has some of the BEST recipe’s. The best part about them, is that they are quick and easy and simple enough for me to re-make for Kevin. I legitimately have asked her to bind a recipe book for me with all of Kevin’s favorite recipe’s for a Wedding gift. So the Halloween Chili I have decided to make this year comes from the one and only, Penny Filotto.

First you will need:

1 Green Pepper Chopped
1 Medium Onion Chopped
1 Clove of Garlic
3 (14.5 Oz) Cans of Petite Diced Tomatoes
2 (14.5 Oz) Cans of Chili Beans

I want to take a moment and point out a CRUCIAL Kitchen tool when making quick and easy chili. The Pampered Chef Chopper.

This has been a kitchen tool that has been around all of my life. My mom always had one when we were growing up. I even would drive over to my mom’s house to borrow hers when I first started living on my own and didn’t have one yet. This little tool chops up anything that needs to be chopped in just a few brisk pumps!

I have linked it HERE if you would like to cut back on chopping time when cooking!

Next…

Brown 2 lbs. of ground beef.

Throw in your Green Pepper, Onion and Garlic while you’re at it, and let it all season together.

Yes, it’s true.. add this next!

You know how most people think that REALLY GOOD chili has all these sorts of special seasoning variations and “secret” ingredients. That is the best part about this recipe…. it’s just a chili packet. There is a special trick that makes this recipe so good.. but it isn’t the seasonings… it’s something else..

Keep reading to find out.

Blend Your Beans

I always wondered what is the “secret” to this Chili. I knew there had to be SOMETHING. If you are not a fan of beans in your chili, then this recipe is for you. The flavor of the beans is an important flavor when it comes to chili, but some don’t like having to chew them. Understood. So for this recipe, it is crucial to Blend your Beans. Blend two cans of Chili bean and add them to your mixture for all of your chili flavor needs!

Let it simmer!

After combining all of your ingredients, take your mixture to the crockpot. I let mine simmer on “Low” for 2-3 hours before serving. You can also keep it on the stove while letting it simmer. I’m just a crockpot fanatic!

But what is chili without cornbread? Don’t worry, I have you covered for that as well! I whipped up a simple 3 step recipe for my cornbread this year. Quick and Simple!