Chili Con Carne

I talk a lot about recipes my Gram would have made. This is definitely a take on what she would have had cooking on the stove all day. She didn't have many recipes written down. Or at least I dont have many of her recipes written down. But the smell of this cooking is right on point with what I remember. And that is half the battle for me.

I have held on to this recipe all summer long. Just waiting to post the minute school starts. It is perfect for fall weather. That being said, summer sometimes just starts where I live when school starts. So many locals reading this may laugh as it gets crisp on the East Coast and we hopefully just start to get some warmth here.

I also love this recipe because it is cheap. Who doesn't love cheap? My Gram tended to make cheap recipes as she always had a house full of hungry folk looking for a warm meal, me included.

Chili Con Carne
1 package stew meat
1 small package pinto beans
2 TB flour or wondraflour (just extra fine flour)
salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp garlic powder
1/4- 1/2 tsp cayenne powder
1 1/2 tsp season salt
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp cumin
1/2 onion chopped
2-3 cloves garlic minced

 I am using this to coat my meat but you would use just plain ol' flour.

 I just sprinkled and tossed with a fork

 Then sprinkled some season salt, but not too much

 Then in a Dutch Oven or so, heat oil until hot and brown meat

 Little Lucy is stretching her little nose to see what smells so good. Sorry Baby, no beef for you!!

 Rinse beans and finger through looking for rocks and sticks. It happens

 Turn as they get brown.

 Add 1/2 onion

 Nothing makes me feel better like chopping garlic. Yes, I know that is strange

 Add to the pot

 It should smell like heaven

 Add the beans to the pot

 Cover with water. You will need to cover about two inches over the beans

 bring to a boil and then simmer on low. I cover for the first half of the cooking

 I love all the liquid. Trust me it isnt as much as you would think. just enough to soak up in corn bread. It is thick and so nice.

 Tonight there is no corn bread though, sadly. We are having Frito Boats. Not really diet friendly but there's always tomorrow. Put a couple or so in the bottom of the bowl to soak up the thick liquid.

 Cover with the Beans, more Fritos, cheese and some avocado, because you're an adult now and that makes it taste better..

 Even the puppies think so (somebody may have smuggled them a frito)