Saturday, January 12, 2008

Chili 2 Ways


My new co-workers started a tradition of monthly team barbecue's...and heck, we work in hospitality, so they better be good!

Along with my lovely office-mate Brooke, our Lifestyle Director, we hosted a Chili-fest...because of the cold winter weather (65 and sunny in AZ) and because grilling in work clothes is perilous at best, and finally because Brooke and I are both Texans.

To be exact, we served cornbread muffins with honey, green salad with ranch dressing and fat-free balsamic, green chili chicken chili and traditional red chili with the fixins'...and brownie sundaes for dessert.

Here are the recipes...

The Best White Chicken Chili:
(makes 8-10 servings)

8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cubed, all fat trimmed
8 anaheim chilis, seeded and chopped
2 small cans fire-roasted and chopped green chilis
4 serrano chilis, seeded and chopped
1 large onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 sweet green bell pepper, chopped
2 tsp salt (or to taste)
1 tsp black pepper (or to taste)
2 bottles light beer
1 package cream cheese (8 oz, I used light)
1 tsp chili powder
1 tbs ground cumin
1 tbs ground Mexican oregano
1 can white beans, drained and rinsed
Grated jack cheese or other white cheese
Sour cream
Cilantro

Directions:
If using Crock Pot (slow cooker), add all ingredients except cream cheese and turn to high. Cook for 8-10 hours, then turn to low. Two hours before serving, mix 2 tbs flour with water and mix into a smooth paste. Slowly mix into chili and turn back to high. Let cook 1 additional hour, then turn back to low, mix in cream cheese and leave on low until serving. Before serving, taste and adjust seasoning. Serve with sour cream, grated white cheese and cilantro. Hot sauce or sliced jalapenos can be added for extra heat.

If not using a Crock Pot, saute chicken in olive oil over medium heat in a large stock pot. Remove and let stand on a plate. Add chilis, pepper and onions and saute until slightly softened. Add all other ingredients (except cream cheese), plus 2 c chicken broth and let simmer for 3-4 hours. 30 minutes before serving, add cream cheese. Before serving, taste and adjust seasoning. Serve with sour cream, grated white cheese and cilantro. Hot sauce or sliced jalapenos can be added for extra heat.

Classic Beef Chili:
(makes 8-10 servings)

6 lbs lean beef chuck roast, cubed, all fat trimmed
2 jalapenos, seeded and chopped
2 each yellow, red and green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 large onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
3-4 tsp salt (or to taste)
1 tsp black pepper (or to taste)
2 bottles light beer
1/2 c chili powder
1/4 c ground cumin
1 tbs ground Mexican oregano
1 can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
Sour cream
Grated cheddar or other kind of cheese
Cilantro

Directions:
If using Crock Pot (slow cooker), add all ingredients and turn to high. Cook for 8-10 hours, then turn to low. Two hours before serving, mix 2 tbs flour with water and mix into a smooth paste. Slowly mix into chili and turn back to high. Let cook 2 additional hours. Before serving, taste and adjust seasoning. Serve with sour cream, grated cheddar cheese and cilantro. Hot sauce or sliced jalapenos can be added for extra heat.

If not using a Crock Pot, saute beef in olive oil over medium heat in a large stock pot. Remove and let stand on a plate. Add chilis, pepper and onions and saute until slightly softened. Add all other ingredients plus 2 c beef broth and let simmer for 3-4 hours. Before serving, taste and adjust seasoning. Serve with sour cream, grated cheddar cheese and cilantro. Hot sauce or sliced jalapenos can be added for extra heat.

9 comments:

MrOrph said...

Now this is chili.

I tend to like mine hot, really, really hot.

This is the comfort food that begs for cold Saturdays.

Anonymous said...

What a fun thing to do at work!! Your chili(s) sound great!

Deborah said...

I now am craving chili...

Cakespy said...

That chili looks great!! I love mine hot so this is definitely getting a bookmark!! Thank you!

One Food Guy said...

I have been looking for a good chicken chili recipe for a long time. I'm going to give this a try the next time it's chili time. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

You have some lucky coworkers!

Anonymous said...

Sorry I don’t have any great recipes to offer. What I do have is an inexpensive gadget that’s made shopping for my family’s groceries so much easier. After all- before the recipe-we all need to get our groceries home. It’s a strong plastic handle that I use to carry all my grocery shopping bags to my car, then to my apartment in one trip. It’s called a Baggy Buddy. You can learn more at BaggyBuddy.com. I highly recommend it.

Anonymous said...

Wow that recipe is an awesome addition to any of the chicken recipes I usually make for my occasionally deserving husband. If he behaves himself he'll get this one soon. He likes it spicy.

My Wacky Friends said...

It won't truly have success, I suppose this way.