Best Chili

http://www.goodchilirecipes.com/best_chili_recipe.html

I needed to make a huge batch of chili for Bryon's work party and our ward Halloween party. I found this recipe and it was really good.

Ingredients:
2 1/2 lb. lean chuck, ground

1 lb. lean pork, ground


4 garlic cloves, finely chopped

1 cup finely chopped onion
 (yes, I really did do this!)

8 oz. tomato sauce

1 cup water

1 can beer (12 oz.)
 (I just added a squeezy box of apple/white grape juice)
3 Tablespoons chili powder

2 Tablespoons instant beef bouillon (or 6 cubes)

2 Tablespoons cumin, ground

2 teaspoons paprika

2 teaspoons oregano leaves 

2 teaspoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon coriander, ground

1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa 

1/2 teaspoon Louisiana hot sauce 
(I used our Tapatío Hot Sauce and it was great)

1 teaspoon cornmeal

1 teaspoon flour

1 teaspoon warm water

Directions:
1. In a large saucepan brown 1 1/4 pounds of the ground meat (the beef and the pork), drain the fat.
2. Remove browned meat and brown the rest of the ground meat. Drain all but 2 tablespoons of the fat.
3. Add the garlic and onion, cook and stir until tender.
4. Add the other half of the meat and the tomato sauce, water, beer, chili powder, bouillon, cumin, paprika, oregano, sugar, coriander, cocoa, and hot sauce. Mix well.
5. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer, covered , for 2 hours.
6. In a small bowl, stir together the cornmeal and flour, then add the warm water and mix well.
7. Stir into chili and cook, covered, for an additional 20 minutes.

Daddo's Favorite Rice Dish

Another 'vintage' recipe --
I remember Mom's recipe card said "Gary's Favorite Rice Dish." I don't even know if I've made this since I've been married, but I was just craving it the other day and made it for a potluck we went to. It was a big hit. I've since made it with Trader Joe's Brown Rice Medley as well. Loved that more than chocolate cake. mmmm....
Anyway, here it is:

1 C long grain rice
3 chicken bouillon cubes
1/4 C finely cut onion (of course I left this out and used onion powder instead)
1 t onion salt
1/2 C margarine (I used butter)
2 1/2 C boiling water

Spread rice in a flat baking pan and roast in a 375 degree oven until golden brown. Stir occasionally (I just took it out and shook it) -- total of about 15 mins. Put rice in a 1 1/2 qt casserole dish; add remaining ingredients; cover and bake at 350 for 30 mins.

EXCELLENT side dish!

Mom's Homemade Noodles

For those of us without pasta making machines:
This is one of Mommo's recipes that I believe she learned from her mother (please correct me if that's wrong, Mom).
Everyone at our house is sick today, so I was thinking of making chicken soup, then remembered Mom's noodles and had to make them as well.
I substituted a few tablespoons of freshly ground whole wheat flour for some of the white flour. I cut the noodles (rolled up jelly roll style per recipe) with plain dental floss and then unrolled them and laid them out on a cookie cooling grid to dry. I remember Mom sometimes putting them over chair backs. You don't have to let them dry, though.
And here's the vintage recipe -

1 beaten egg
1/2 t. salt
2 T evaporated milk
1 C flour

Combine egg, salt and milk. Add enough flour to make stiff dough. Roll out dough and then roll like a jelly roll and slice 1/8" thick. Drop into boiling broth and cook 10 minutes.

I always loved the texture of homemade noodles in the soup. Yum!