First Snow Chili
We have a tradition in our house.
Apparently, it is an unwritten, and unspoken tradition.
The other day we had snow flurries. Just flurries. Nothing stuck. The boys came home from school and asked where the chili was.
“What Chili?”, I replied.
“Mom, you always make chili on the first day it snows.” says William, who may or may not be prone to exaggeration.
And so I do. But, truth be told, I make chili on first snow days because I am lazy, and a terrible procrastinator. I am such a procrastinator that it takes actual snow flakes to fall from the sky to get me to organize our winter gear. This would be a perfectly acceptable practice if we lived in, say, Georgia. However, as my moniker alludes to, Dakota Pam lives in North Dakota. In case you are not sure where our little state is, look to the middle of Canada, then look slightly south. There we are! We get no hurricanes (yay!), but we are guaranteed winter weather. North Dakotans cannot escape winter. And yet, it takes snowflakes to get to to match up last years gloves and figure out if we have enough snow pants and boots.
Seriously.
So, usually, after a day of panicked matching, sorting, and inevitably shopping, I’m pooped. Too pooped to cook. And I’ve usually forgotten to plan ahead, so I have no real dinner options. Except Chili.
My First Snow Chili is no gourmet creation. The hardest thing for me is opening all of the cans (thanks to the tendonitis brought on by hauling twin carseats for 18 months I now have an electric can opener. Yay me!). I’m not going to win any chili cook-offs with this chili, and I doubt you will either. . .but if you do, slip me an email, my ego would LOVE that!
No, my friends, the best part of First Snow Chili, is that it takes about 10 minutes to whip up and only requires one pot.
I declared today our first snow day. It shouldn’t count, we have now measurable snowfall (yay), only flurries. BUT, I’m signed up to bring dinner for the elementary school teachers today so they can snatch a bite between parent/teacher conferences. Plus, the boys have been BEGGING for chili and declaring every flurry a snowfall.
So, my friends, here is my lazy, snowy day gift to you.
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds ground beef
- 1 large can diced tomatoes
- 2 cans (14.5 oz) chili beans
- 2 cans (14.5 oz) dark red kidney beans
- 1 small can RoTel tomatoes
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef. Drain off grease.
- Open all of the cans. Rinse and drain the kidney beans. Dump everything into your pot. Stir. Simmer for as long as you need.
Notes
Seriously. That is IT! This gives you a pretty mild chili. The Chili beans have some seasoning and the RoTel adds some kick. You can add some garlic, and chopped onion and chili spices, but hey...that is going to add to your prep time, don't blame me for the dirty cutting board! I also add a can of black beans and a can of corn if I'm feeling extra fancy.
I seriously laughed at this one Pam. What were we doing last night? Trying on snow boots and pants. What did I do today? Yep! Go buy Alex new snow bibs and boots.
) SO true!
Wade is the Chili maker in our house. I tried a few times and he suggested I should just let that be his domain. Last night we had hashbrown casserole (Kristin’s recipe) because it was in the freezer and I needed that dish to take to MNO tonight. Tonight I am making meatball subs and taking half of it to the business meeting tomorrow!!!
The biggest kid needs a winter coat. Adult size. I need a sale:)
Dakotapam recently posted..Tot School:Leaves
Twitter: dakotapam
Looks good! Looks somewhat similar to the bean casserole I make – ground beef with pork and beans plus up to 3 other kinds of beans (lately I vary it). And after seeing it with crushed pineapple at a church potluck, I now dd that as well.
When my boys were in scouts, the adult leaders were big on teaching them dutch oven cooking (and they ate really well on campouts!). Every August they would have a chili cook-off and try to out “hot” each other in the spicy department. The men were very serious about this. Their “mild” was “hot” to me!
What a great idea on a snowy day, and a nice family tradition.
We love our Dutch ovens for camping!
Your recipe reminds me the I used to doctor up canned baked beans with canned peaches, unlikely, but super tasty!
Dakotapam recently posted..When is a Cold Not Just a Cold?
Twitter: dakotapam
Peaches sounds interesting – I’ll have to try that sometime!
I made chili for the facilities team at our church last night (I make dinner for the men once a month) …chili…cornbread and cakeballs…Of course we had some extra for us…it was yummy! And mine is very simple too
Ground beef, two large cans diced tomatoes, a large can of tomato puree, two cans of chili beans, an onion and chili powder to taste…
Ahhhhhh
I should have made corn bread. I was too rushed, and out of corn meal. Bah.
Dakotapam recently posted..Creative Project Makeover
Twitter: dakotapam
Well, we were married in 1995 and have the same slow cooker. . .
We had a panic when we had our first snow a couple weeks ago: we had no boots to fit the 6yo, and none of the local stores had anything that would work. Ack!
(dofollow)
Angie recently posted..Online
Ding, ding, ding! 6/11/95! Which just brings our parallel lives closer:)
Twitter: dakotapam
I have that slow cooker too-married in 1996! Sounds like a good recipe. I’ll have to try that, but first I need to get most of the ingredients. You’d think with my son working at a grocery store I’d be more stocked up since I have to drive him there and back.
Good tradition. I’ll have to do it next year.
Twitter: EssieBurns
These are items I start to always stock this time of year. I have a rather seasonal pantry:)
Dakotapam recently posted..Wordless Wednesday: Twin Toddler Bedtime
Twitter: dakotapam
You are better at traditions than I am!
Twitter: dakotapam
Mmmmmmmmmm…. YUMMY! It looks delicious, congratulations for the cooking and the post! It’s great and lovely to have family traditions, it seems that William really enjoys the chili and he really has reasons to do so. It looks so good that I am going to cook chili tomorrow. Thanks for the idea and for the recipe!
Diana Stroe recently posted..Reiki Attunement
You left out the main ingredient.onions- .chili powder & cumin…Yours is sure not Texas chili..oh well enjoy..different strokes ….
I know…it is mild, but I cook for six kids. The chili beans have chili powder and the ro-tel has jalepeno peppers. Plus, this is my super quick chili. When I cook for adults I have a more authentic recipe. This one is great for when you forgot what to make for dinner! thanks for stopping by!
Twitter: dakotapam
I am gonna try ur recipe…I am a 75 year old batchelor, set in my ways..I could be wrong once..ha-ha
Hey, it is a quick, easy jumping off point. enjoy, let me know how it turns out!
Twitter: dakotapam