Recognize that bowl? It is the Tommee Tippee Explora bowl and easi–mat bowl that I gave away on the MBL Facebook page last week. I hope to do some more exclusive giveaways just for my Facebook “likers” so if you are not there yet, get thyself to Facebook!
Tommee Tippee also has a cool new digital storybook feature on their site called The Day Baby Was Born, I can’t wait to try out for baby number 2.
I liked these bowls for when Penelope eats soup, or in this case chili, since it keeps the bowl in place via a suction cup type thing. She still makes a mess, because she wants to do everything herself, but this eliminates the possibility of the bowl being flung across the table and chili ending up on my curtains.
I have been making chili since college. It was one of the very first things I learned how to make. I did not grow up cooking, so when I got to college I had no idea how to feed myself anything other than pre-made, packaged foods.
To remedy that, I hired Jill Welch, a personal chef (aka the Kitchen Goddess and also a home birth midwife) and she gave me a few private cooking lessons.
I have changed her recipe over the years and it has morphed into what is below. I usually only make it once a year on Halloween.
1 medium onion
1 green pepper
1 red pepper
3 large garlic cloves
2 lbs ground beef
4 cups of kidney beans
4 cups of pinto beans
2 cans crushed tomatoes
3 bay leaves
salt
chili powder
cilantro
Soak beans overnight. Chop all veggies. Add meat, then veggies on top, into slow cooker. Cook on low for 8 hours.
*This makes a ton of chili. As you can see, it fills my 6 quart slow cooker up, which is great, because that means lots of chili to put in the deep freezer!
Or on Facebook!
Great recipe, thanks for sharing!
Brooke
http://www.TheAnnessaFamily.blogspot.com
Amazing dish. Great recipe. It sounds really delicious and spicy. I just fall in love in the food.
I just found your blog and I love it! I'm juggling my five-month old, working full time, AND being on a SUPER tight budget, so I'm all over crock pot meals and meals I can freeze for later! Thank you so much for sharing!
Do you brown the beef before putting it in? It’s the first recipe I’ve seen that doesn’t mention cooking the beef before putting it in the crockpot.
I do not. It browns just fine in the slow cooker.
Would love to make this tonight and don’t have time to soak the beans overnight. Is it possible to use canned kidney and pinto beans instead? Not sure, since I’m new to the slow cooker. Please let me know.
Thanks!
Yes, you can use canned. It is just healthier to use the non-canned kind. Even organic cans have BPA in them. Also, when you soak beans it makes them easier to digest.
Making this right now for my freezer club – I just addded 2 Tablespoon of chili pepper and 1/2 Tablespoon of salt and a sprinkle of dried cilantro. Does that sounds about right? Thanks so much for sharing your recipes – I am trying to implement more “Nourishing Traditions” principles into my life.
That sounds perfect! Enjoy!