Thursday, January 6, 2011

Beef Chili with Poblanos and Beer



With our scarves tightened and Ugg boots layered with socks we faced the bone-chilling wind chill of 46º a few nights ago to take the pups for a little walk after dinner.  Not going too far so as not to chill our fingers we returned to warm ourselves by the fire and got to clearing the dishes from our undeniably appropriate cold winter night's chili.

46º may not sound so cold, but for us in San Diego, it's life changing!  Socks have come out of hiding, ugg boots have replaced sandals at the high school, and we've switched the coffee from iced to hot.

Newspaper showing the "drastic" dress difference in San Diego from season to season!
In all seriousness... when I moved here after spending 3 winters in Louisville, KY I laughed at how everyone was so cold all the time.  I even sounded a bit like my parents saying, "Well, if you'd dress properly, you wouldn't be so cold!".  We enjoy sunny days on the empty beaches in January, and gardening and planting roses in February.  Over the years though, my winter "gear" has worn out and I find myself heading out on chilly mornings with just a light sweater and floppies, and yes... improperly dressed, I too am complaining about the cold.  

Thinking chili is the perfect winter meal in any region I set out to sautee my poblanos, onions and garlic in the early afternoon.   Adding spices to the vegies and then combining them with the browned beef along with a bottle of dark beer to simmer had the aromas wafting through the house for hours before we topped our steaming bowls with my favorite part of chili, the "goodies".  Chopped, fresh cilantro and green onions were sprinkled over grated cheeses along with a dollop of sour cream.  Some of us added a scoop of rice, but we all enjoyed a side of Buttermilk Cornbread Biscuits fresh from the oven.

With our bodies warmed and satiated we leaned back in our chairs, sighed and decided that Life is Good.




Beef Chili with Poblanos and Beer
Kim Kelly - Liv Life
We used jalapeños from our yard.  The plant didn't produce all summer and starting in September began producing beautiful peppers!  Unfortunately, without any heat they have no spice this year, but do have a good flavor...

1 lb (approximately) lean cubed beef (I used TJ's Stew Meat)
1 Tbs olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 jalapeño, finely diced (optional)
1 - 2 Poblano Peppers, seeded and chopped
6 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
1-2 Tbs Olive Oil
2 Tbs chili powder
1/2 tsp or more ground chipotle pepper (optional for spice!)
1 Tbs cumin
1 can diced tomatoes, including juices
3/4 bottle beer (I like Kona Brewing Company Firerock Pale Ale - 3/4 bottle for the chili, 1/4 bottle for me!  Alternatively, you could add the whole bottle to the chili...)
1 can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 can black bean, drained and rinsed
2 cups beef broth
water
salt to taste

For topping:
chopped cilantro
shredded cheeses (Pepper Jack, Cheddar or your favorite)
chopped green onion
avocado
diced tomatoes

Brown the beef in a large skillet with the olive oil.

In a large stock pot heat the additional oil over medium heat.  Add the onions and peppers and sautee until softened, about 4 minutes.  Add the garlic and spices and sautee until very aromatic, about 1 minute more.  Add the browned beef to the vegie mixture.  Pour the bottle of beer over the vegies and meat, stirring.  Heat for a minute or so, then add the can of tomatoes.  Add the beans and beef broth and water to cover.

Simmer over medium heat for a couple of hours or until the meat is very tender, adding more water if necessary.  Taste and add more spice and salt if desired.

Ladle chili into bowls and top with your favorite chili goodies - onions, tomatoes, cheeses, sour cream or yogurt and avocado.  We love Buttermilk Cornmeal Biscuits on the side! 

Note:  for a less spicy chili omit the jalapeño and chipotle powder, for more spice add more!  When I make this for my parents I use a mile chili powder, no jalapeño and no chipotle powder.  For my husband I use a spicy chili powder and 1 or 2 jalapeños - chipotle powder is added if more spice is needed.

37 comments:

  1. Wow now this looks terrific love everything in this!

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  2. Is there a Chili contest down south somewhere.. Because this chili would win!! SPicy.. yumm!

    I know, everyone else across the states has had it pretty bad, but I've been here since a child and I think it's darn cold! We here in Temecula have been waking up to temperatures like 27 degrees to 37. My kids would love it to snow, but when these rain clouds roll in, the temperatures warm up again. :(

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  3. Oh Kim, I think that's hilarious about winter attire. I know what you mean--I rarely wore my Uggs when I got them years ago but, this season they've been worn practically every day! I don't wear socks with them so, my toesies are still a bit cold with the boots on! My Rainbows are currently sitting underneath the bed, haha. That being said, it's nice to have winter weather for a change. Not only do you get to wear different attire but, you sometimes change your meal plans. This chili sounds absolutely delicious. I didn't know you grew your own jalapenos. The plant pictures look fabulous, as does your chili... ::drooling::

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  4. Life is good. :) We are practically neighbors...I'm not used to these colder days, being a native San Diegan. But I am enjoying the change of weather.

    Good looking beef chili with flavorful poblanos. Chili is the ultimate comfort food, indeed!

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  5. I love that you were able to use the jalapeños that you grew. I think that I would need two Kona Brewing Co. beers - one for the chili and one for me to drink with the chili. I love a chili that has some substance to it and yours looks great.
    I totally get your winter because ours is even warmer. Our weatherman warned us yesterday that cooler weather was on its way, and to think about an extra blanket at night. His prediction was that it would be in the low 60's at night. I know this is not even chilly by most standards, but it is all relative and goes the other way too. When people come to visit and tell me how hot it is in March I tell them to come back in September and then they will know what hot it.

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  6. Sounds like a great meal to me! I really do love chili, it is one of those things that I think I could eat every weekend and be a happy girl. Throw in a beer and that is just a match made in heaven!

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  7. Liv, up here in LA we are the same! My husband and I have been sleeping with the heater on high, and closing our bedroom door so none of that wonderful heat can sneak away into the other parts of our home. I've also been sleeping with sweatpants and a long sleeved thermal! What babies we are.

    However, this "cold" weather does make for perfect soups and stews! Your chili looks amazing. I would love to have a hot bowl of that tonight

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  8. This looks great - can't wait to try it!

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  9. Haha...love the winter ad! Ain't it the truth :)

    This chili looks fabulous with all the onions and cheese on top - I'm happy to take any leftovers from you :)

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  10. This chili looks wonderful. Great picture, too! I live in Boston, 46 degrees would be a heat wave this time of year. Maybe, I'm exaggerating, but you get my drift!

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  11. Kim, happy New Year! This chili sounds wonderful and absolutely perfect for the cold weather we have also been experiencing in Arizona the last couple of weeks. Love the spice the different peppers add in this recipe! This one is getting bookmarked!

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  12. Chili is that all time perfect cold weather soup, and there are many variations. Yours sounds wonderful, especially with the beer. My husband puts everything but the the kitchen sink when he makes his. We make 2 separate batches, because his is so hot, it will burn your nostrils, just smelling it.

    I have to laugh at how cold you think that you are. Granted those temps are cold for your area, but here in Chicago land we are having temps in the teens with wind chills in the single digits. I wear layers of clothes, that's just the way it is.

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  13. So glad my Mac is out of the shop...just in time to come back and find this yummy chili recipe! Cold weather's coming to Texas next week, so need a couple of soup/stew/chili recipes to try!!

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  14. I know what you mean about the cold. We nearly froze in Napa last weekend when the high temp was 49 during the day. I don't even own warm shoes like Uggs! But when I saw your recent cornbread recipe and photos it sure made me want chili!

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  15. I love it! I always use beer to make my chili! Yours looks completely delicious!!

    Best,
    Veronica

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  16. Your chili looks wonderful! I can't wait to try it!

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  17. It's 28° where I live:) I know if you are not used to the cold it's hard to adjust. I love spicy food. The biscuits sound like a great side.

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  18. This chili sounds amazing with poblano peppers! Excellent flavors, perfect for the wintery weather for sure!

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  19. This sounds so good right now. Especially since we don't have such warm winters. :) I'm jealous you can still grow things in the winter! Nice collage!! You did an excellent job!

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  20. Being from California means anything below 65 is too darn cold for me. I'm a wuss, I admit it. When Vegas was barely hitting 40 for several days PLUS the possibility of snow I decided to hibernate in the apartment. Give me a blanky, my heater, and plenty of coffee and I'm good.

    My version of chili is to just throw it all in a crockpot and have at it. I'm crazy like that. It's worked out twice now! Hubby has gobbled it right up. Yours looks fantastic to make...and if I tried it'd mean I actually use a recipe! Haha.

    Thanks for sharing Kim! By the way, I'm responding with a wine buzz so if I seem a little oddball, that's why. =)

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  21. I seriously love winter - mostly for the chili recipes! I love seeing all the variations - this one is a spicy and super-flavorful one, great job!

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  22. 46? That's like spring weather in the midwest!:) You guys from the coast...you just can't hang. ;-)) Now pass me that bowl and a bottle of beer, please.

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  23. For me, the spicier the better ....so, it's wonderful that you added jalapenos to this recipe! Btw, your pictures are very very nice :)

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  24. It's cold today in Florida too! I made this chili today, it is excellent! I think the beer, poblanos and beef broth, (and a small amount of tomatoes) really puts it over the top. I am going to make the cornmeal biscuits now. Can't wait for hubby to get home and have a big bowl.

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  25. Wonderful! I love a good spicy chili.

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  26. Such a cozy sounding dish. My bro lives in Ky, but they like all the cold days and humidity. Hang in there though spring will be here soon:)

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  27. Haha. This post makes me laugh. I live in Salinas, about 7 hrs north of you and our weather is exactly the same way. Except you get a little more heat in summer. People freak out when it's under 50 degrees or over 70. The newspaper clipping is so true!!!

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  28. Your dish looks amazing. And my do I wish I was in San Diego right now! Toronto just got a HUGE dump of snow! Not even Uggs will keep your feet warm in weather like this!

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  29. Chili is the perfect cold weather food! BTW, if it is colder than normal for where you live, then is cold for you. Spicy chili warms up the soul no matter where you live when the temperature drops and this looks amazing, just what Mother Nature ordered whether it is 46F or -46C....cold is as cold does!

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  30. I have a friend who got stranded outside of LA in the snowstorm there. Crazy things happening out there in California! This is delicious looking chili, and definitely perfect for cold weather! Hang in there!

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  31. Mmm, I love chili and I love the idea of beer in it. Wonderful!

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  32. These are perfect together awesome chili!

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  33. I agree about the weather. Living in Athens where the winter is very mild, we think it's freezing when the temp is below 60. I don't eat beef very often but sounds like a delicious dish to try.

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  34. I love chili. Perfect for the weather we're having. I a lot of us do the sweatshirt and flip flop deal and of course complain about the cold.

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  35. Oh, that made me feel good inside and all I saw was the picture. Of course, it's 25 here in NC and I'm bundled in a heavy wool sweater. Thanks for sharing the recipe (and the funny section of the newspaper).

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  36. OK, I think I am addicted to this, I have made it 3 times, including this morning. I also made the cornmeal biscuits. My friend also requested the recipe, saying; "it was the best chili he had ever tasted". Now his mom is making it.

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  37. Nancy, thank you so much for the comment1! You made my day!!

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