Women's Bean Project Chili (Chili for a Cause)
Well, Old Man Winter has come to visit for the new year here in Ohio. When I look out my front door and see this:
Chili is probably hands down my favorite thing to make. I love all the chopping, the simmering, the smell it fills the house with, and the spice on a cold winter day. It seems each time I make chili it tastes just a little different from the last batch and I love that too. This weekend's chili has to be the most unique and flavorful I've made.
At the end of last school year last year I was given a lovely gift from a lovely family whose son I taught. They gave me chili mixes and salsa mixes from the Women's Bean Project. The chili mix comes looking this way:
Our Mission: To change women's lives by providing stepping stones to self-sufficiency through social enterprise.Our Vision: Women’s Bean Project strives to break the cycle of chronic unemployment and poverty by helping women discover their talents and develop skills by offering job readiness training opportunities.
With this stepping stone toward success, the women will be able to support themselves and their families, and create stronger role models for future generations.
Not only is this mix for a great cause, it is DELICIOUS! The beans are small red beans, kidney beans, and pinto beans. Yes, folks you have to soak and simmer them the old fashioned way, but I think that's half the fun and leads to better flavor in my opinion. The real treat here, though, is the spice mix that comes with the beans. I made the Firehouse #10 hot chili http://www.womensbeanproject.com/sou05.html, but don't worry the mix pictured above is for you wussies who like things mild.
I sort of followed the pouch instructions. I followed the bean preparation, of course, but took my own liberties in making the chili. Here's how I went about it:
1 lb. lean ground beef
1 lb. hot Italian sausage (my grocery stores never carry it in bulk and I end up ripping it out of the casings- not a fun job!)
2 or so glugs of Worcestershire sauce (however much you like)
1 Tbsp or so EVOO
2 bell peppers, diced. I prefer a red and an orange.
3 jalapenos, 2 diced with ribs and seeds removed, 1 diced with seeds, ribs, and all.
5 garlic cloves
2 medium onions
Women's Bean Project Seasoning Packet
2 paper containers beef stock (I prefer Rachael Ray's- it's the lowest sodium content I can find)
1 28 oz can of crushed tomatoes
1 15 oz can fire roasted tomatoes
Beans prepared according to package instructions
Brown beef and sausage in large stockpot over medium high heat. Add Worcestershire sauce when almost browned. Remove from the pan, drain, set aside. Add two turns of the pan worth of olive oil to the stockpot and add onion, peppers, and garlic. Mix in seasoning packet (this step will make your house smell absolutely delicious!). Once vegetables are tender, add the meat back to the pot and combine. Add rest of ingredients (liquids, tomatoes, and beans) and bring to a boil. I know the crushed tomatoes sound a bit weird, but trust me it makes a nice broth. Can be eaten right away, but I prefer to reduce the heat and let it simmer at least 30 minutes.
Enjoy and please check out the Women's Bean Project Website for chili fix ins and many other awesome products!
P.S. I highly recommend some shredded cheese and oyster crackers :)
