Showing posts with label chili recipe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chili recipe. Show all posts
3 bean chocolate chili inspired by Paula Deen ya'll

3 bean chocolate chili inspired by Paula Deen ya'll

Well, FINALLY, the holidays are out of the way and hopefully I can get back to something resembling normal life.. I get the holiday...

Read more
Bold but family friendly chili

Bold but family friendly chili

Tonight we had Chili, per Hannah's request. It was a good day for it because it was rainy and not blistering hot out and so that was a...

Read more
Showing posts with label chili recipe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chili recipe. Show all posts

3 bean chocolate chili inspired by Paula Deen ya'll



chili recipe with tips, tricks hints, leftover chili ideas, chocolate chili ideas, easy chocolate chili, chili they will love, mild chili recipe, mild chocolate chili recipe, thick hearty chili recipe, chocolate coffee chili recipe



Well, FINALLY, the holidays are out of the way and hopefully I can get back to something resembling normal life.. I get the holiday funk, Im not much of a people person, and the holidays require way too much peopling for me. Brings up bad feelings, dealing with annoying family members, it's just not the most wonderful time of the year for me.

Don't get me wrong, it wasn't all bad, I guess more mentally exhausting than anything. But it's over and here I am ready to share a new recipe with you guys.

This one is adapted from a Paula Deen recipe for chocolate chili. Mine isn't exactly like hers, but it was inspired by Paula Deen. But I always consider a recipe more like a suggestion list not an instruction manual anyway. 

Thanks for the suggestion Paula, this one is a keeper.

The family liked it, the whole pot was eaten and it was a huge pot. 


hearty 3 bean chocolate chili recipe with tips and ideas, chili ideas, chocolate chili dieas, chocolate chili review, chocolate chili with bakers chocolate, chilie with cocoa powder

My normal chili recipe is more tomato-y, I used canned diced tomatoes and it usually has lots of yummy chunks of tomato. But I didn't want that this time, which is what sent me searching chili recipes for inspiration. That's when I found Paula Deen's chocolate chili recipe.. I love Paula Deen, she is a Southern girl like me. Infact Savannah is only a short drive from me. We are practically neighbors.. So I was sold. Chocolate Chili it would be tonight. 

So I got to googling Chocolate chili, and was surprised at the number of chocolate chili recipes there are. So after reading some of them and looking at tons of images of these different chocolate chili recipes. I sat out to create my own version, not really sure how well chocolate was going to lend itself to a tomato based dish with pepper.. But i remember seeing these fancy chocolate candy bars sold in a shop once that were chocolate and chili peppers, and, well, Paula Deen ya'll..

Like I mentioned.. I didn't want a chili with chunks of tomato today, today I wanted something rich and thick and for lack of a better word I guess I'd call it masculine. There is nothing dainty and feminine about the flavor in this chili. I don't really know if that is right either.. Let me try again. If I had to liken this chili to something. Id liken it to a warm summer afternoon on the end of a lake dock fishing and sipping a beer as the sun goes down.. Yes ya'll its that good.

Here is the recipe...

3 bean Chocolate Chili


1lb ground beef
2 cans tomato sauce
1 can red kidney beans with juice
1 small can tomato paste
1/2 cup brewed black coffee 
1/3 cup chicken or beef stock
1 onion finely chopped
2  tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp (or to taste) cinnamon
pinch of cayenne pepper
1 tsp cumin
salt to taste ( I like Pink Himalayan salt)

add ground beef, chopped garlic, and chopped onions, to cast iron skillet and cook over medium heat until beef is browned then drain



add beef mixture and all other ingredients to large pot and simmer over medium low heat stirring frequently for at least 30 minutes before serving.

serve with chives, cheese, and sour cream


*** Recipe notes ***

  • I love chili because it is such a versatile recipe. You can cook chili 7 days week and have a different dish every single time.
  • You can change the meat, the seasoning, the type of peppers, the beans, you can add cheese, or.. well.. the sky is the limit. Here are some things you could do different than what I did..
  • This recipe would work with ground chicken, turkey, pork, a mixture of any of the above, or with stew beef meat
  • If you want a thicker chili you could substitute any of the beans above with a can of refried beans, or add them in addition to the ones listed
  • if you like a spicier chili you could add jalapeno peppers or any other pepper you like
  • This chili would be great served over Fritos, or tortilla chips, or even baked potatoes and served with cheese and sour cream and chives
  • canned pumpkin is also a great addition to any chili recipe as a thickener and adds great, not weird flavor to your chili.
  • cocoa powder can be used in place of bakers chocolate squares, use 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
  • leftover chili goes great on hotdogs, burger, fries, baked potatoes, nachos, pour cornbread mix over the top and cover in cheese for chili pie, add rice and corn and roll up in a burrito with cheese, top with mashed potatoes and cheese for a shepherds pie, put egg roll wrappers in muffin tin, fill with chili and cheese for chili cups, I could go on and on...
  • Pink himalayan salt can be substituted for another type of salt to taste if you'd like


you may want to omit the cinnamon, or cut the amount. The trick here is you don't want to over power your chili with a cinnamon taste you want just the tiniest hint of cinnamon flavor, that makes warms the palette and leave them guessing what was that flavor. It's like the secret ingredient. I have also used nutmeg in place of the cinnamon with great results.

Chili is one of the things I tend to toy with often so check back for more chili recipes and tips in the future.

If you try this recipe let me know what you think, if you have a great chili recipe share it in comments.. Id love to hear from you guys...



Bold but family friendly chili



Tonight we had Chili, per Hannah's request. It was a good day for it because it was rainy and not blistering hot out and so that was a plus, although I would have fixed her chili even if it had been a billion degrees outside. She is a very motivated young lady, she has a job, and goes to college, and tries her best to pay for her own things with the exception of car insurance and cell phone, so if it's chili she wants, then its chili she gets.

to die for chili, chili you will love, the best chili ever, great chili, kid friendly chili,


I posted a chili recipe before that is hella good. But I tried a new recipe today and it was a big hit too. Maybe even a bigger hit. It fed the masses for sure. In fact there were no leftovers, I had a couple of our plantationites, come to me asking if there was more chili and sadly there was not, and even hubby who's flattery on my cooking is usually  along the lines of "I cleaned my plate didn't I?" or "it filled the empty spot" made the remark that "that chili sure was good", but he hoped it didn't give him heartburn later" So basically I tuned him out after the "that chili was good", called it a compliment, and patted myself on the back. Pleased to say tho I did not see him hitting the Tums bottle at all afterwards so that's great too.

best ever chili, great chili recipe, chili recipe, mild chili recipe, medium spice chili recipe,
If I had to define my cooking style I would call it experimental, and although I don't show you the fails often, believe me I fail.. often.. But not with this chili. My experimental nature in cooking is one reason I started blogging my recipes, so that when I hit on a keeper and they say "mom I sure wish you would fix that again" I can come to my blog and "whoop there it is" the recipe that I otherwise would have no clue how to re-create.  I hope you enjoy some of these yummy recipes too.

I planned to cook corn bread to go with it, but as the day progressed and my purple cornmeal didn't show up in the mail as expected I just decided to go with oyster crackers which are always a winner. But I am super excite for my purple corn meal to show up. I have never cooked with purple corn meal, or even heard of purple corn.. But OMG!!!! PURPLE CORN MEAL how can that be anything but wonderful... So as I was saying there was no cornbread today but here is that awesome chili recipe that is share worthy and I hope you enjoy..


chili recipe with oyseter crackers, chili with cheese recipe, chili ideas, chili cooking,


Mama's medium spicy chili

2 lbs ground beef
2 cans rotel tomatoes
2 cans tomatoes sauce
2 cans stewed tomatoes
2 cans light or dark red kidney beans ( i used dark)
1/2 cup celery finely dices ( I like to use the celery leafs and smaller ends it just makes it prettier)
1 small can v8 juice
2 cloves garlic (cuz I had them on hand)
1 tbsp garlic powder
salt to taste
1/2 tbsp cayenne pepper
1 tbsp red pepper flakes
1 1/2 tbsp franks red hot hot sauce
1 tbsp cocoa powder
1/2 tbsp instant coffee
1/2 cup diced onions
1 tbsp brown sugar (honey or molasses will also work)

brown ground beef, diced onions, and finely chopped garlic until meat is well done.. drain in a colander and return to pot, or your slow cooker, add all other ingredients and simmer at a low setting for 3 hours.

***I have a plain old electric stove and I usually let mine simmer at around 2 on the dial. Stirring occasionally. You could also cook this in your crock pot or slow cooker if you wanted. 

***If the spice is too much for you, although it shouldn't be, sour cream, or cheese will cut the heat

Toppings and add-in ideas for chili
serve with scallions, green onions, sour cream, cheddar, french friend onions, black olives, crushed Doritos, Frito's, avocado, shredded lettuce, ranch dressing, jalapenos, bacon bits, corn bread, saltines, oyster crackers, cheez-its, or any other thing that makes your little heart happy..

Ideas for left over chili (we did not have left over chili)

put in a skillet and top with corn bread or biscuits or Bisquick dough and cheese and bake until golden and bubbly,

 use to top hot dogs, 

 put in casserole dish and top with mashed potatoes cheese and french fried onions until golden brown

nacho night, Doritos or tortilla chips, chili, cheese, jalapenos, sour cream, green onions, avocado, black olives, nacho cheese sauce, (the sky is the limit)

roll out pre-made biscuit dough and fill with chili and cheese for a fantastic empanada

add chili to your favorite omelet

add to fritatas

top hash browns or fries or tater tots with chili

top a baked potato with chili and cheese and sour cream and chives

add chili to your grilled cheese

add chili to you mac n cheese

mix with canned corn and jiffy mix top with cheese and bake as you would cornbread

put it in a tortilla shell with rice and cheese

These are just some ideas, that hopefully were useful to you.. Let me know in comments...



Back To School Sitewide Promotion, Ends: Aug 28@Tomtop.com