| If you like hearty, richly flavored dishes, you will find | | | | do not make it hot enough for your palate. |
| chili con carne to be the perfect winter warmer. | | | | One of the best tips for a tasty chili is to make it a |
| Perhaps you have only tried canned chili, in which | | | | day or two before you want to eat it. Let it cool and |
| case you will love homemade chili because it is so | | | | the refrigerate it. Gently heat it back up when you |
| much better. Serve chili with rice or with French fries. | | | | are ready to eat it and you will find that the flavors |
| You can also serve it with flour tortillas or cornbread. | | | | have developed and intensified, and the flavor has |
| Chili con carne means "chili with meat" and a | | | | become richer. |
| traditional recipe for chili con carne is made with chili | | | | If you eat the chili on the day you make it, you can |
| peppers and beef only. The recipe has been altered | | | | freeze leftovers in individual portion-sized sandwich |
| over time to include cumin, green bell peppers, | | | | bags. Reheat the chili by putting the frozen, |
| onions, tomatoes, and sometimes kidney beans. | | | | well-sealed sandwich bag in a pot of boiling water for |
| How Did Chili Con Carne Originate? | | | | fifteen or twenty minutes, on the stove. |
| Chili con carne might be considered one of the most | | | | Add a few teaspoons of finely chopped jalapeno to |
| famous Mexican foods but actually it is not Mexican. | | | | the onion and beef when you saute them for extra |
| Nobody is sure where this dish came from but a nun | | | | heat. For even more spiciness, you can add some |
| from Spain called Sister Mary of Agreda did write | | | | dried cloves and cayenne to the chili con carne |
| down the recipe in 1618. | | | | seasoning. |
| Other people believe the recipe for chili con carne | | | | Beans or No Beans |
| was introduced to the Americas in 1731 by the | | | | There is a law in Texas prohibiting the use of beans |
| Spanish settlers. Perhaps Texas cowboys invented | | | | in chili con carne recipes, although some people like to |
| this dish in 1850 - that is another popular belief. | | | | add beans. The reason for the Texan law is that a |
| Nobody knows for sure how this dish originated, or | | | | lot of people view beans as an unnecessary filler, |
| where, but it is definitely not Mexican in origin. | | | | which allows the chef to skimp on the meat. |
| How to Make the Best Chili Recipes | | | | Other people enjoy the texture of the beans and do |
| Chili peppers, water and cubes of beef are the basic | | | | not think the bean flavor detracts from the sauce, |
| ingredients to make chili con carne, but you can add | | | | so it is up to you whether or not to include beans or |
| tomato paste or tomato sauce if you like the taste, | | | | not. Maybe you could make a traditional Mexican chili |
| since this thickens the dish as well as giving it a richer | | | | con carne recipe without beans and then make one |
| flavor. Cumin can be used to add a smoky taste. You | | | | with beans, to see which you prefer. |
| might want to add some hot sauce too, if the chilies | | | | |