We are people that eat by the seasons.  What we mean by that is that in the summer we naturally gravitate to lighter foods, colder foods, like salads, etc.  And in the winter, we naturally select foods that make us feel warm and cozy.  We are not alone.  It is innate human nature to desire foods that will “stick to your ribs” in colder weather.

Imagine a day of shopping in the snow, skiing, caroling, or even shoveling the driveway.  What you will probably want after one of these activities is something that is warm and comforting.  Something that helps revive you so you can go another round.

This is one of our favorite — and easy — homemade chili recipes and is just the ticket for such occasions.  It is not a glamorous dish, but it is hearty, simple to make and is totally satisfying.  Try it yourself and see.

Ingredients

1 pound of lean ground beef

1 large yellow onion, diced

6 cans of chili beans with the juice

1 quart tomato juice

1 ½ tablespoons chili powder

½ teaspoon salt (adjust to personal taste)

Shredded cheese, chopped onion and fresh cilantro for topping

 

Preparation

In a large Dutch oven, crumble the ground beef.  Add the onion and cook over medium heat until beef is well done and onions are translucent.

Add the beans with their liquid, the tomato juice and the chili powder.  Stir to mix well.  Taste the chili now to see if it needs salt.  Some chili powders are loaded with salt and some are not, so it is always a good idea to do a little taste testing before adding salt.

Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes.  Serve hot, topped with cheese, onion and cilantro.  This chili can be made up to two days in advance.  It will only taste better the next day!