Lennies Chili Finally Written Down Recipes

LENNIE'S CHILI, FINALLY WRITTEN DOWN

Steps:

• First off, I have one thing to say about spices: I am not about to tell you how to season your chili; what you see here is what I do, but please adjust the spicing to suit your own tastes, whether you want to tone it down or spice it up.
• Also, for the past couple of years, I have been using Penzeys medium-hot chili powder; if there's a Penzeys store near you or you order over the Internet from them, I highly recommend that blend.
• To make the chili, you'll need a large heavy pot, like a Dutch oven.
• Over medium-high heat, heat the oil in the pot and add the onion; saute for a couple of minutes, then add the garlic and mushrooms; saute for a couple more minutes.
• Next, crumble the beef into the pot and stir well--the idea here is not to completely brown the beef, just take away the raw colour.
• While beef is cooking, sprinkle with 1 tbsp of the chili powder; stir well.
• After the beef has lost the raw red colour, spoon out any fat should you feel you need to.
• Take one of the tins of drained tomatoes and dump into the pot, using a wooden spoon to break up the tomatoes into chunks.
• Take the other tin of drained tomatoes and squeeze the tomatoes with your hand, to crush them; add these crushed tomatoes to the pot and combine well.
• Stir in the well-drained kidney beans.
• In a small bowl, using a fork or a small whisk, combine the brown sugar, flour and cocoa; set aside.
• In a large measuring cup, stir together the tomato sauce and tomato paste, then stir or whisk in the cocoa mixture; when combined, add this mixture to the pot and stir well.
• Now add the remaining 4 tbsp chili powder, oregano, cumin (if using, sometimes I leave it out), salt and pepper; stir well.
• Let mixture start to bubble furiously, then turn the heat way down; after it's simmered for about 15 minutes, taste it; add more spices if you wish.
• Let chili simmer, uncovered, for at least one hour, stirring occasionally (longer is better; best is to make it the day before you want it and let it simmer some more on the second day).
• If you find it is cooking down too much or getting too thick for your tastes (this is not a thin chili), add some water or, even better, beef broth; best is a slug of beer should you happen to have some (I often don't).
• Before serving, make sure you taste the chili and adjust the seasonings as required; I often find it needs more salt.
• I serve this with sour cream on the table and usually some chopped raw green onion and shredded cheddar, plus a side of cornbread or cornbread muffins.

THE BEST CHILI

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a Dutch oven or large pot over medium-high heat. Add the beef and cook, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until just browned, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate with a slotted spoon.
• Reduce the heat to medium and add the remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly golden, about 10 minutes.
• Add the jalapeno and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Add the chili powder, cumin, paprika, cayenne, 1/2 teaspoon salt and the tomato paste. Cook, stirring frequently, until coated and fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Stir in the beef broth and crushed tomatoes and bring to a boil over high heat. Stir in the cooked ground beef and any accumulated liquid, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer the chili, partially covered, until the beef is tender and the sauce is slightly thickened, about 30 minutes.
• Stir in the beans and their liquid and simmer uncovered until the beans are softened and the chili is thickened, about 30 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper.
• Top with sour cream, Cheddar and scallions. Serve with tortilla chips.

LENNIE'S CORNED BEEF DINNER

Steps:

• Please note that I've never written this down before, so measurements like the "1 tbsp kosher salt" are just approximations on my part; go with whatever seems right to you.
• When you're ready to start cooking, get out your biggest pot, then put that one back and get a bigger one; really.
• Into the pot goes the corned beef, taken out of its plastic casing.
• Note about corned beef: I have never bought one that had spices separate, but I've read that here at Zaar, that some have the spices in a separate little package; if your spices are separate, open up the package and put them in with the beef too.
• Pour about 3 cups of apple juice over beef, then add enough cold water to completely cover the meat.
• Turn the heat under the pot to high and bring to a boil.
• Add 1/2 cup (not tightly packed) brown sugar to the liquid, along with mustard seeds.
• When the liquid comes to a boil, skim off any scum (you won't get it all; that's not a big deal), turn the heat way down, put the lid on the pot, and simmer for 2 hours.
• While meat is simmering, prepare the veggies.
• Cut some wedges off your cabbage (I never use the whole thing unless it was a very small cabbage).
• Peel some carrots and cut into chunks (I recommend 4 carrots but you can use less, or more, depending on how much you like them); peel some parsnips and do likewise.
• Peel a couple of onions but leave the root end on; cut in half, through the root end, then in half again, through the root end (in an ideal world, this prevents the wedges from coming apart; don't be surprised if some of them do not stay in perfect segments however).
• Get someone strong to cut the rutabaga in half, then in half again; peel; cut into chunks, not too big (just under an inch or so is fine). I use about three-quarters of the rutabaga, but if you want to use the whole thing, go for it; or, use less if you want.
• Don't do anything to the potatoes but rinse them to get off any dirt.
• Wait for the 2 hours to be up.
• When your timer dings, add all the veggies except the cabbage into the pot, turn the heat back up to high, and let it come back to a boil (I add the kosher salt and black pepper at this point, but you don't have to).
• If you have to add more liquid (you likely won't), add half apple juice and half water.
• When the liquid comes back to a boil, turn it down to a simmer, put the lid back on, and cook for 15 minutes.
• When the 15 mins are up, remove lid and set it aside; you won't need it any more.
• Add cabbage to pot, curse if liquid in pot overflows, then turn heat back up to high, and when liquid comes to a boil turn heat back down to a simmer and let cook until all the veggies are done to your liking (I don't know how soft you like your turnip, cabbage, etc, but mine usually takes approximately 20 to 25 minutes after I add the cabbage).
• When done, fish out corned beef and put on a chopping board.
• Then, using a slotted spoon, get the veggies and arrange attractively on platter so your MIL will be impressed; carve up meat and place on another platter.
• Make sure salt, pepper and butter are on the table, along with an assortment of mustards.
• Realize you forgot to make the soda bread; and serve.