11.18.2013

"Chili con Caffé" for Secret Recipe Club


When we received our assignment for this month's Secret Recipe Club, the blog from which we needed to choose and make a recipe, we were a little intimidated. You see, we have followed and admired Authentic Suburban Gourmet for some time, and you will understand why once you take a look at that blog, with its plethora of intriguing recipes, unique style, and gorgeous photographs. It's the kind of blog we strive for ours to become, and its author, Lisa, is the kind of fellow foodie we love to follow.



We spent hours going through Lisa's countless recipes trying to find just one. We especially love her series of "Friday Night Bites," a wide array of fabulous snacks and appetizers perfect for entertaining. And we have bookmarked plenty of those, we can tell you. But as we looked ahead to the busy, and according to the local weather report, "chilly" week ahead, we had to go with one of her "chili" recipes. But which one?



Having judged a couple of chili contests for the International Chili Society, the argument over the inclusion of beans, while it amuses us, doesn't deter us from throwing them into our chili pot. While they scoff at "chili con carne" (of course it has meat, they insist, but it absolutely should not have beans!), we add not one but four kinds of beans into ours. But what really drew us toward one of Lisa's chilis was the secret ingredient...one that has proven its worth in another of our SRC recipes. That's why we're naming this particular dish "Chili con Caffé." Yup...there's coffee in that there chili! 




After doubling the recipe, we had a vat o' chili to eat for Sunday night dinner and a few school lunches after that. Plus some to share, of course. It was truly delicious, and perfect for these dark and cozy late autumn days. With the blend of meats, variety of beans, slight chipotle/hot sauce heat, and intriguing dark coffee notes, its had plenty of heartiness and depth of flavor. Thank you to Lisa from Authentic Suburban Gourmet for sharing the recipe. It's a keeper!




Chili con Caffé

Ingredients:

2 pounds "meat loaf mix" of ground beef, ground veal and ground pork
2 onions, diced
2 15-ounce cans red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
2 15-ounce cans black beans, undrained 
1 15-ounce can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 15-ounce can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
5-6 tablespoons chili powder
3-4 tablespoons tomato paste
2 28-ounce cans diced tomatoes
1 cup your favorite salsa
2 chipotle peppers, chopped
Hot sauce (we like Cholula), kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
2 cups brewed coffee

Brown the ground meat in a large pot, breaking up the meat as it cooks. Add the diced onions and cook for 3-4 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and stir to combine. Cook over medium heat for 30 minutes, then turn down heat and simmer for one hour. Serve with chips or cornbread with shredded cheese, chopped green onions, sour cream, cilantro, or any other of your favorite chili accoutrements.



UPDATE: Go HERE to see what Annie of Annie's Noms did with our recipe for Peppermint Bliss Bark.

Secret Recipe Club

13 comments:

Lisa | Authentic Suburban Gourmet said...

You brought back memories for me by choosing this chili - it is a winner. That good ole cup of joe certainly adds the extra element of delicious-ness. I have to try that hot sauce you used. Glad that you enjoy my blog - it is a labor of love! I look forward to browsing through yours now. Thank you for the kind words in your post!!! Lisa

Chris said...

oooh! I want a bowl right now! What a great thing - adding the coffee.

chelsy said...

mmmmmmm coffee + chili...that is my kind of meal!

Rhonda said...

Lisa's site is stunning and inspiring, I can understand why it would be hard to choose a recipe.

Coffee Chili, why, I'll just have that for breakfast and kill two birds with one stone. I love how coffee can intensify other flavors.

Feast on the Cheap said...

Looks like we both had chili on the brain this month!

Gloria Baker said...

look so good!!xo

Karen - Cinnamon Freud said...

Sounds like a perfect dinner for the cold winter weather we are facing

Eat Laugh Love said...

You can't have too many chili recipes this time of year. Love the addition of coffee for richness. Perfect as we head into cold weather.

Denise

Debra Eliotseats said...

Wow---I love everything about this. It is getting well into chili weather! Great SRC post.

Anonymous said...

Sounds delicious! That must have been the weekend I was in New Zealand.

yummychunklet said...

Perfect for cold weather!

TeaLady said...

Coffee in chili. Interesting. I be the flavor was intense.

jck said...

I liked it. Garlic and cumin were noticeably missing, but the flavor was good. A different take on chili.