Warming A "Chili" Heart

Why not turn up the heat this Valentines Day and add a little spice to your sweetie's day.
Like they say everything is better with chocolate and this Chili is just added proof of that.
It really makes a difference in a profound way without that OMG someone dropped a candy bar in my Chili reaction. There is a depth and a mouth feel that is uniquely that of chocolate, couple that with all that savory and spicy...well it is just the perfect symphony to serenade your taste buds.
So on this Valentines Day, if it starts to get too Chili, just add chocolate. It will instantly warm the heart of that very special someone.


Chili Con Chocolate

2 lbs. of ground beef
2 (15 oz.) cans of kidney beans
2 (15 oz.) cans of tomato sauce
1 lg. onion, diced
1 lg. green pepper, diced
1 (4 oz.) can diced green chilies
1/3 c. Chile powder
2 tbsp. of dark brown sugar
2 tbsp. prepared grated horseradish
1 Hershey's Special Dark Bar (1.45 oz.) or just use 1 tbsp. of unsweetened cocoa powder. I prefer the dark chocolate bar; you may also substitute your own favorite chocolate.
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. ground pepper

In a large pot sauté your ground beef until lightly browned (drain any excessive fat). Add in the rest of the ingredients, set the temperature to medium low and let simmer, covered for 1 hour.

Hell Hath No Fury Like A Woman Sconed!

I was curious as to who came up with that saying so I did a little research and found out that it wasn’t William Shakespeare as so many thought. The saying actually comes from a play by another William, William Congreve. A play he wrote in 1697 called “The Mourning Bride”, the line from the play actually went like this; “Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned / nor hell a fury like a woman scorned’. It may have changed slightly over these many years but its popularity of meaning has only grown stronger with time.

Sweet and Hot like a Woman Scones

3 cups of self-rising flour
1 teaspoon of baking powder
Dash of salt
1 1/2 teaspoons of sugar
6 tablespoons of butter
1 small Jalapeno seeded and diced (small)
1/4 cup of dried sweet cherries roughly chopped
1/2 cup of milk

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Sift flour, baking powder and salt, add sugar cut butter in with a fork to corn-meal sized mixture add jalapeno’s and cherries then add in the milk.
Roll out to one-inch thickness. Cut into 2 inch circles or you may cut them into the traditional triangular shape.
Place on greased cookie sheet and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until lightly golden.

makes about 8 scones.

Always the Bell of the Ball

This is a nice little twist to plain fried peppers, you’ll be surprised at how just a few simple ingredients turn fried peppers (an already delicious dish) into something really special. I like to use assorted colored bell peppers. There are so many to choose from theses days;” red, green, yellow, orange, purple, black and one that is sort of a cream color”. But if you are on a budget the green ones are always the least expensive, the colored ones are usually about a dollar more a pound, that is if you are shopping for them at your local supermarket/grocery store. To get the best price always go to your local farmers market. Mixing colors really does make for a beautiful presentation.

Sweet and Sour Bell Peppers

4-6 bell peppers

oil for frying

1-2 tbsp. bread crumbs

1/4 cup wine vinegar (to your taste)

Sugar to taste

Cut up peppers. Fry in skillet as usual. When cooked to your liking, take out excess oil. Add 1 or 2 tablespoons of bread crumbs; stir and let crumbs toast awhile. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add vinegar to tartness desired and a pinch of sugar. Let cool and eat.