Gidget Roots - Journey Through Family Recipes - Episode 25: Mother-In-Law's Simple Chili

 MINI SERIES - Twelve Recipes of Christmas - Recipe #9: Mother-In-Law's Simple Chili

When I first started dating my husband and we started splitting holidays with our families. A story many can relate to, I am sure. Christmas Day was spent with my family at my parent's house, while Christmas Eve was reserved to spending time with his wonderful family.  As a crisp and brisk winter night began to settle in, our first several Christmas Eve's were spent driving out of town to arrive at his grandmother's house. His family had a tradition where all family, our Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Niece, Siblings, Parents, would all get together at Grandma's house for gift exchange and sharing food. Although it may be a simple spread to some, I loved the magic of love, smiles, Christmas cheer, and the aroma of warm chili that greeted us, enticing our senses. The large pot of macaroni and cheese for the kiddos in its golden glory sitting warm next to the bubbling stock pot was like coming over, entering the kitchen, to a warm comforting hug. It was always a really fun time and incredible memories were made and laughter shared. 

    After his grandma's passing we started navigating making new traditions visiting his parent's house and enjoying Christmas eve dinner with them. This last Christmas Eve my parents were out of town and I wanted to do something to include my grandmother, too; so we decided to invite his parents and my grandma over for a little Christmas magic making of my own - bringing back a happy memory and recreating the magic of the evenings at his grandma's house that we all loved and enjoyed so much. 

Let's discuss the name - "Mother-In-Law's" Chili - where did this unique name come from? Quite simple. When I asked my mother-in-law for her chili recipe that she used to make at grandma's house, SURPRISE - didn't really have a recipe to hand me to hold in my hand. She said "It's pretty simple, just chili beans, tomatoes, Chili Powder, and ground beef." A light bulb went off in my head, like a story I have heard before... I recalled my own grandmother talking about an "original simple chili" recipe my mom had made in 4H but after she met my dad there were "adjustments" made and my mom's chili recipe that I was taught was not as simple.  I asked my mother-in-law if there were diced onions or anything cooked down she said "nope - just beans, tomatoes, meat, and Chili Powder". 

I became elated when I decided to "adult up" the macaroni and cheese and bring to the table my family's Baked Mac and Cheese to accompany my recreated chili. My mission was clear - to recreate that warm spiced aroma that greeted us at my husband's grandma house, to stir up the idyllic aromas of Christmas Eve's past.  

First step was to gather all the ingredients, the few that they may be. I was trying my best to select the exact same ingredients, but I was unable to find the "Kearns" brand of chili beans that my mother-in-law used - I even called her from the store and I think she maybe chuckled at my determination a bit. "Any beans in a chili sauce should work but use the pinto beans and not kidney" so I grabbed the Bush's Chili Beans in a mild chili sauce. Since spice is to the palate of the eater, I stuck with mild, as she does, to ensure it wasn't too spicy for anyone.  All I needed now was a large can of diced tomatoes, as I already had the ground beef, chili powder, at home. I also used onion and shredded cheese for optional toppings. 

 Christmas Eve came and I was filled with glee as I set out to make this delicious meal for my beautiful family. I was talking to my husband about my excitement when I realized - sometimes chili is cooked for hours to develop flavor - to the phone I dashed in quite the flash to call my mother-in-law to ask how long should the chili cook? I am glad I did because she said they typically cook it for several hours, if not most of the day.

 First ingredient I had to "tackle", if one could even call it that, was the diced tomatoes. I realized early on in the process that I had a potential dilemma. My husband has diverticulosis and we are wary of tomato seeds. As a labor of love and sheer determination for recreating this fun traditional Christmas Eve meal, I took the time to "de-seed" the canned tomatoes with a mesh colander, making sure the juice was caught in a bowl so we didn't lose on the sweet tomato nectar. 

  Once the tomatoes were husband friendly, in a large stock pot I started browning the ground beef. Once the ground beef has been cooked through, add in the canned tomatoes and the chili beans to stew together with the ground beef.  

 

Now I know my Scrappy Gidget readers are going to gasp when I say this but there is not really a set measurement for the amount of Chili Powder that is added - like most of the recipe legacies we inherit from our loved ones, it is purely by taste and what rings true to your heart and invokes that memory and the ancestral whisper "this is it".  Next time I make it I will try and pin down a more specific measurement, but I would guess 1-2 Tbs to start then continue to add until it is just right for your liking. 

That is it - four ingredients - ground beef, tomatoes, chili beans, and chili powder sit and stew together in a bubbly stock pot on low to medium low, or a small simmer, for several hours, stirring occasionally to ensure nothing is sticking. 

When your guests arrive I guarantee you they will enter your abode with the same beaming grin and twinkle in their eye as my in-laws and grandmother had when they arrived at our home for this "Traditional" Christmas Eve dinner of a comforting bowl of warm chili with a side of bubbly ooey-gooey baked Mac and Cheese.You can provide fun toppings like onion, shredded cheese, red pepper flakes, or even crackers to personalize their chili bowls.

Once again a home I was in was filled with love, laughter, incredible happiness that I will love and cherish forever. 

I hope you try to simplify family time with trying out this Mother-In-Law simple chili recipe. Let me know if you do! 

 NEXT EPISODE - MINI SERIES CONT.: Twelve Recipes of Christmas #10 Pumpkin Bars

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SCRAPPY GIDGET'S 

MOTHER-IN-LAW'S SIMPLE CHILI RECIPE

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef                     28 oz can Diced Tomatoes

16 oz can Chili Beans (Kearns or brand of choice, mild or hot per heat preference)

1-2 Tbs Chili Powder (or to taste)

Salt and Pepper to taste

Optional Topping Ingredients: Chopped Onion, Shredded Cheese, Crackers, Red Pepper Flakes

Directions:

1.) In a large pot over medium-high heat begin browning the ground beef, breaking apart as it cooks, for about 10 minutes.

2.) Once ground beef is no longer pink, add in the diced tomatoes and chili beans, stirring together to incorporate. Reduce heat to medium-low. 

3.) Add in chili pepper, salt and pepper to taste if desired, then cover with lid and leave simmering on low for about 6-8 hours.

4.) Stir occasionally, taste frequently, and adjust seasoning as needed. 

5.) Serve with optional toppings of onion, shredded cheese. 

See!? Its simple!