When you go from this…

to this…

 

in less than 24 hours you have either prepared with the proper provisions (say that five times fast)  for the snowpocalypse of 2016 or you’re wishing you had.

Life is such a beautiful hot mess!  My entryway looks like it’s been attacked by an army of tiny wood elves with their snow laden boots and my heart is just full.   With neighbors and friends and children enjoying life together I can’t help but stop and thank God for a time such as this.   The time to check out from the world and enjoy peace within the comforts  of home with people you love.   Unfortunately, this is all too rare and a complete eye-opener when snowmageddon stops time and you realize life is so refreshing.

 

So what’s on the menu?  Start with an assortment of cheeses, followed with a bowl of chili, a warm fire, and a glass of bourbon.

Chili is the best go-to dish because it’s so flexible.  You can go traditional, exotic, red or white, meatless, beanless, the options are endless.  Often times you have most of the ingredients to make a proper chili sitting right there in your pantry.   This version combines crushed or whole tomatoes with beef broth, grass fed ground beef, black beans and white kidney beans combined with the heat from roasted hatch chilis, lime, and fire roasted peppers. Oh, and did I mention I added bloody mary mix? (Genious right?)

One pot cooking gives you freedom in the kitchen where you aren’t a slave to the stove but the longer it simmers the more the flavors are allowed to marry together.   This batch is keeping me warm and cozy and the view from inside ain’t ( yes I know this isn’t a word but it slips) that bad either.

Bloody Mary Hatch Chili

• 1 large onion diced (white, red, or Spanish)
• 2 celery stalks diced
• 2 carrots diced
• 3 garlic cloves minced
• 2 Red bell peppers diced
• 2 TBSP coconut oil
• 1 lime
• 2 lbs  ground beef (100% grass fed preferred)
• 1 16 oz can of white kidney beans
• 1 16 oz can of black beans
• 1 cup beef or chicken broth
• 1 32 oz can of crushed tomatoes
• 1 jar of roasted hatch chili salsa
• 1 TBSP chili powder
• Salt & Pepper
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 TBSP Tomato Paste
• 1 tsp chipotle powder
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• 2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1-2 cups bloody mary mix
• 1/2 bunch of cilantro

In an 8 quart stock pot or dutch oven heat 2 TBSP of coconut water on a medium to high heat.  Add mirepoix of onions, carrots, and celery and saute for 3-4 minutes.  Add bell peppers and garlic and saute for another 3 minutes.  Remove sauteed vegetables and set aside and return the pot to the high heat.  Add the ground beef and sear for roughly 10 minutes on medium high heat.  Once the beef is cooked you can add the sauteed vegetables (please note,  if you are not using a grass fed beef product you may need to strain the ground beef from fat before you add the vegetables back in #yougetwhatyoupayfor)

Add in the white kidney beans, black beans, crushed tomatoes, beef broth, hatch chili salsa, and tomato paste.  Toss in the bay leaves, spices, bloody mary mix, and season with a generous portion of salt and pepper. Let simmer to perfection for another 35 minutes -2 hours while you enjoy the hot mess that is life.

 

Once you are ready to enjoy.  Take time for the garnish with cilantro, fresh lime, shredded cheese, and trader joes green dragon hot sauce.  (if you haven’t tried it you need to)

Sit back and savour the view.