Cow Girl Chili Recipe and Bloomingdale's First Rodeo

When you are married to a Texas A & M alumnus,  you learn to love rodeos, even when you are a Korean.  And you teach your four children Aggie's yells.  My husband and children were excited for months when they heard about the rodeo coming to our little town of Bloomingdale, Georgia.  Hey, it's a pretty big deal when the city is only 14 square miles with a population of 2,700.  This great event would have never happened if our good neighbor, Mr. Waller of Ottawa Farms , didn't host it.  Thank you so much, Mr. Waller! We had a fantastic time!

Recipe and photos featured in the Savannah Morning News 

COW GIRL CHILI RECIPE

2 tablespoons vegetable oil or corn oil

2 medium onions, chopped fine (about 2 cups)

1 colored bell pepper (red, orange, or yellow), cut into 1/2-inch cubes

6 medium cloves garlic, minced or pressed through garlic press (about 2 tablespoons)

1/4 cup chili powder

1 tablespoon ground cumin

2 teaspoons ground coriander

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

2 pounds 85 percent lean ground beef

2 (15-ounce) cans red kidney beans , drained and rinsed

1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes, with juice

1 can (28 ounces) tomato puree

Kosher salt to taste

2 limes , cut into wedges

1. Heat oil in a large heavy-bottomed non-reactive Dutch oven over medium heat until simmering but not smoking a few minutes. Add onions, bell pepper, garlic, chili powder, cumin, coriander, pepper flakes, oregano, and cayenne; cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened and beginning to brown, about 5-6 minutes. Increase heat to medium-high and add half the beef; cook, breaking up pieces with wooden spoon, until no longer pink and just beginning to brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Add remaining beef and cook, breaking up pieces with wooden spoon, until no longer pink, 3 to 4 minutes.

2. Add beans, tomatoes, tomato puree, and 1/2 teaspoon salt; bring to boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, for 1 hour. Remove cover and continue to simmer 1 hour longer, stirring occasionally (if chili begins to stick to bottom of pot, stir in 1/2 cup water and continue to simmer), until beef is tender and chili is dark, rich, and slightly thickened. Adjust seasoning with additional salt. Serve with lime wedges and condiments if desired.

**Slow Cooker Option: At the end of step 1, transfer the cooked beef mixture to a slow cooker; add the rest of the ingredients as directed in step 2. Cook the chili on the high setting for four hours.

**At my church, this recipe is multiplied by 15 and served along with baked potatoes, cornbread and all the fixings!  Great Fall menu for a large crowd!