Barack Obama Victory Chili

*Stock photo of Obama graciously provided by Ville13Stock

I promised I would make chili in honor of Barack Obama's historic election, and I did not lie.  Oh yes.  I made it.  It was yummy.  Unfortunately, I left my camera at my mamas' house last weekend, so there is no photo.  Instead I am inserting a photo of Obama.  Maybe I will make it again next week and then add in the photo of the chili.  My moms are coming down this weekend, and are bringing my beloved camera back to me.  Here is the recipe for my Barack Obama Victory Chili:

Ingredients:

*Note: all of the meat I used was local, organic, and humanely treated.  I hope you spend a little extra money and effort to make sure the meat you eat is raised and butchered ethically.  If you can't, hey, make it vegetarian.  It will still taste good I promise.

-1/4 lb. ground chuck

-3 slices of bacon

-1 can  of pinto beans (You can use dried beans and soak them overnight.  I didn't have time, so I bought a dreaded can, but it was still really good.)

-1/2 white onion

-3 cloves of garlic (OK, let's be clear, I like a LOT of garlic.  You can use less.)

-2 small home-grown bell peppers, equivalent to 1/2 of a large store-bought bell pepper

-3 squirts of ketchup, or more if you want

-1 bay leaf, optional

-paprika, cayenne pepper, and salt to taste

-olive oil

Directions:

1. Chop your veggies and your bacon into small pieces so everything is ready.

2. Add some oil to a cast iron pan or whatever you want to use.  Sauté onions, and bell pepper until soft.

3. When the onions and bells are soft, add in the garlic.  I don't like to add the garlic too early because it can burn.

4. Add your ground chuck and bacon pieces to the pan.  Stir it all together, making sure the chuck gets broken up and browned on all sides.

5. Add paprika, cayenne pepper, and salt to taste.  Careful with the cayenne, unless you like it real spicy.

6. Now add the can of beans.  I poured in the bean juice too, but you can strain it out if you don't want to use it.  If you don't use the bean juice, add some stock to keep your chili from being too thick.

7. This is where I add the bay leaf.  I wait until I have a liquid to add it into, so it doesn't burn.

8. Smoosh the beans until half of them are mushy and half are whole.  This gives the chili a nice thick consistency while still remaining chili and not bean soup.

9. Add 3 squirts of ketchup (or more) and stir the whole thing together.  Simmer until it looks right to you.

10. Take out the bay leaf and serve.

11. While you eat this glorious chili, take some time to reflect on the history of the U.S. and the significance of Barack Obama's election.  Also think about the mutual love of chili that you and Obama share. :)