Chili With A Twist (Recipe)

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posted on

February 21, 2023

At the One Straw house we love a good bowl of chili, especially this homemade version with a bit of a twist.

It’s hard to beat the aroma of a pot of chili simmering on the stove, or the warming feeling of a steaming bowl on the table – oh, and the scrumptious flavor!

And this unique recipe is one you’ve just got to try.

A dash of cinnamon, a dab of chocolate, and a splash of strong brewed coffee…

Wait, did I grab the chocolate cake recipe instead ?!?

Nope, those are the secret ingredients that will add a bit of flare to your next pot of rich, savory chili!!

It only takes a dash and your guests will be saying “This is so good! But what is that flavor I can’t quite place?” MMMM.

Their bowl will be empty before they figure it out :)

We’re a bunch of lightweights when it comes to spiciness, so this is a very mild chili. Feel free to add a bit of extra heat to the pot, or just serve with a side of hot sauce.

And while this chili stands on its own, the flavors really come alive when served with a sprinkling of fresh onions and cilantro and a dollop of sour cream. Grated cheddar is good, too.

This is also another great make-ahead recipe because it reheats (and freezes) so well.

If you have visitors coming, a double or triple batch will make for some very happy company.

Chili With A Twist

Ingredients

2 T olive oil

1 onion, chopped (about 1 ½ C)

1 tsp salt

½ tsp pepper

1 T chili powder

2 tsp cumin

2 tsp oregano

1 tsp cacao or baking chocolate

1/8 tsp cinnamon

½ C strong brewed coffee

1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes (about 3 C)

3 C cooked dried beans (pinto, kidney, or black) (or 2 15 oz cans beans)

Optional heat: cayenne, crushed red pepper, or jalapenos to taste

Directions

Heat olive oil in a sauce pan over medium heat.

Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until beginning to soften.

Add ground beef, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as it cooks.

As ground beef cooks, add salt, pepper, chili powder, cumin and oregano, stir, and cook until ground beef is cooked through.

Stir in chocolate, cinnamon, coffee, and crushed tomatoes and bring to a simmer. Turn heat down to keep at a low simmer for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Taste and adjust salt, pepper, and optional “heat” ingredients as necessary.

Stir in the beans and gently simmer for an additional 15 minutes.

Garnish with sour cream, chopped cilantro, chopped onions, and/or grated cheddar cheese.

🎥 Meet the chickens behind your favorite eggs. [video]

I’m taking you behind the scenes today with a video🎥 to help answer the question: “Why are your eggs so good?” That’s a question we get all the time, and I’m not sure how to answer it. Not because I don’t know the answer, but because I don’t know where to begin. Because the actual boots-on-the-ground logistics of what we do is super complex. And every piece of the puzzle contributes to the health of the hens, and thereby the flavor and nutrition of the eggs. 🐓 moving hundreds of chickens outdoors on fresh pasture 🦅 while keeping them from getting eaten by everything else 🌾mixing our own feed so it’s always super fresh 🐤working with a nutritionist so each hen gets exactly what she needs at each stage of her life 🥚keeping eggs in stock year-round ⛈️ proper housing in the winter to protect the soil and the hens 📜 the list goes on It’s no surprise when someone asks me a question like that, I immediately start composing in my head a 5-paragraph essay 📝 - complete with introductory sentences, supporting evidence, and a compelling conclusion. All the time knowing it’s going to come out how Charlie Brown heard his teacher – “wah wah wah”. 😄 Luckily, I mentioned my problem to Farmer Martin and he boiled it down to TWO WORDS. Fresh. Feed. Ha! Why couldn’t I think of that? 🤷‍♀️ At this moment of the year, Fresh Feed means the most gorgeous grass on God’s green earth. 🎥 So, if a picture’s worth a thousand words, I decided to spare you the 5-paragraph essay and bring you a 48 second video instead. Farmhand Grace was happy to hop on the tractor with her farmer-daddy to make the trek out to the pasture and help show you around. I’m not making promises about the video quality. 🎬 I didn’t plan out what I should say (I would have managed to turn it into an unendurable 5-paragraph essay). And fair warning if you get motion sickness, there’s a moment at the beginning where I spun the camera a little fast because I had a premonition of approaching danger… I’m not going to spoil it by telling you what it was - suffice it to say my instincts were correct. And while I apologize for the poor filming and any queasy stomachs, it’s pretty much real farm life in action. 👩‍🌾🥰 You’ll meet the hens, some of the guardians who keep them safe, and catch a glimpse of your farmers, too.Click on the image at the top of this post to watch the video. And don’t forget to grab some eggs for this week. With its bounty, Spring’s a great time to add extra eggs to your weekly protein routine. I’ve got several family-favorite recipes linked on the egg page to bring you inspiration for breakfast or dinner, like Cheesy Egg Bites, Dutch Babies and Potato Salad. Click here to get the best eggs.