SUPER BOWL SUNDAY
We're only two days away from the biggest football game of the year and if you are thinking about what to serve, I am offering up my personal Chili recipe. It's not too hot and not too mild, uses chorizio sausage, ground beef and chunks of beef ....and the spicing is amazing.

Greg’s FAW Chili
3 bell peppers (1 red, 1 yellow, 1green), diced
2 large Vidalia onions, chopped
3 cloves garlic (finely chopped); more if you like garlic
1 lb lean ground beef
1 lb sirloin tip cut into bite size chunks
1 lb chorizo sausage cut into bite size chunks
2 tbls olive oil
1 bottle ale (Keith’s India Pale Ale or whatever is in the fridge!)
3 tbls chili powder (or more to taste)
3 tbls mild New Mexico chili powder
1 tbls ground cumin
1 tbls ground coriander
1 tsp ground oregano
1 28 ounce can of diced tomatoes
1 28 ounce can of tomato sauce
1 28-ounce can of kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 tsp brown sugar
1 lime
2 or 3 shots of Tabasco sauce (optional)

Directions
· Sauté onions in 2 tbls olive oil with half the chili powders, cumin and coriander over medium heat for 10 minutes
· Add peppers and cook for 10 more minutes
· Add meat and cook until browned (about 10 to 15 minutes)
· Add beer and bring to a boil; cook for 15 minutes
· Mix remaining chili powder, cumin, coriander and oregano in a small bowl
· Add spice mix to the pot, but reserve 1 ½ tbls of the mix
· Reduce heat to light boil and cook for 10 minutes
· Add canned tomatoes, tomato sauce and garlic
· Drain and add kidney beans
· Cook for one hour on medium heat stirring occasionally
· Add reserved spice (1 ½ tbls)
· Simmer for 20 minutes on low to medium heat, stirring occasionally.
· Turn up heat to light boil and add Tabasco pepper sauce, salt to taste, brown sugar and juice of lime
· Simmer on low heat until you are ready to enter this championship recipe at your next cook-off or to a group of hungry chili lovers. Keep your Pot Hot!
· Garnish with a nice aged cheddar cheese (grated) and toasted chiabatta bread

ENJOY!!

Ground Hog Day ...I saw my shadow!!!

I woke up this morning and saw my shadow ...which means 6 more weeks of soups and stews. To help you get through these next few weeks here is a great recipe for Hot and Sour Soup ...enjoy!

Hot and Sour Soup

Ingredients:
· 1 oz. dried Chinese black mushrooms or dried shiitake mushrooms
· 3 cups boiling water
· 2 Tbs. plus 1 tsp. white wine vinegar or rice wine vinegar
· 1 Tbs. plus 1 tsp. soy sauce
· 1/2 tsp. Asian sesame oil
· 1 1/4 tsp. Hot Asian chili oil
· 1/2 tsp. freshly ground pepper, plus more, to taste
· 5 cups chicken stock
· 1/2 cup canned thinly sliced bamboo shoots, rinsed and drained
· 1 boneless, skinless whole chicken breast, about 1/2 lb., cut crosswise into thin bite-size slices
· 1/4 lb. firm tofu, drained and cut into 1/2- inch cubes
· 2 Tbs. cornstarch
· 1/4 cup water

· 1 egg, well beaten

Tip:
To rehydrate dried whole mushrooms, place them in a bowl, add boiling water to cover and let soak for 30 minutes, until soft. For dried mushroom slices, reduce the soaking time to 15 to 20 minutes. Drain well. For extra mushroom flavor, reserve the soaking liquid and add it to the dish. Before using, strain the liquid through a sieve lined with cheesecloth or a coffee filter to remove any grit.

Directions:
Soak the dried mushrooms in the boiling water for 30 minutes. Drain the mushrooms and slice them thinly. Set aside.

In a small bowl, stir together the vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, chili oil and the 1/2 tsp. pepper. Set aside. In a saucepan over medium-high heat, bring the stock to a simmer. Add the mushrooms and bamboo shoots and cook until the stock is aromatic, about 3 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium and add the chicken and tofu. Cook until the chicken is just opaque throughout and the tofu is heated through, about 2 minutes. Add the reserved vinegar-soy mixture and bring to a simmer.

In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch and water and stir until the cornstarch is dissolved. Add to the soup and stir until the soup begins to thicken. Remove from the heat. Add the egg, whisking with a fork until little shreds of cooked egg form. Taste and adjust the seasonings with vinegar, pepper or soy sauce. Ladle the soup into warmed bowls and serve immediately.

Accompany the soup with a shredded cabbage salad dressed with rice wine vinegar, sugar and a little oil.

Serves 4.