Displaced Texan 11,751 Posted February 16, 2018 Howdy again, y’all!! It’s a rainy, crappy day out....perfect for making a big ole pot of Texas chili. I have some smoked brisket left over from my last cooking thread (I vacuum packed and froze it), so we’ll be making ‘BBQ Brisket chili’! We have friends coming over tomorrow to eat, so I’m making this a day ahead so it has time to meld properly. First, we start with some good beef. I save the ‘chain’ meat from a whole beef tenderloin when I break them down into filet mignons. I cut the tenderloin chain into pieces about 1/4 the size of your thumb. No worries if they are larger than that, as they will break down as it cooks. I use about 2 lbs. Put that in your chili pot, with a couple of tablespoons of good olive oil and brown it. I toss in 3 medium sized chopped onion. I used a yellow, white, and a red onion, just because that’s what I had in the kitchen. Toss that in with the beef while it browns, and add a generous amount of chopped garlic. I use around 2 tablespoons.....vampires ain’t a thing around my house! Add kosher salt and fresh ground pepper to taste. After that’s all nice and brown, I drain most of the fat off, and add my secret blend of spices. This time, I didn’t go crazy and grind my own chili powder, but I usually do. I will tell you that it’s chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayanne pepper, and a few other little odds and ends I like. For this batch, it’s about 1.5 cups of my chili blend. Add the chili powder blend into the meat, and stir till it’s coated. At this point, I’ll add 3 8oz cans of tomato sauce, 2 cups (about) if water (beef broth if you prefer), and 1 can of Ro-Tel tomatoes. They can be found alongside your tomato paste/sauce at your grocery store. I LOVE the flavor the Ro-Tel tomatoes add! I cook with them often. Now for the star of the show....the bbq brisket. I chopped up about 2 lbs, and tossed it in with the chili. I have some left over, so I just might have to make myself a bbq brisket sandwich with the leftovers. Don’t tell Mrs Tex!!! Stir all this together, turn the heat all the way down, and be patient. Let it simmer for a couple of hours. Stir it every now and again to make sure it doesn’t stick. When all the meat is fall apart tender, I like to take about 1/2 cup of masa flour, and a beer (your choice, I’m using a Yuengling Lager) to make a thin paste. Mix it well, and pour this into the chili. It will tighten it up, and add a wonderful flavor!! Let is simmer...the longer the better. I’ll probably take it off the heat around 7, and then refrigerate it overnight. Everything will come together as it sits, and dinnertime tomorrow, this will be even MORE amazing! We’ll finish this tomorrow....and I’ll also make some cornbread (in cast iron, of course!), and make it a proper dinner thread. Until then, my friends, good eats!!!! 5 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
leahcim 680 Posted February 16, 2018 No beans, right? I found Ro-tel years ago and I use them for just about anything that calls for canned tomatoes. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Displaced Texan 11,751 Posted February 16, 2018 HELL no!! Beans don’t belong in chili! Ro-Tel’s Are awesome!!!! I use them a lot. 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
medved11 71 Posted February 16, 2018 I'm a grown man and I just made an audible "Whoa!!!" when I saw that last picture of the pot. It looks awesome! 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fishnut 2,358 Posted February 16, 2018 Looks good but beans in chili are a must for this yankee! I've been meaning to make chili with venison, maybe this weekend. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnnyB 4,326 Posted February 16, 2018 Crushed red pepper would kick it up a notch. I like my chili spicy! 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zeke 5,504 Posted February 16, 2018 6 minutes ago, fishnut said: Looks good but beans in chili are a must for this yankee! I've been meaning to make chili with venison, maybe this weekend. You’re doing it wrong! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fishnut 2,358 Posted February 16, 2018 2 minutes ago, Zeke said: You’re doing it wrong! Negative Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zeke 5,504 Posted February 16, 2018 2 minutes ago, fishnut said: Negative I’m with Tex Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fishnut 2,358 Posted February 16, 2018 1 minute ago, Zeke said: I’m with Tex I'm a werdo, I like to eat my chili over rice and I hate corn bread. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gunsrlegal 140 Posted February 16, 2018 3 minutes ago, Zeke said: I’m with Tex 100% agree. I'm saving your recipe, @Displaced Texan, it looks and sounds delicious! What time is dinner? 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zeke 5,504 Posted February 16, 2018 2 minutes ago, Gunsrlegal said: 100% agree. I'm saving your recipe, @Displaced Texan, it looks and sounds delicious! What time is dinner? Well how you like that! Tex steals all the ladies! 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zeke 5,504 Posted February 16, 2018 25 minutes ago, JohnnyB said: Crushed red pepper would kick it up a notch. I like my chili spicy! Colon blow Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnnyB 4,326 Posted February 16, 2018 I can eat very spicy and it never gets me in the END! 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
medved11 71 Posted February 17, 2018 If you guys like hot, then this stuff is awesome. My sister gave me this bottle for Christmas and I’ve been putting it on everything since then. It’s seriously hot, so a little goes a long way. I made chili a few weeks ago and only put a 1/2 tablespoon in and I was sweating like a pig after just a few spoonfuls Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Displaced Texan 11,751 Posted February 17, 2018 Glad y’all liked! Wait till tomorrow, it will be even better! Right now, my house smells lovely!! Smokey brisket chili goodness! Cornbread tomorrow, and we’ll put it all together and make it a meal! There is a bit of cayanne pepper in it, but I don’t make it too hot. I can’t take ‘really spicy’ anymore, and my guests tomorrow can’t either. @fishnut I know plenty of folks back home who serve chili over rice. That’s not that odd. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Khamil10 5 Posted February 17, 2018 Hey, thanks man! I've been looking to up my chili game and your post should help a lot... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Displaced Texan 11,751 Posted February 17, 2018 3 hours ago, Zeke said: Well how you like that! Tex steals all the ladies! Lol. It’s my suave southern charm that does them in! 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brucin 923 Posted February 17, 2018 I'm with fishnut. I like beans in my chili. Red Kidney and black. A touch of cayenne but too much heat will obscure the flavor of the other ingredients. My recipe other than the beans is very similar to Tex's so it's nice to know i've been doing it almost right for the last 30 years. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
leahcim 680 Posted February 17, 2018 17 hours ago, Displaced Texan said: HELL no!! Beans don’t belong in chili! Said like a true Texan! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zeke 5,504 Posted February 17, 2018 Isn’t Chicago style chili with noodles? 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Displaced Texan 11,751 Posted February 17, 2018 I’ve seen chili served over noddles in Cincinnati, and a few other places in Ohio. They ain’t right over there. Will be starting cornbread soon. 2 types....cheesey cornbread and honey cornbread. 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zeke 5,504 Posted February 17, 2018 1 minute ago, Displaced Texan said: I’ve seen chili served over noddles in Cincinnati, and a few other places in Ohio. They ain’t right over there. Will be starting cornbread soon. 2 types....cheesey cornbread and honey cornbread. Lmao! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Displaced Texan 11,751 Posted February 17, 2018 Now, we’re going to make cornbread. I’m making 2 batches, one cheese and one honey. Not doing anything earth shattering here, using 2 boxes of Jiffy corn muffin mix per batch. Heat your oven up to 400*, and put your cast iron skillet(s) in for at least an hour. Getting that skillet nice and hot will ensure you get a nice crust on the bottom of your cornbread. Mix it up per directions. I’m adding 3 tablespoons of honey to one batch, and about 1 cup of shredded Mexican blend cheese to the other. Let them sit for about 5-10 mins in the bowl. Grease up your skillet with Crisco (that’s what my momma always used), pour in the batter, and pop it in the oven for 25-30 mins. They are done when a toothpick in the middle comes out clean. The cornbread should fall out of the skillet without any fuss, if you did your job right. Look at that crust in the last pic. Perfect. The honey cornbread is on the left, cheese cornbread is on the right. I’m gonna have to sample a bit of both before guests get here.....don’t tell Mrs Tex.... 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gunsrlegal 140 Posted February 18, 2018 Looks wonderful. I've got to make the honey cornbread! 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnnyB 4,326 Posted February 18, 2018 3 hours ago, Displaced Texan said: Now, we’re going to make cornbread. I’m making 2 batches, one cheese and one honey. Not doing anything earth shattering here, using 2 boxes of Jiffy corn muffin mix per batch. Heat your oven up to 400*, and put your cast iron skillet(s) in for at least an hour. Getting that skillet nice and hot will ensure you get a nice crust on the bottom of your cornbread. Mix it up per directions. I’m adding 3 tablespoons of honey to one batch, and about 1 cup of shredded Mexican blend cheese to the other. Let them sit for about 5-10 mins in the bowl. Grease up your skillet with Crisco (that’s what my momma always used), pour in the batter, and pop it in the oven for 25-30 mins. They are done when a toothpick in the middle comes out clean. The cornbread should fall out of the skillet without any fuss, if you did your job right. Look at that crust in the last pic. Perfect. The honey cornbread is on the left, cheese cornbread is on the right. I’m gonna have to sample a bit of both before guests get here.....don’t tell Mrs Tex.... No problem with the sample taste.....We won't tell! Just take the sample from the bottom! They both look great by the way! 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Displaced Texan 11,751 Posted February 18, 2018 To make it a complete dinner thread, here we go. Chili with a little cheese and diced onion, cornbread, and my HK USP Compact. Cheers, y’all! 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnnyB 4,326 Posted February 18, 2018 That looks sooo friggin good.....Please....Don't eat the gun! 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Donobieus 15 Posted February 18, 2018 I agree, no beans. But, no peppers? I use half a bell pepper per onion and at least one jalapeno per pound of meat, with the seeds. I also use a lb of ground hot italian sausage in my chili. Gives it a really great flavor...The cornbread looks fantastic!! I'm gonna try that cheese batch next time im in a chili kinda mood. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites