Chili con carne - which one to get?

tonich · October 09, 2009, 09:24:40 PM

You see... I can't prepare it myself at home.
I guess, I have to look for a ready, canned one.
What brand to look for and in which store?

Any suggestions are welcome.
Thanks!

Tom · October 09, 2009, 09:40:51 PM

I don't eat much canned chilli because it's so easy to make at home. But I have eaten Hormell's and it is pretty good. You can get it in most large groceries.

The good deal is Wendy's chili, from the hamburger stand, "Wendy's". It's a buck a cup and two cups is pretty filling with crackers. You can get "spicey hot" seasoning to go with it too and add it to taste. I'd rather get it than open a can.

WH_Conley · October 09, 2009, 10:06:00 PM

Tom hit the nail on the head, just ask for extra seasoning.

Paul_H · October 09, 2009, 10:22:26 PM

Toni,

why can't you prepare it at home?

tonich · October 09, 2009, 11:23:06 PM

Tanks, Tom!

Quote from: Paul_H on October 09, 2009, 10:22:26 PM
Toni,

why can't you prepare it at home?

Google tells over 1001 recipes ( :P), I am not confident. :

Paul_H · October 09, 2009, 11:51:40 PM

I've got a simple one somewhere here.It's the kind I've eaten since I was a kid.I'll go look.

Paul_H · October 10, 2009, 12:04:48 AM

Ok,here goes-

1 lb hamburger 2/3 cup water
1 onion 1 tsp salt
1 thsp oil 1-2 tsp chili powder
1 can kidney beans 1 tsp vinegar
1 tin tomato soup

Brown meat & onions and add all ingredients,
simmer - stirring occasionally for 10-15 minutes till desired consistency.

Simple but tasty,good with a peas,bread and a dollop of cottage cheese on the side.

ScottAR · October 10, 2009, 01:18:30 AM

If you can brown meat and boil water, you can make any chili on
this earth. Paul H's recipe is very similar to mine. I usually add some
Cumin and orageno (sp?). Sometimes a little cinnamon for a
"what is that?" taste.

At the house we usually serve with cornbread.
One piece broke up in the chili and one to help load the spoon. ;D

That said, Wendy's and Steak and Shake make good chili when
eating out.

Hormel makes a good one, Wolf is good as well. I got some that
came in a jar once but I can't remember the name. White label.

Canned chili is mighty good on hotdog and/or mac 'n cheese.

Norm · October 10, 2009, 08:57:24 AM

Paul's recipe is pretty close to the one I make too Toni. If the hamburger's greasy I'll drain it off after browning the meat, if not I like the flavor it gives. Give it a try and you'll never buy canned again.

pappy19 · October 10, 2009, 10:46:57 AM

After trying all sorts of chili recipes, I found that the Wick Fowler's 2 Alarm chili mix is the best I have ever tasted. I use it for all of my basic chili , except I use 2 cans of stewed tomatoes and a can or 2 of kidney beans. I also use fresh chopped onions and garlic instead of the dried ones in the package.

Raider Bill · October 10, 2009, 10:51:20 AM

Chili over pasta noodles YUM YUM!!!!!!

tonich · October 10, 2009, 04:39:17 PM

Quote from: Paul_H on October 10, 2009, 12:04:48 AM
1 lb hamburger

Don't know that one. :

:P
I usually buy lean ground beef from The Real Canadian Superstore. Hope it will work as well.

Norm · October 10, 2009, 04:47:49 PM

Yep that's the same thing Toni.

tonich · October 10, 2009, 11:14:50 PM

Thanks everyone!
Sounds like a piece of cake, I will give it a go! 8)

sawguy21 · October 10, 2009, 11:17:31 PM

What Scott said. We never buy the canned stuff, it is too easy to make and turns out a little different each time.
Paul's recipe is similar to ours but we use the Clubhouse spice mix from Safeway and add fresh tomato for added flavor. Mushrooms and garlic work well too. Brown the onions, garlic, and 'shrooms with the meat before adding the other ingredients.

SwampDonkey · October 11, 2009, 06:07:01 AM

Toni 1 lb is 450 grams. Hamburger is ground beef. That's the German in our English. :D Other than that, I don't know what you meant. But, I always buy lean hamburger (ground beef) as well. It's not that difficult to stir up. ;)

Go to McDonald's and it's a hamburger (ground beef patty on a round sesame seed coated bun), known as the Big Mac. ;)

tonich · October 11, 2009, 12:07:33 PM

In Europe "Hamburger" = Big Mac.
Ground beef is always... ground beef. :D :D ;)

Texas Ranger · October 11, 2009, 12:59:45 PM

If it's got beans, it ain't TEXAS chili. >:(

Tom · October 11, 2009, 03:34:08 PM

If it's Chili without beans, it ain't chili. :D

Chile con Carne
chile with meat

Naw, I'm just puffin', but I do like beans.

Mooseherder · October 11, 2009, 03:49:35 PM

This thread inspired me to make a pot of Chili today and it is DanG good.

I started by doubling Paul's recipe. Added some Celery, Bell Pepper, minced Garlic, a Diced tomato, a half can of Rotel and some sliced portabello mushrooms. I also had two kinds of Beans in it. The pot WAS full but ain't no more. ;)

Norm · October 11, 2009, 05:21:58 PM

It did me too.

I tried a batch that you take a chuck roast, cube it up, brown it and use a normal chili recipe. Man is it good, I'm having seconds tonight. 8)

tonich · October 11, 2009, 09:28:16 PM

Quote from: pappy19 on October 10, 2009, 10:46:57 AM
After trying all sorts of chili recipes, I found that the Wick Fowler's 2 Alarm chili mix is the best I have ever tasted. I use it for all of my basic chili...

Today I spent almost an hour in our local Safeway, staring at the chili related items and found NOTHING!
I asked about a dozen of costumers, involved two associates in the search and still NOTHING. Finally, the staff came into conclusion that they ~~probably~~ don't sell this item. :

>:(

pappy19, could you please paste a picture of "that thing" here!

PS. SwampDonkey, you see, life is not that easy here!

;D

ScottAR · October 12, 2009, 02:00:32 AM

Google is wonderful... Amazon.com/ and soupsonline.com/
Both list Wicks' chili mix. 12 count box though.
At least you'd know what it looks like.
I can't post a direct link (rightly so) but it's there.

The ingredients list looks pretty much like most chili spices
in use these days.
Chili Pepper, Masa Flour, Salt, Onion, Cumin, Paprika,
Red Pepper, Oregano, Garlic.

William's also makes a good one. Silver pack with black label.

If it isn't pretty easy to find the mix, I'd probably just wing it
with the above as a guide. Taste periodically, and add as you go.
One of the nice things about chili is that it takes at least 45 minutes
or so to cook to "real good" status so you have time to alter if
some thing doesn't taste right. Easy on the salt till near the end.

I now feel the need to comment on the greatest thing about chili.
The rules are: there are no rules. You decide how it tastes, how it
feels, how hot it is, and what is in it.
Beans, no beans, bell pepper, no bell pepper. Doesn't matter.
The only thing that matters is what you want. The taste of my typical
chili varies greatly on what is in my cabinets that day.

"No peppers? No Onions?.... Jar of salsa! Now we're cooking! And
I didn't have to run to the store." Just an example.

Caution! these kinda thoughts kept me out of all the good schools... :

;)

tonich · October 12, 2009, 02:26:07 AM

One thing you are right about: Google is wonderful!
Took me some time to realize it, due to the fact I was pretty much sure, the package were waiting for me patiently on the Safeway's shelf. :

SwampDonkey · October 12, 2009, 04:15:32 AM

Some of those stores have it prepared in their deli section Toni, some may even be frozen. I have not seen anything in the dry goods section or canned chilli. You just have to purchase the ingredients and start dicing and mixing. Oh, and if you want real chilli pepper spice visit a spice store. Those grocery stores like here sell a concoction of simulated chilli pepper spice that has no effect on the mouth at all. Seems like paprika, garlic powder, ground red pepper and salt is their version of chilli spice. It's unlawful. :

Real hot chilli is orange.