Prize Winning Chili

Total Time: 4 hrs Preparation Time: 1 hr Cook Time: 3 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 10
• 1 lb dry red kidney beans
• 1/2 lb dry pinto beans
• 8 cups water, plus additional water when beans are getting low (watch closely so they do not boil dry)
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 head garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons black pepper
• 2 large bay leaves
• 1 tablespoon oregano
• 1 tablespoon crushed basil
• 1 teaspoon rosemary
• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1 lb ground lamb
• 2 (7 ounce) cans chopped green chilies
• 2 (28 ounce) cans stewed tomatoes, undrained and chopped (do not add until the beans are done. the acid will prevent the beans from becoming soft)
• 2 teaspoons celery seeds
• 3 tablespoons chili powder (more to taste)
• 3 tablespoons cumin (more to taste)
• 1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 bottle beer
• 1 tablespoon sugar (to cut tomato acid)

Recipe

• 1 wash dry beans well.
• 2 fill a large pot with the 8 cups of water.
• 3 add the dry beans, garlic, onion, salt and pepper, bay leaves, oregano, basil and rosemary leaves.
• 4 simmer until beans are done, (about 2 hours) adding more water as needed (dry beans will use a lot of water) in the mean time, brown beef and lamb, drain well and set aside; add to beans when they are done.
• 5 add green chilies, tomatoes with juice, celery seed, chili powder, cumin, red pepper flakes, beer, and sugar.
• 6 simmer 30 minutes to blend the flavors.