
Working on a chili at the moment, started with soaking 2 cups of red kidney beans in 8 cups of water last night, then drain them off, add fresh cold water, cooking them, draining them off and adding one large can of crushed tomatoes ( no salt added ), one smaller can of diced tomatoes with red peppers and onions, one large orange bell pepper, a teaspoon of anise seed, a tablespoon of black pepper and 1 1/2 pounds of locally raised beef without hormones or antibiotics ( free range ), lean ground in store, from cow to stovetop in under 48 hours.
This local Italian grocery store has been in the business for 80 years, and their meats are always fantastic. The lean ground beef is lean enough that you have to take care in browning it at lower temperatures, otherwise it will burn, there is zero fat to drain off.
Still have to add a few cloves of garlic, some carmalized onion, and salt and pepper to taste. I haven't run out to the store yet today.