mark lewis wrote to NANCY BACKUS <=-

So... Had you considered joining the picnic group, even just for picnic day...? I hadn't realized how close you were... ;) It would be great
to meet you in person.... :)

i have, actually... i don't recall the particulars of the dates right now... my truck doesn't get as good milage as i might desire and funds
for fuel may be a problem but i've certainly considered coming to the picnic...

If you can make you should certainly give it a shot. Even if you have
to use an Oklahoma Credit Card (length of hose and a five gallon can).

My first picnic was in '98 when I threw my chilli cooking rig in the
back of my little Mazda pickup and showed up, unannounced, at Pat
Stockett's back door in Hayneville, AL. The next year I took my baby
sister to Canuckistan for the Canadian Caper picnic. And the year after
that we hosted an event here. Been to picnics all over the country and
had a good time at all of them - even the one at the crazy sysop's house.

MMMMM----- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.06

Title: Alabama Picnic Chilli
Categories: Chilli, Vegetables, Herbs, Chilies, Stews
Yield: 12 Servings

5 lb Coarse-ground chuck beef
1 lg Onion; diced fairly fine
1/2 c Green bell pepper; diced
2 tb GFS or Minor's beef base
1 ts Cocoa (Nestle or Hershey) *
5 ts Powdered garlic granules
1 tb Ground cumin
48 oz Can tomato juice
5 tb + (3 ts) chilli spice
1/2 ts Fresh black pepper

* NOT the hot chocolate drink mix with sugar and other
nasties that don't go well in my chilli.

Here is one of mine that is a good starting point for
experimenting. I use Baron's chilli mix... but Gebhardt's,
Mexene or Chilli Man will work pretty well. Ray's Chilli
owner says he is bringing out a line of chilli mix as soon
as he finds a spice company to mix and package to his
recipe. Apparently it has different requirements from using
spices to can chilli.

Combine the beef base, tomato juice, chopped veggies, cocoa
and 4 teaspoons of powdered garlic in a Dutch oven over a low
(simmer) flame.

Divide the hamburger into three more-or-less equal batches
and brown it in a separate skillet. Add 1 teaspoon of chilli
spice per batch. When browned and crumbled drain excess fat
and add to dutch oven. Repeat until all ground beef is in
the chilli pot. Add the black pepper to the chilli pot.

Stir in 1 tablespoon per pound of meat of the chilli powder
(5 Tb for this batch). Cover pot and let simmer, stirring
once in a while. When the onions and peppers are cooked
(about 1 1/2 hr) taste the pot.

You will probably find that you'll need to add the remaining
tablespoon of garlic powder and the tablespoon of ground
cumin. You may also want to add an additional tablespoon of
chilli powder at this time. Trust me on the garlic and
cumin. It adds the final kick.

For those desiring a hotter product add cayenne until your
lips turn numb and your sinuses drain if you like. I made
this batch extra-mild in deference to picnic attendees who
don't handle heat real well. Sadly, Maya Houston thought it
was still too hot after she tasted a spoonful.

As noted - this recipe starts extra mild as a base line in
deference to the non chile heads for whom I made it. Add
heat or chipotles to suit yourself. Black or pinto beans
will work - add them AFTER the chilli is cooked.

From: Uncle Dirty Dave's Kitchen
Posted By: Dave Drum, xrated@cityscape.net
Post Date: Sun, 19 Sep 1999

From: http://www.pepperfool.com

MMMMM

... A kid with a hammer will find that everything he sees needs pounding.

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