'Tis The Season To Have Chili

A few days ago I was asked an interesting question.  Could I name 3 presents that I had received last Christmas.  The answer is no...and yes.  At the moment the question was asked, I couldn't think of a single thing, but over the course of a couple of days, I did finally recall 3 things.

That question makes you think, doesn't it?  We spend all of this time, money, and stress thinking about presents that are so quickly forgotten.  When I was young, the presents were a big deal at Christmas.  As I've grown, I find myself cherishing moments more than gifts.  I feel that giving a Christmas gift to someone shouldn't be mechanical, something we have to do.  Rather it should be a way of saying, "I appreciate you, and I want you to know that."  So I haven't abandoned giving gifts this Christmas, but I do want to get all of my shopping done quickly, so that I can focus more on the moments of Christmas.  I want to invite friends over for dessert and wine, create a special meal for my family, take more time to drink hot chocolate and take my princesses to see the Christmas lights.  I want more time with my people and less time with my stuff.

I hope in this Christmas season, you find more time and more ways to show the people in your life that you appreciate them by giving them your time, your love, and maybe even a present or two.

Now, I'll step off my soapbox and serve you up a delicious wintertime meal.  If pumpkin is my favorite fall food, then chili is my favorite winter meal.  Only one teensy weensy problem, no one else in my house likes chili.  I would count it a major accomplishment if I could bring even one person over to my chili loving camp, but so far, no luck in that battle.  Nonetheless, I'm the lady with the apron, and I'm certainly going to soldier on and keep on making chili.  One day they'll come around, right?

Today's recipe comes from Rachael Ray, and it is called Steakhouse Chili.  As chili making goes, this recipe is pretty basic.  If you are not super confident in your chili making skills, try this recipe out.  I believe you will be successful.

I think of this as a "Texas" chili.  Someone once told me that Texans don't put beans in their chili.  It isn't a theory I've actually researched, just something I've been told.  This chili is entirely bean-free, but I'm sure a bean or 2 would be fine if bean-free chili isn't your cup of soup...I mean chili.

You patiently listened to me whine all summer about the Texas heat.  I can proudly report that it is long gone, and the chilly temps are here.  So I plan on making the most of these much cooler temps with a season full of chili.  If you are a chili lover, I hope you'll give this one a try!  Enjoy!

Link to Rachael Ray's Steakhouse Chili Recipe