Adam’s Yeti Chili

It is fitting that we celebrate National Chili Day every year on the fourth Thursday of February since there’s nothing better than enjoying fiery fare during one of winter’s coldest months. - http://www.nationalchiliday.com

Ingredients

• 2  tablespoons olive oil
• 1  large or 2 medium sweet onion(s), chopped
• 8  large garlic cloves, chopped
• 3  large bell peppers, chopped (assorted colors)
• 2  pounds ground chuck
• 1  pounds ground turkey
• 1  pound ground pork or pork sausage of your liking.
• 7  tablespoons chili powder
• 2  tablespoon ground cumin
• 2  teaspoon dried basil
• 1  teaspoon dried oregano
• 1  teaspoon dried thyme
• 1  teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust accordingly)
• 1  teaspoon Savory Spice Shop Cajun Style Blackening Seasoning, Extra Hot or Slap Ya Mama (adjust accordingly)
• 1  bay leaf
• 1  cinnamon stick
• 2  28-ounce can crushed tomatoes with added puree
• 1  14½-ounce can low-salt chicken broth
• 1  12-ounce bottle dark beer [Great Divide Brewing Company's Yeti Imperial Stout]
• 1  6-ounce can tomato paste
• 1  15- to 16-ounce can prepared beans, I prefer organic tri-bean blend.
• 
  1 to 3 1 ounce square bittersweet chocolates

Garnish

• 1 ½ cup crumbled blue cheese [Rogue Creamery Smokey Blue]

Preparation

1. First things first, pour yourself a Yeti. You bought a 4-pack and only one is needed here.
2. Heat oil in heavy large Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
3. Add onions and garlic. Sauté until onions are translucent, about 6 minutes.
4. Add bell peppers until peppers become soft about 4 minutes.
5. Add chuck, turkey and pork and sauté until brown, breaking up meat with back of spoon, about 10 minutes.
6. Add chili powder, cumin, basil, oregano, thyme, bay leaf and cinnamon stick. Stir 2 minutes.
7. Mix in crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, beer and tomato paste.
8. You've made it through the technical part, and your glass is surely empty. Pour another Yeti.
9. Simmer until thickened to desired consistency, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, about 1 hour 15 minutes.
10. Mix in beans and bittersweet chocolate and cayenne pepper. Simmer 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
11. Garnish with crumbled blue cheese and serve.
12. There’s still one more Yeti.

For even better Yeti Chili

Prepare 1-3 days ahead. Refrigerate until cold, then cover. Pick up some more Yeti, Rewarm over low heat before serving.

Adam's ALS Challenge

I’m going to jump up on a soapbox, so bear with me for a minute.

The ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE is broken! I say this as I was recently “called out” by one of my best friends. He made a great video (thanks to Ma’) that shows him calling me and some others out, giving us 24 hours to take the challenge then dumping the bucket of water on his head.

I have seen this explode on social media but I have been curious, is this really helping ALS? I mean the whole point of the challenge is to dump water on your head to avoid having to donate or having to donate far less.

"Between July 29 and today, August 12, The ALS Association and its 38 chapters have received an astonishing $4 million in donations compared to $1.12 million during the same time period last year." -- That seems like a lot, but for as much publicity as it's been given it's really not.

So I say this challenge is broken! It’s broken because we're spotlighting ourselves. Why not spotlight ALS, why not understand how devastating this disease really is. Why not challenge each other to do something that really makes an impact on ALS?

I challenge you all to watch the video below. To take a quick look at this young man’s journey and understand that this horrific illness claimed the life of this man in just a few short years. Then think like me and understand that where there’s a good beer there are great people. Checkout Ales for ALS, click on Donate Here in the upper right hand corner and put your money where your ICE BUCKET is. Even a donation of a buck or two can make a difference. Then find a participating brewery and enjoy a pint with a friend.

I really do enjoy seeing everyone playing in the water, but I really hope you all will take my challenge and understand how ALS touches the lives of others and how a cold craft beer can help with a cure.

How to open a beer bottle with your wedding ring.