Hola, dear eaters and readers!! Thanks for stopping by for this month’s Where Bloggers Live 11.2022: My Favorite Recipe(s). This month, the gals and I are coming to you from our kitchens. Or maybe from our stomachs, as we are sharing one of our tried-and-true favorite recipes.
One of the most delightful retirement activities in which I partake is that of eating. However, I am not nearly as excited about the cooking part that must precede the eating. But I do it so I can eat. Over the years, I’ve shared a number of foodie posts here. Most of them for Tasty Tuesdays. Several times I have hosted blog hops and recipe swaps. For one of those I shared the recipe for a delicious coconut cheesecake pie. And in this 10 on the 10th post from a few years back, I shared 10 favorite fall recipes popular at our house.
Funny, when I first tossed around the idea of starting a blog, I imagined sharing library lesson plans and favorite children’s books that had served me well in my career as a school librarian. One of my first posts was about the folktale “Stone Soup” and the recipe I used to make the soup in the library with my students. Not sure who enjoyed the lesson more, my students or me!! I revamped that post and shared it again, here, earlier this year. Stone soup is so tasty, hope you will try it.
But for today’s post, I am sharing my favorite chili recipe. Hearty and delicious with a smoky sweetness; it’s maple bourbon chili.
WHERE BLOGGERS LIVE
Ever wonder where the ideas for this series come from? Well, let me tell you!! Each month our fearless leader Bettye comes up with a prompt for the gang to respond to. This has been one of my favorite series in which to participate and as I look forward to the quickly approaching new year, I hope to continue to join these fun-loving ladies for 12 more months of thoughtful posts.
If you’ve missed any of the Where Bloggers Live posts this year, you’ve missed a treat. Here’s a list of this year’s posts so far:
- a look at our ‘rides’ in January
- our furry fam in February I
- in March we described our dream house
- for April the gals wrote posts about their favorite piece of furniture, but I was struggling with LIFE. I still hope to do that…someday
- shared my photo albums and scrapbooks in May June’s post,
- my favorite movie moments in June
- in July’s post I detailed my longing for temporary escape from life, make that LIFE – while predicting that one was probably not in the stars for us this year.
- after a 2-month hiatus from blogging, I returned for October’s day-in-the-life post
Please Visit
Please be sure to check out the posts of my Where Bloggers Live friends for their favorite recipes. I don’t know about you, but I can always use a new recipe to spice up my tired old meals in regular rotation.
Bettye at Fashion Schlub
Daenel at Living Outside the Stacks
Em at Dust and Doghair
Iris at Iris’ Original Ramblings
Jodie at Jodie’s Touch of Style
Leslie at Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After
Sally at Within a World of My Own
WHERE BLOGGERS LIVE 11.2022
As I’ve said, for today’s post we are sharing a favorite recipe. I have shared the recipe for maple bourbon chili on my blog in one of the soup-chili-stew recipe swap and blog hop posts. Even though I am resharing the recipe here, I hope you will follow this link to visit the original post in order to check out the delicious recipes of the other bloggers who joined me for that recipe swap.
Maple Bourbon Chili
Here are the ingredients for this hearty chili.
- 1 pound extra-lean ground beef (used 96% lean)
- 1 medium yellow onion chopped (used about a half to accommodate PC’s tummy issues)
- half green pepper chopped (this is something I added that wasn’t in the original recipe – I always add/subtract things)
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 Tbsp. chili powder
- 1 tsp. ground cumin
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
- 1 (15 oz.) can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (14.5 oz.) can petite diced tomatoes (we don’t like chunks of tomato so I pureed them)
- 1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce
- 1/4 cup bourbon
- 1/4 cup maple syrup (used lite syrup)
- shredded cheddar cheese and fat-free/low-fat sour cream or Greek yogurt
- optional: up to 1 cup of water, I use 1/2 cup
- reduce heat to low and cover pot
- simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally
- remove from heat and allow the chili to rest for 5 minutes before serving
- add a sprinkle of grated cheddar (we like Vermont cheddar) and a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt
You can make this recipe on the stove top or in the crockpot. Make it quicker and easier by using diced frozen peppers and onions and minced garlic in a jar. On the days when I sub or am knee-deep in clothes to be ironed, I’m also all about fixing the easiest dinner possible.
Truly, my mouth waters whenever I think about this chili. It is that good. The bourbon adds such a rich, smoky flavor and the syrup provides perfect sweetness. I made a big batch for everyone in Kentucky one of the evenings shortly after my mom died in August. It was eating a hug. Warm and comforting. Just what we all needed.
Cornbread Anyone?
I always serve my chili with cornbread and prefer Krusteaz honey cornbread. If you haven’t tried it, please do. It is so moist and just slightly sweet. But just this week, came across a sweet corn casserole by Kyle and Mistie Knight posted to their Facebook page, Creative Cooking!
Might have to give it a go next time we have chili. What do you pair with chili at your house?
Your Turn
We are just home from vacation. In mid-summer when the ladies and I were talking vacations in our July post, I figured there was little chance we would be able to indulge in a getaway. But turns out we were able to escape for 11 days!! We visited Boston and NYC then popped over to see Paul’s family in Ohio and down through Tennessee to check out my sister’s new house in Crossville. I packed my old laptop so I could keep up with blogging while we were gone. But about the second day of the trip, my laptop screen broke in two. So that wasn’t in the cards. Now to catch up!!
P.S.
**I have tried for close to 24 hours now to publish this post. Have had the craziest time. Spent about 2 hours with my web hosting tech support folks trying to figure out things. We never got to the bottom of the issues but I have come up with a temporary, and very slow work around for now. Thank you to my Where Bloggers Live friends for their continual patience with me.
Off to put up laundry and sort through what needs to be ironed. I will be subbing 3 days this week so want to use my weekend time to get caught up around the house. Hope you have something fun planned.
Hugs and kisses,
I knew you would be a great source for a recipe as i knew you’ve shared some in the past…like the street corn one. Mmmm!
I actually just finished eating a bowl of our chili a few minutes ago, this one included left over pulled pork in the mixture. I can see your maple bourbon version accentuating that quite nicely!
Im getting hungry all over again. As others have said, im not much for cooking but i love to eat!
Happy you had such a nice trip! Been a tough summer for you! Holding you in prayers! Xoxo
Thank you, sugar foot!! Please try this chili recipe. We all love it. And it would be great with pulled pork instead of the ground beef. I really don’t mind cooking in general but lately I have lost my enthusiasm for doing most everything. Hope to get to feeling better soon. I sure appreciate your prayers and sweet friendship.
I’m so glad you were finally able to get this post up Leslie, because it sounds amazing. We always love chili this time of year.
XOOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Thank you!! I don’t know what can happen from one day to the next that causes my blog to work and then not work at all. Just so frustrating. But it’s working for today!!
Please consider trying this chili, Jodie. It is really delicious. The bourbon gives it a fabulous smokiness. Truly good.
First of all, praying for your baby girl.
Second, that chili looks amazing. We’re big chili eaters during the fall/winter. I generally serve mine with rice and/or cornbread. It’s the best comfort food ever.
Thank you so much for the prayers. Lauren is home and was diagnosed with pseudotumor cerebri or false brain tumor. She has the symptoms of a brain tumor but thank God there is no tumor. It was caused by an antibiotic she was taking for a sinus infection. It has caused issues with her optic nerve and pressure on her brain. Lauren has meds on board to relieve the pressure. We have to wait to see if her vision returns to normal. Your prayers are so appreciated.
Please, please give this chili a try. It would be excellent over rice or jasmine!! I like chili on rice, too. They always served it that way at the elementary schools where I have worked. Yum.
Chilli is one of my absolutely favourite Fall-Winter dishes. Thank you for giving me a new version to try!
Oh, Pat, I hope you try this recipe. It has been a big hit with everyone I have prepared it for. And is very easy to prepare.
The chili sounds delicious. I’ll have to pass the recipe on to my son.
Glad you could finally get your post up – praying for your daughter.
Iris
Oh, Iris, please share with your cooking bunch next door. This chili is so easy to make and is really delicious. I know you guys will like it.
Thank you for the prayers for my daughter. She is home now. Was diagnosed with something called pseudotumor cerebri or a false brain tumor. We are so thankful that it isn’t a real tumor but she is still really struggling with all the symptoms of a brain tumor. On meds to relieve the pressure in her head but it could be a month before she is back to normal and her vision may never improve again.
We pretty much ALWAYS have cornbread with our chili too! This sounds delicious with the addition of some sweet maple syrup.
Yes, yes, yes!! It is so good. Please try it. I think your gang will love this recipe.
GASP. BOURBON. CHILI.
I mean, CHILI. And BOURBON. Holy cornbread, Batman! That sounds AMAZING!!!
Glad you got that workaround figured out so you were able to share this – I’m DEFINITELY adding this to the fall’s menu!!!
Bettye xoxo
Oh, yay!! It is so good, Bettye. Truly delish. And easy. Easier if you don’t chop the veggies and just buy them chopped. Ain’t nobody got time!!
My family is big on chili anytime of the year!
Yours looks amazing! Yummm!
Happy Monday, Leslie!💐
We eat chili all year, too. And this has become our favorite recipe. Hope you try it, sweet friend!!
I am definitely going to show this recipe to my husband. He loved chili and bourbon so this is perfect for him! And the maple syrup sounds like the perfect little touch of sweetness.
Oh, yay!! Please do. I promise it is tasty and everyone I have made it for has asked for seconds!!
I am going to make this chili – it sounds so delicious! Bourbon and maple syrup?? Yes!!!! Sorry you have had some tech issues, I am afraid my laptop is on its last leg. UGH!!!
xo,
Kellyann
Please try it. I have not made chili any other way since discovering this recipe. I love pulled pork chili and it would be good with the bourbon and maple syrup, too.
I’m not much of a cook either. Glad you got this to post!
Thank you, friend. What a time I had!!
Oooh, yes, a big bowl of chili! I’m reading this right before lunch time, so it’s got my stomach growling. Cheese on chili is so delicious. I have to admit that I like my chili redneck style – a “Frito pie” of chili and cheese on Fritos, haha.
Oh, I love Frito pie, too. And if we don’t have Fritos, I sub in tortilla chips. Yum!!
Definitely trying that chili recipe this weekend! Thank you!
OH wow! How have I not seen this recipe on your blog before? This looks SO, SO good. Been trying to be vegetarian lately, but maybe it would be good without the meat… or, heck, maybe I’ll just make it with the meat! Ha, ha! Oh, and Krusteaz honey cornbread is my GO TO cornbread. It is SO dang good and easy too.
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Ugh – those IT blog problems just drain all the fun of blogging! Thanks for sticking with it and glad your post finally went up….it was a great read, as always! And a chili recipe….yeah! So glad you were able to get away…. and for such a nice long break. I hope it really helped you relax, recharge and refresh!! It has been a tough year….so hooray for getting away!
My husband said “yes” as soon as he saw the bourbon! This looks great, thanks!!
Hope you try the chili and both of you like it!!
Hello friend – I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Hope you are doing well…looking forward to December, etc. Just thinking about you this evening…and wanted to say hello!:)
This looks so yummy! I need to go make some chili now. 😉