Homemade Chili

It's cold outside, and it actually snowed in the midlands of South Carolina this morning, for about 15 minutes! Wow! That was a close one! LOL Needless to say, there isn't a loaf of bread or a gallon of milk left in the stores, so I won't even try to venture out to the store! I found some beans, onions and tomatoes in the pantry, and I had some hamburger in the freezer! Good time for a giant pot of chili! 

For the Beans:

1 lb dried Red Kidney Beans

4 cups water, or stock

1/2 tsp dried, minced onion

1 tsp minced garlic

salt and pepper to taste

Rinse and drain the beans several times. Add the water, onion, garlic, salt and pepper to a large pot and cook for a few hours or until beans are tender.

To finish the Chili:

1-2 pounds ground lean beef

1 onion, chopped

2 cans diced tomatoes, drained

4 tablespoons of chili powder

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

2 teaspoons paprika

2 tablespoons ground cumin
salt and pepper to taste

Cook hamburger and onion until meat is done. Drain off fat. Add tomato and stir. Add to the beans. Add the seasonings and stir until dissolved and mixed well. Simmer until chili is the thickness you like. I usually let mine simmer for about 45 minutes. Serve with cheddar cheese, sour cream and cornbread!

Ham Bone Pinto Beans

Did you cook a ham for Christmas and have that ham bone in the freezer? This is a perfect dish to make with it. A simple bag of beans and a ham bone makes a wonderful winter meal... add some cornbread and you have a southern comfort dish of yumminess!

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For the Ham Stock:

1 large ham bone
Water to cover
2  celery stalks, cut into large chunks
2 large carrots, cut into large chunks
1 large onion, quartered
3 cloves garlic, halved
1/2 teaspoon pepper

For the Beans:

1 tablespoon of butter
1/4 cup of chopped onion
1 tablespoon of minced garlic
1 pound package of dried pinto beans
2 cups leftover ham, chopped
1 teaspoon of kosher salt, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper, or to taste


Place ham bone in a large stockpot, along with the remaining stock ingredients, cover with water plus another 2 inches. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 1 hour. Strain, reserving the bone and stock; discard vegetables. (Sometimes I blend the vegetables with the stock until smooth. Strain it and set aside. It's your call. It's good either way.) Once cooled, pick off any meat from the bone, reserving the meat and discarding the bone. 

Heat the butter in the bottom of the pot, add the chopped onion and cook over medium until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook another minute. Rinse and sort the beans. Add beans and meat to the pot. Cover with ham stock. Bring to a boil, and cook for 1 hour. Reduce heat to a simmer, and simmer for about 2 hours or until beans are tender, stirring occasionally. Serve with a big chunk of cornbread!