What I Made Today...Delicious Chili. Happy Halloween!

Halloween is my favorite time of year.
First of all the fall is so beautiful, and second of all the changing flavors is so rewarding after a long hot summer. The deep rich flavors of stews, soups and braises make my taste buds sing. Every year I host a pumpkin carving party and the traditional treat is home made chili.

Chili is one of those perfect meals that you can do ahead of time while you are carving pumpkins (which is what I will be doing). The longer it sits the more flavor it gets.

1 lb Ground beef 80/20
1/2 lb ground pork or Italian sausage (take it out of the casing)
1 yellow onion diced
1 can tomatoes diced
1 can of dark beer
1 cup chicken stock
1 package of brown bag chili spices

Sauté onions, brown meat, add tomatoes, stir in beer, dark beer and spices. Cook on low heat for about four hours.

Happy cooking

Grocery Shopping in Oklahoma

I recently went to Oklahoma to throw my girlfriend who is having a baby girl a baby shower. Being the LA Chef that I am I volunteered to cook for the event. I went to one of the only grocery stores in Oklahoma and bought ok produce, and frozen fish. As I pushed my cart up to the check out stand the woman asked paper or plastic. I said paper, and then realized none of their paper bags had handles!

Then as the clerk finished ringing my groceries, I heard her say $220 dollars. I couldn't believe my ears. What was I paying for? At whole foods in Los Angeles I could get it everything I bought, and better quality for around $120. Is the Midwest really that behind?

Happy Cooking, and I wish you better success shopping in the Midwest than I had!
Mary