Saturday, January 16, 2010

What's for dinner: Buffalo Three-Bean Chili

DSC_0300

My mother cooked wonderful meals every night while we were in Wyoming over Christmas, and since I've been home, all I have made are things I we had while we were there! Hands down, the favorite at my house is my mom's Buffalo Three-Bean Chili. It makes a ton, but I've made it twice and Hockey Boy and Taylor (the hockey player living with us this school year) and their friends have devoured the leftovers in no time. Coming from my mother, it's a given that this recipe is also pretty healthy.

My friend Kim from 3 Peanuts wrote a post a week ago titled Got Soup? that requested that her readers post their favorite soup recipes and link them on her blog. Well, family, volunteer obligations, generic errands and Valentine Luncheon planning unexpectedly consumed my week, so better late than never, here is my contribution to Kim's collection of soup recipes:

Biba's Buffalo Three-Bean Chili

2 pounds ground bison
2 onions, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 15-oz. can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1 15-oz. can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 4-oz. cans chopped green chilies
1 envelope fajita seasoning (Central Market had this in their bulk spice section; I used about an ounce and a half of it)
1 28-oz. can crushed tomatoes
1 can chicken broth
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

Toppings:
chopped cilantro
sour cream
grated cheddar cheese

Sauté bison, onions and garlic until cooked. Drain off fat. Stir in other ingredients except lime juice and simmer 25-30 minutes or until ready to serve. Stir in lime juice. Serve toppings on the side.

Should serve at least 12 unless you are feeding very hungry teenage boys!

DSC_0301

My mother also fixed this slaw which Robert and I thought was fabulous.

Blue Cheese Slaw

Mix the following 1 hour before dressing:
2 pounds shredded cabbage
4 large carrots, shredded
8 oz. blue cheese crumbles
1 bag Craisins

Dressing (whisk together)

⅓ cup cider vinegar
¼ teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon celery seed
2 garlic cloves, minced
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon white pepper
2 tablespoons sugar
¾ cup canola oil

Here are my mother's notes: I have never used the Craisins in this recipe. I have no idea how much is 2# shredded cabbage! I buy a head of green and a head of purple cabbage. I then cut up the cabbage, add shredded carrots and refrigerate in a large baggie, using only what I need. The cut up cabbage keeps a long time in the refrigerator. I at least double the dressing recipe - it will keep forever in the refrigerator and is ready when you need it. I don't use as much of the oil either. I double the recipe except for the oil.

Eloise's note: I used the Craisins and loved them! Being the unorganized cook that I am, I did not mix the main ingredients an hour ahead but rather just before I tossed them with the dressing.

13 comments:

JMW said...

Nothing like a good bowl of chili - yum! That slaw recipe sounds great as well - may need to try it.

bevy said...

Love chili! There is nothing better than the smell of it simmering on the stove on a cold day. We always have doctored Jiffy cornbread on the side. Absolutely no one complains about supper when it is chili night!

Just not sure where to buy bison meat! LOL

The Hayden Family said...

Yum yum yum! And another yum! Thank you so much for sharing your recipe! Cannot wait to serve it! Perfect for this chilly weather! Our tummies thank you!

Henley on the Horn said...

I'm so impressed!! I know your family did LOVE it. I will have to try the slaw too. Thank you. I collect recipes like some people collect shoes.

Ruby's Fairy Godmother said...

Perfect Day for a some good Chili...Dallas Cowboys play at Noon and chili..goes hand in hand!
Enjoy for chili and the game!
Norah

Linda@ Lime in the Coconut said...

man! i don't know which sounds better...the chili or the slaw.

I'll take a serving of both....purty please!

lmk said...

GREAT RECIPES! THANK YOU!

An aside...Does it show my personal prejudice to say...each time you refer to your son as "Hockey Boy"...I blink...as a North Dakotan the concept of hockey in Texas seems as odd as the idea of a midwestern drawl must seem to you. Having said that... One of the upsides of living in Fargo, ND is the community has a lot of ice both winter outdoor and year round indoor...between the indoor rinks owned by each high school. the sheets owned by the park board and private ice....the kids get a ton of ice time, none of which parents are charged for. It is assumed if you live in Fargo...your going to play hockey starting before you enter first grade...ice hockey is a common gym class activity. How does that happen in Dallas?

PS GO FIGHTING SIOUX!!!

Sherrie said...

Nothing like a great bowl of chili! I make a blue cheese bacon coleslaw all the time and I love it. Hope you are all doing well Eloise!

Marian said...

The slaw is actually Nan Turner's recipe that I gave to Biba about 2 years ago! It's really good with chilli and also BBQ.

KK said...

Oh, I just love your recipes, Eloise. These are another must try!

Grace said...

I am sooo sooo happy that you posted this!! We have been testing bison chili recipies and just have not gotten it right so I cannot wait to try this .. and the slaw seems amazing. Thanks!!

3 Peanuts said...

LOoks and sounds delish! I am looking forward to seeing you this weekend. let me now the plan.

hugs,
Kim

Wendy said...

I tried your mom's recipe for the Blue cheese coleslaw tonight. It was fabulous! I love reading your blog and as an added bonus I am grateful for having discovered this delicious recipe!