Corn Chowder & Famous Chili Recipes for Halloween Feasting!

 

Everyone has their own Halloween traditions, these are two of ours!  The night before Halloween, on Pumpkin Carving Night, my three (now grown) kids all come over and we feast on great cauldrons of Corn Chowder, my Famous Chili, with a big salad, and chucks of warm bread, hot spiced cider, and pumpkin pie!  Then carving commences!  And because I always cook enough for an army, there is plenty of leftovers for Halloween night, in-between scaring children!  Enjoy! 

Corn Chowder

1 large sweet onion

1 red pepper

4+ slices of bacon (regular or turkey)

3 medium golden potatoes, pared & diced

2 1/2 cups water

1/2 cup flour

1/2 tsp. paprika

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

2 cans whole kernel corn (1 lb. each)

2 tall can evaporated milk

Cook bacon until crisp in large pot.  Set aside to drain.  Saute onion and red pepper in same pot until soft.  Add potatoes, 2 cups of the water sale, pepper, cover.  Simmer 15 min. until tender.  Stir in corn & evaporated milk.   Blend flour with remaining water and stir into chowder.  Cook, stirring constantly over medium heat until chowder thickens and bubbles.  Stir in chopped bacon & serve  10-12 servings.

Optional add-ins: 2 cups cooked chicken cut into chunks. 

 

Carol's Famous Chili

2 tsp. olive oil

1 large sweet onion

1 large green pepper

1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, pared and cubed

2 cloves of garlic, minced

2 lbs. lean ground beef or turkey, or cooked beef sirloin cubed

1 - 14 1/2 oz. can of diced tomatoes

1 bottle of dark beer

1 cup strong coffee, brewed

2 - 6 oz. cans tomato paste

1 can beef or other broth

small can sliced black olives

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 up molasses

1 tablsp. cumin

1 tablsp cocoa powder

1 tsp. oregano

1 tsp cayenne pepper

1 tsp coriander

1 tsp salt

1 pinch cinnamon

4 15 oz. cans of chili beans or whatever selection of beans you most prefer (kidney, etc.)

2 chili peppers chopped (remove seeds)

Heat oil.  Cook onions, garlic, apple, green pepper, and meat until brown, then add to large crockpot. Add tomatoes, beer, coffee, tomato paste and beef broth. Add spices and all remaining ingredients, and slow cook low all day.  If cooking stovetop, simmer for 1 1/2 hours.