jwu2

Biography: I have used hot peppers for years and smoke/ dehydrate several and grind them along with onion and garlic to make shakers. I do sell a few of these and give some away to friends but mostly I just enjoy hot peppers

Share a Recipe: Mike's Chuck wagon Chili
Mike Zimmerle

1 pound thick sliced lean bacon (cut into 1/4 inch pieces)
3 pounds lean ground chuck (I sometimes use ½ inch cubes of lean beef)
1 pound Bob Evans sausage
1 large yellow onion (diced)
1 large red onion (diced)
2 cans Hunts Tomato sauce (29 oz.)
1 can V-8 (12oz.)
1 can ro-tel diced tomatoes (10 oz with lime juice and cilantro) also has chopped jalapenos
2 cans Aldie's chili beans (15 oz.)
2 cans Aldie's red kidney beans (drained,15 oz.)
1 can Bush's Black Beans (15 oz.)
1 stick butter
1 tablespoon ham seasoning (bullion)
1 tablespoon crushed garlic
1 tablespoon cracked black pepper
3 tablespoons Gebhardt chili powder (add 1 more if you want a little more kick)
1 tablespoon Brown Sugar
1 and 1/2 tablespoons cumin (add 1/2 tablespoon for more kick)
1 Tablespoon Mike's Fiery Hot Seasoned Salt (Blend of dried peppers mostly chipotles with dried onion and dried garlic mixed with seasoned salt)
2 packets Sazon Goya (con azafran) seasoning

I use a large Dutch cast iron dutch oven to cook all of this in.
stir frequently to prevent sticking throughout the cooking
1. Brown the bacon in the butter over medium heat until browned ( the butter will be foaming at this point) remove from heat and using a slotted spoon take the bacon out and drain on paper towels for later use. (now you have seasoned the Dutch oven)
2. Add the ground chuck and the sausage to the bacon grease and butter and return to medium heat and stir unt

Awards: 2nd and 3 place trophy's for chili along with an award for the hottest chili