chocolate peanut butter chili

If I’m good at cooking one thing, it’s chili.

And I’m only good at cooking one thing.

Luckily, this happens to be Travis’ most favorite meal of all time.  He is very easy to please.  Growing up with a mom who had to cook for 10 kids will do that to you.  Make you appreciate whatever is placed in front of you.  And force you to eat with your elbows out, squirrelly eyes akimbo, always on the defensive against vulture brothers and sisters.  To say that Travis is good at sharing would be like saying that Kim Kardashian is good at singing.  It just ain’t happenin’.

As I was thinking about this week’s meals and Travis suggested yet another meal of chili, I knew I had to get creative.  Even if HE never tires of eating the same ole thing, I get tired of uncreative cooking.  And I knew I needed to teach him a lesson in sharing.  Mama needs to eat too.  So I thought and thought about what I’D want out of a chili.

Chocolate.

Dark chocolate, to be exact.

And who is chocolate’s best friend?  Peanut butter.  They go together like, well, like peanut butter and chocolate.  The creative process started.  I’m not sure if this has been done before, but I know it’s never been done in this little house.  At least not in a pot of chili.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Chili

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. lean ground beef (can sub in ground turkey or chicken)
• 1 can petite diced tomatoes
• 1 can diced tomatoes and green chilies
• 2 cans of beans (I used organic pinto and dark kidney)
• 3 tbsp. chili powder
• 1 tbsp. paprika
• 1 tbsp. sea salt
• 2 tbsp. natural peanut butter
• 1 tbsp. Hershey’s Special Dark cocoa

The key to GOOD chili is going at it with a hungry, skier’s belly.  The key to GREAT chili is grass-fed, lean beef.  Katy and her husband actually raise cattle for this very purpose, and we’re lucky enough to get some.  (If you ever want to buy some really great beef, message me and I’ll give you the deets.)

Brown beef and drain fat (unnecessary with this beef).

Add remaining ingredients.

Eyeball peanut butter and cocoa additions.  Eeeh…that seems about right.

Stir ingredients together.  Simmer on low ALL day.  Let the ingredients get to know each other, become better acquainted.

Top with plain greek yogurt and cheese.  Serve to hungry husband.  Watch for flying elbow to the gullet.  Then wait for it….

His eyes will close, brow will furrow – puzzled as to what that taste is.  Then he’ll smile.

He’ll say that this is the best chili he’s ever had.  He’ll go on and on about how chocolate and peanut butter were destined to be buddies.  He’ll ask for seconds.

And, you never know, he just might share.

splendid…lindsay