Buzz's World Famous Chili

 My Dad taught me many things. Some on purpose and some by accident. I learned about the human spirit from him and he taught me how to shop for a deal. I learned about the importance of tradition from him and he taught me how to cook.

All of these things came in handy this weekend as we prepare for Super Bowl Sunday.

I think I have made it clear that I am a sports fan. I did make a complete detour to see Hinkle Fieldhouse and score a Brad Stevens siting on my recent road trip didn't I? I do call in sick to work when March Madness rolls around. I do wake up at 5 am every Saturday during UGA football season to load my truck with food, tables, chairs, and full tubs and pace thru the dew to set up for tailgate. I know what a pick six is; I know what nothing but net means; I know the answer to the Trivial Pursuit question that asks which athlete was on the cover of Time, Newsweek and Sports Illustrated in the same week.

Therefore, I have earned the right to make Chili for Superbowl Sunday!

I never make the mistake of trying to create my own chili. I always make the one my Dad taught me. And that is not the case with any other thing I have learned to make. For example, I learned how to make Macaroni n Cheese from my mother but I never duplicate that recipe. I learned to make Outside In Burgers from Guy Fieri but I never follow that recipe.

This Chili is Sacred. I am not entirely sure if it is Sacred because it is a time honored tradition to make it for Super Bowl Sunday or if it is because Daddy served it at Sandwich'd In, when dreams were still attainable; or if it is just simply because my Dad took such care to teach me how to make it.

This is what you need to start:

Clean one medium sized onion; one good sized pepper ( because they are so expensive right now, plan on using the whole thing, with just seeds and membrane removed); three to four fresh tomatoes; three cloves of garlic and one jalapeno pepper (seeds and membrane removed).

Blend that all together and then let it all sweat it out in the tub. I learned that lingo from Guy as well. Dad would say stir it up and let it get drunk on each other. A little olive oil goes down and literally let all the ingredients get drunk on it. 

Then, on the side we can be browning the beef. We, Dad and I, just salt a pan and let the beef speak for itself; and we chose a higher fat content ratio...but Dad did teach me this recipe over 25 years ago when we just didn't talk about cholesterol and heart disease.

You then take two cans of chili beans, one can of dark red kidney beans and one can of pinto beans and throw them into the drunk peppers, onions, tomatoes and garlic.

 Then add the beef (it is Super Bowl Sunday so I add all the meat and juices, which includes some 'grease'....aka, flavor)and these spices:

We have got 2 tables spoons of chili powder; 1 teaspoon each of salt and pepper and one tablespoon each of paprika and chili pepper flakes....the tomatoes and jalapeno are just decoration ;).

Here we are:

And here we go:

The trick to great chili is longer is better. Once you are ready to serve, reheat and top with sharp cheddar and sour cream and really good corn bread. My friend Wynn makes really good corn bread so I can't make it here. I would just be embarrassed.

I remember when my Dad taught me how to make this chili. It was the day before Super Bowl Sunday. We spent all day Saturday lovingly putting it together and having our father daughter time. Then, on Sunday I stopped into Dad's kitchen and he had ready for me this huge pot  full of the chili to take the to the party I was going to. He told me I could tell everyone I made it. All the party goers loved this chili. They talked about it all night and finished it off. It was gone; and I told everyone my Dad and I made it together! No one at that time in my life would have believed me if I said I had made it myself.

An empty pot is just the ultimate compliment. Dad was happy!

I stored that recipe in my back pocket and take it out every Super Bowl to not only travel back in time, but also to celebrate the memory!