Fall Special - Gerrib's Four-Can Chili

The weather in Chicago has turned cool, so the other night I decided to make chili. I'm reasonably sure this is an original recipe, based on an adaptation of my Dad's chili recipe.

Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef
1 regular can condensed tomato soup
1 regular can chopped tomatoes
1 regular can chili bean (may substitute kidney beans)
1 regular can pork-and-beans
1 small onion, chopped
Chili power and cajun seasoning

Directions:

Brown ground beef and onion in large soup pot, drain grease. Add all four canned ingredients WITH liquid from the cans. While simmering on medium heat, add your spices. I usually add 1 teaspoon cajun seasoning and 1 teaspoon chili powder. Then I stir and simmer for a bit,and do a taste test. I'll usually toss in a second teaspoon of chili powder, and, depending on how spicy the canned chili beans are (I've gotten some real firecrackers in the past) go for a third teaspoon of chili powder. At any rate, add spices to taste. Continue simmering until the chili is warm enough to eat.

I serve my chili with peanut butter and bread, which I recommend highly. This recipe easily serves four, and gets better with re-heating.

Stop the Presses

For the first time ever, the Chicago Tribune endorses a Democrat for President. The paper, founded in 1847, predates the Republican Party, but this is the first Democrat they endorsed. To put this in perspective:

- The Tribune endorsed Bush in 2000 and 2004.

- The last time the Tribune didn't endorse the Republican Party nominee was 1912. That year, they endorsed former Republican Teddy Roosevelt, running on the Bull Moose ticket.

- The last time the Tribune didn't endorse a former Republican was 1872. That year they endorsed Horace Greeley, running against a corrupt favorite son of Illinois, U. S. Grant.

I knew it was cold in Chicago right now. Apparently our weather is blowing in from a (usually much warmer) place...