How to Make Chili & Chili Mac
Mary Ruth learned how to make chili right after the honeymoon. She’s been serving it to Roger for over 50 years and he turned out pretty good. I promised Mary Ruth Internet fame if she would share her Honeymoon Chili Recipe.
Mary Ruth's Honeymoon Chili Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 to 1¼ pounds lean ground beef or turkey
- ½ cup bread crumbs, finely ground
- 1 large onion
- 1 – 2 cloves garlic
- 3 Tbsp Chili Powder
- 1 15 oz. can kidney or red beans, drained
- 1 10 oz. can tomato puree
- 1 14 oz. can diced tomatoes
In the kitchen:
Work bread crumbs into ground meat with your fingers and set aside for a moment. I add bread crumbs because dehydrated meat infused with bread crumbs rehydrates better on the trail. Also, the bread crumbs absorb and lock in more of the chili flavor. If you are not planning on dehydrating this chili recipe for backpacking, there is no need to add bread crumbs to the meat. You can make your own bread crumbs by dehydrating bread and crushing with the smooth edge of a meat tenderizing mallet.
Sautee onions and garlic in a little olive oil using just enough to coat the pan. It really helps to use a non-stick pan.
Add ground meat and cook for about ten minutes until browned, stirring continuously.
Add chili powder and cook for one more minute.
Add tomato puree, diced tomatoes, and drained beans.
Cook until bubbling and then reduce heat to a simmer for one hour.
Dehydrate:
Have a taste and put the rest in the refrigerator overnight. The extra time enhances the flavor. Hitting the trail in the morning? Start dehydrating immediately.
Spread chili out on dehydrator trays covered with non-stick Paraflexx® Sheets or parchment paper.
Dehydrate at 125° for 8 – 10 hours. This recipe took up three 15 x 15 Excalibur Dehydrator trays. After about four hours in the dehydrator, break up any meat and beans that might be stuck together with a spoon or your fingers to expose pieces to more air circulation.
Once dry, divide dehydrated chili into one cup or larger servings and pack in plastic zip-lock bags.
Yield: Five cups weighing about 12 ounces dry.
On the Trail:
Combine one cup chili with one cup water and let sit for about five minutes. If you are cooking a larger serving, just add an equal part of water to your dried chili.
Light stove, bring to a boil and continue cooking for one minute.
Remove from stove and place pot inside insulating pot cozy for ten minutes.
Stir and enjoy. Garnish with crackers or dried pita bread chips.
Now that you know how to make chili, try this Chili Mac Recipe:
Chili Mac Recipe
Ingredients:
- ½ Cup elbow macaroni
- ½ Cup Honeymoon Chili, dehydrated
- ¼ Cup bell peppers, dried
- 1 – 2 slices Jalapeño pepper, dried
- ½ tsp chili powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1½ Cups water
At Home:
Combine dry ingredients in a 4 x 6 plastic bag.
On the Trial:
Combine dry ingredients with water and let sit for about five minutes.
Light stove, bring to a boil and continue cooking for two minutes.
Remove from stove and place pot inside insulating cozy for ten minutes.
For some reason I like to have a piece of dark chocolate and a cup of coffee after eating Chili or Chili Mac. I don’t know why.
Top of Page – How to Make Chili
Return to Backpacking Recipes for SupperThanks to Roger, a former scout master, for sharing his Flatulence Remedy.