Smoky Bacon Chili

Remember the other day how I mentioned my love affair with Juli from PaleOMG? Kidding about the love affair. Maybe kidding.

She occasionally guest-posts and makes cooking videos for a company called Again Faster. They make equipment for CrossFit, produce how-to videos, and write some really thoughtful blog posts in general. Neat site.

Anyway, I stumbled upon her Smoky Bacon Chili recipe recently and decided that was something I needed to have. Now.

I even watched the cooking video. And I rarely spend that much time pre-planning my meals.

And it is perfectly Paleo.. no beans, just meat and veggies. Plus bacon. Did I mention perfect?

I actually had bacon already cooked up, so I just threw some bacon fat in with the veggies and added in the cooked bacon later.

You will notice I only had one green pepper cut up in there. Isn't it great when you cut into a pepper and get a draft of the rancid smell? Especially when you paid good money for a red one over a green one? Sigh. I'll stop whining now.

Mm. Looking (and smelling) delicious already!

Definitely will use these again.

A little extra cayenne and paprika never hurt anyone. :)

It was so good!

So, smoky bacon chili... a la Mariah:

Ingredients:
1-lb ground grass-fed beef
6 slices of bacon, cubed
1/2 red onion, diced
1 red pepper, diced
1 green pepper, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced (more is better, right? kidding.)
1 (14)-ounce can of fire roasted tomatoes
1 (8)-ounce can of tomato sauce

Spices, more or less to taste:
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 tablespoons smoked paprika
2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
salt and/or pepper

Steps:
1. Cook the bacon in a large pot
2. While bacon is cooking, chop peppers,onion, and garlic
3. Once bacon is slightly crispy, add veggies
4. After 5-6 minutes, add ground beef and spices
5. Let the beef brown; then add tomatoes and sauce
6. Mix well, and let flavors mix together on low for 8-10 minutes
7. Taste and adjust/add spices if needed

And, as always,
8.. enjoy. :)



The flavor of the bacon mixed with everything else is simply incredible. Plus this all goes together really fast. In my mind, the sooner I get to eat, the better... Who's with me?! ;)


PS. Today I tried doing double-unders. For you non-CrossFitters, that's jumping rope but swinging the rope twice for every jump. Never mind I haven't jumped rope since I was in kindergarten. The closest I got was whipping my shin once. Ouch.

PPS. Yesterday I ran up a mountain. Kidding. Not really kidding. I did :30/:30 intervals up a mountain. I reached new heights. It was pleasant. 480 calories burned? Not bad for 30 total minutes on the treadmill, including warmup.

PPPS. In my next life, I want to be a dog. Mmkay?

PPPPS. Kidding. There's nothing else. ;)