[Ice]

Gordon Ramsay's chili con carne with extras.

2 cloves of garlic finely chopped
1 red chili ditto
2 sprigs of thyme (chuck them in whole and fish out stem at end)
Olive oil
1 medium onion chopped
500g good beef mince (I use braising steak finely diced with a knife)
1 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp sweet paprika
1 tsp dried oregano
400g tin chopped tomatoes
100-200ml chicken or beef stock (chicken is best)
3 tsp tom puree
1 cinnamon stick
3 bay leaves
1 green pepper diced
400g tin red kidney beans

Brown meat in the oil and remove.  Add more oil and fry onions and chili for a few minutes.  Add garlic, spices and herbs and fry gently until they become aromatic.  Add the beef and fry for a minute or two then add the toms, tom puree and stock.  Season.

Simmer gently for at least an hour and a half.  30 minutes before the end add the diced pepper and ten minutes before the end add the red kidney beans.

Cheddar cornbread

1 egg
2tsp olive oil
150g tin sweetcorn or use frozen
120ml creme fraiche
140g yellow cornmeal (look in Asian section of supermarket)
1tsp salt
1tsp baking powder
250g grated strong cheddar
As an option you can add some chopped chilies.

Beat egg and oil together.  Stir in corn, creme fraiche, cornmeal, salt, baking powder and most of the cheese.  Pour in an 8-9 inch square pan and sprinkle with the remaining cheese.  Bake at 180C for 40 minutes and serve warm with the chili, some sour cream and a liberal sprinkle of coriander.

Enjoy.

[arugula]

Looks good, thanks for posting those Ice.

[Ice]

It is the best chili recipe that I have made and I have made quite a few over the years.

[mumofstig]

I looks lovely
you didn't mind the cinnamon in it then 

[Lardman]

mmmmmm   

[Ice]

I looks lovely
you didn't mind the cinnamon in it then 

No, it's lovely and I was a fool for leaving it out.

[mumofstig]

it certainly adds a lot to the flavour IMO 

[Ice]

There are a lot of spices and herbs but no one thing overwhelms the dish and the thyme is lovely in it.

[New shoot]

Thank you    Both sound lovely

[VegGirl7]

mmm, both sound lovely - OH's chili recipe is pretty much the same except using basil and no thyme... think (hope) he might try the cheddar cornbread next time he makes it (a recipe with cheese in will usually get his attention!) 

[Ice]

Once you have tried cheddar cornbread you will be addicted and it compliments chili perfectly.  Always eat it warm out of the oven and reheating it the next day is good too. 

[Lardman]

Once you have tried cheddar cornbread you will be addicted and it compliments chili perfectly.  Always eat it warm out of the oven and reheating it the next day is good too. 

Cheese (and bacon) make everything better   

[Ice]

Cheese (and bacon) make everything better   

That's a maxim everyone ought to live by, even veggies.