House O' Fun Chili #1

Based on the Chili Con Carne recipe in "Cooking Light", modified to become a tasty composition of smokey, spicy, heavenly ambrosia.

• Ready In: 2 hrs 30 mins
• Serves: 10
• Yields: 10 cups

Ingredients

• 8  poblano peppers, whole
• 3  lbs  boneless chuck roast, trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 2  teaspoons sea salt
• 2  teaspoons black pepper, smoked
• 3  tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2  tablespoons bacon drippings
• 3  cups onions, chopped
• 4  garlic cloves, minced
• 3 (12 ounce) cans whole canned tomatoes
• 1  tablespoon dried Mexican oregano
• 1  tablespoon ground cumin
• 2  tablespoons chili powder (fresh)
• 2  chipotle chiles in adobo, diced
• 1  tablespoon adobo sauce
• 3  tablespoons cilantro, fresh chopped
• 6  tablespoons cheddar cheese

Directions

1. Preheat broiler.
2. Put poblanos on a foil-lined baking sheet; broil 6 minutes one side (or until charred), turn over and broil 4 minutes other side (or until charred). Place poblanos in a zip-top plasic bag; seal. Let stand 15 minutes. Peel and cut chilis into 1-inch pieces. While poblanos are in the bag you have a handy place (foil lined cookie sheet) to work with on the next steps.
3. Cook enough bacon in chili pot to create 2 tablespoons bacon drippings. Remove bacon and drain drippings from pot, reserving 2 tablespoons of drippings.
4. Heavily sprinkle beef cubes with salt and pepper; dredge in flour.
5. Heat 1 tablespoon reserved bacon drippings, add half beef to pan; saute for 5 minutes, turning to brown all sides. Remove meat from pan. Repeat this step with remaining 1 tablespoon bacon drippings and meat.
6. Reduce heat to medium. Add onion to pan; cook 12 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic; cook 3 minutes, stirring frequently. Return beef to pot.
7. Add roughly torn whole peeled tomatoes and juice from can to pot. Stir in tomato, oregano, cumin, and chili powder; bring to a simmer. Cover and cook 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
8. Stir in poblanos, simmer for 45 minutes or until beef is tender, stirring occasionally.
9. Stir in chipotles, adobo sauce, and cilantro. Sprinkle with cheese. Serve.