Many families need meals that will stretch the household budget and this is ever so true when there are lots of hungry people to feed at one time. When settlers headed West in wagon trains, stews were popular. As time passed, the cooks began to combine all sorts of ingredients. These chilli recipes were handed down to kin through the years.
People from different cities joined the wagon trains and provided a diverse amount of information on how these dishes could be prepared. Ethnic groups were accustomed to spicy additions like jalapenos, that burned the mouth after each bite. Some people enjoyed peppers but could not tolerate spicy foods. A recipe was created to meet the needs of many settlers, and sauces were always thick and rich.
The basic ingredients found in these delicious stews will vary based on availability. The very basic ingredient that cooks use is a large sized bean. The types of beans that could be used in the mixture can be a northern bean, kidney bean or Navy bean. The preferred color of the bean is crimson to purple. The meat selection for the dish will influence the type of bean that is ultimately placed in the dish.
The method of cooking will have a direct influence on cooking time. These hearty stews can be prepared using a stove top that is powered by electricity or natural gas, a slow cooker, crock pot, or a pot hung on a spit over an open fire. The latter was popular among the settlers, and the cook prepared the meals from a chuck wagon. Some of those chefs chose to use left over coffee in the mixture as part of the flavor enhancers.
Many cooks choose to use a variety of tomatoes to control the flavor. Tomatoes can be steamed and canned for many years. Fresh tomatoes can be diced and added to the mixture, or chunks of the fresh tomato can be added to thicken the mixture. Some people will add canned green peppers and tomatoes into the mixture for added flavor.
Fresh vegetables provide the cooks with the opportunity to create a signature dish. Southern cooks like to add sweet onions to the pot. Fresh red onions can add color, and white onions offer a more pronounced flavor. For variety, some cooks will squeeze lemon juice into the mass, and add chopped scallions for contrast. A sprinkle of parsley, and a handful of celery will give the mixture some body.
The amount of water that will be needed will be influenced by the number of dry ingredients that are used in each pot, and how the mixture will be cooked. Any other liquids placed in the dish will need to be considered. Stove top cooking will allow moisture to evaporate, so additional water may be needed as the dish boils.
The dry ingredients for these stews will create the flavor base, and many cooks will add spices that are compatible to the meat that will be used. Any combination of pork, beef and turkey can be used based on personal preferences or crowd appeal. The fat content for these stews is monitored to ensure that every spoonful is free of grease.
People from different cities joined the wagon trains and provided a diverse amount of information on how these dishes could be prepared. Ethnic groups were accustomed to spicy additions like jalapenos, that burned the mouth after each bite. Some people enjoyed peppers but could not tolerate spicy foods. A recipe was created to meet the needs of many settlers, and sauces were always thick and rich.
The basic ingredients found in these delicious stews will vary based on availability. The very basic ingredient that cooks use is a large sized bean. The types of beans that could be used in the mixture can be a northern bean, kidney bean or Navy bean. The preferred color of the bean is crimson to purple. The meat selection for the dish will influence the type of bean that is ultimately placed in the dish.
The method of cooking will have a direct influence on cooking time. These hearty stews can be prepared using a stove top that is powered by electricity or natural gas, a slow cooker, crock pot, or a pot hung on a spit over an open fire. The latter was popular among the settlers, and the cook prepared the meals from a chuck wagon. Some of those chefs chose to use left over coffee in the mixture as part of the flavor enhancers.
Many cooks choose to use a variety of tomatoes to control the flavor. Tomatoes can be steamed and canned for many years. Fresh tomatoes can be diced and added to the mixture, or chunks of the fresh tomato can be added to thicken the mixture. Some people will add canned green peppers and tomatoes into the mixture for added flavor.
Fresh vegetables provide the cooks with the opportunity to create a signature dish. Southern cooks like to add sweet onions to the pot. Fresh red onions can add color, and white onions offer a more pronounced flavor. For variety, some cooks will squeeze lemon juice into the mass, and add chopped scallions for contrast. A sprinkle of parsley, and a handful of celery will give the mixture some body.
The amount of water that will be needed will be influenced by the number of dry ingredients that are used in each pot, and how the mixture will be cooked. Any other liquids placed in the dish will need to be considered. Stove top cooking will allow moisture to evaporate, so additional water may be needed as the dish boils.
The dry ingredients for these stews will create the flavor base, and many cooks will add spices that are compatible to the meat that will be used. Any combination of pork, beef and turkey can be used based on personal preferences or crowd appeal. The fat content for these stews is monitored to ensure that every spoonful is free of grease.
