Frank X. Tolbert’s Original Texas-Style Bowl of Red

[chilehed]

As my first substantive post I'd like to submit this recipe, which comes from Tolbert's classic book "A Bowl Of Red", copyright 1972.
It was the basis for what evolved into my personal super-secret should-be-award-winning-but-I'm-too-lazy-to-compete recipe.
BTW, there are recipes online that claim to be Tolbert's original, but are not. Tolbert's original did not have things like onion or cilantro. The recipe in this post is taken from my personal hardcover copy of Tolbert's book, which IMO is authoritative. The actual text was very chatty and covered two or three pages, so I condensed it to the essentials.
Hope you enjoy.

3# lean stew beef, ground using ½ inch diameter holes in the grinder plate
12 pepper pods (anchos or similar)
2 oz. rendered beef kidney suet (optional)

Wash, stem and seed the peppers, and boil them in a little water until the skins can be removed. Then grind, chop, or run them through a colander. Save the water.

Sear the beef until lightly browned. Add the suet, peppers, and enough pepper water to keep it from burning. Add water if needed to cover the meat. Bring it to a boil, lower the heat and simmer 30 minutes.

Remove from the stove. Add 1 tbsp each of dried oregano, ground cumin, salt, ground cayenne and Tabasco sauce. Add at least 2 chopped garlic cloves.

Cover and return to simmer for 45 minutes. Add pepper water if needed to keep the meat from burning.

Add 2 tbsp Masa Harina, and simmer covered another 30 minutes.

Adjust seasoning to taste. If it’s not peppery enough then toss in three more chile pods, stemmed, seeded and skinned but not chopped up. Some folks skim the grease off the top but the oldtime cowboys didn’t.

[Sterno]

Thanks chilehed! Good information, I might try to find a copy of that book too!

Cheers,
Sterno

[DATsBBQ]

$1 to $135 depending on new or used, year published. http://www.google.com/products?q=%22a+b ... hl=en&aq=f

Recipe sounds good. Won't be long till the snow starts to fly around here. I'm filling the freezer with meat for sausage, guess I'll have to look for some beef to make up a batch of Red.

[NewBQ]

Thank you Sir!

[BluDawg]

Thanks for the recipe sounds good.

[RWBTEX]

Was passing through Terlingua after a dirt bike trip to Ohinaga a couple years ago and picked up a copy of that book. Its a great read in addition to the recipes, highly recomend you get a copy.

[Sterno]

I got this book a couple of months ago. Finally had a chance to start reading it. It really is a great read and the ultimate bible of chili!

Thanks chilehed for the recommendation!

Sterno

[Sharkie]

I just finished reading H Allen Smith's "The Great Chili Confrontation"...it was a hoot to read - he was the yankee that came down to Texas and went toe to toe with Fowler ...pretty funny read. Both recipes were in the book as well.