1 lb. ground chuck
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 (14 1/2 oz.) cans Mexican-style stewed tomatoes
1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce (or ½ cup BBQ sauce)
1 cup water
2 Tbsp. chili powder
1 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 Tbsp. cocoa (or ½ oz. unsweetened chocolate, grated)
1/2 tsp. each ground cinnamon, (cumin, turmeric - optional)
1/4 tsp. each ground allspice (coriander, cardamon - optional)
8 oz. spaghetti, cooked
Toppings: Kidney beans, chopped onion, shredded cheddar cheese
Cook first three ingredients in large pan over medium-high heat, stirring until beef crumbles and is no longer pink. Drain and return beef mixture to pan. Stir in stewed tomatoes and rest ingredients except spaghetti. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 30 minutes. Serve over hot spaghetti with toppings. Layer spaghetti on plate, top with hot chili, a layer of beans, then onion, and top with plenty of cheese. Serve with oyster crackers on the side.
The Greeks in Cincinnati made this chili famous. The cinnamon and other spices are what makes it different. It reminds me of the seasoning in Pastitsio and other dishes I have eaten in restaurants in Tallahassee. When I moved here, most of the restaurants were owned by Greeks, mostly from the isle of Patmos.
I have been adding recipes for a while to a new cookbook so I could find them when I wanted to cook them. In the electronic age, a digital version seems to make more sense, since I can add, amend, advise, adjust, delete, and reconsider as often as I want to and you can access them if and when you please. I've included the recipes from my original cookbook which many of you have. I'm also going to be adding pictures as I retest many of these recipes. They aren't the latest thing or nouvelle cuisine. They're comfort food, good memories, treasured family recipes, and occasional treats as well as many healthier recipes I've grown to like in recent years. I encourage you to add comments, pictures, and favorite recipes to make this a real family cooking spot. It's the next best thing to sharing a meal.
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