Julia Misbehaves and Mild-Mannered Chili

"If she gets depressed, send her off to the nearest casino.  She likes it even better than buying a new hat." 

Walter Pidgeon and Greer Garson made eight or nine movies together.  These lines are from one of them, "Julia Misbehaves" made in 1948.  It is a bit of a romp, she plays a dance hall girl who reunites with her daughter, played by Elizabeth Taylor.  At one point Geer Garson is actually hanging from the stage curtains!  

She charmingly misbehaves throughout the movie.  Not so this mild-mannered chili.  I love chili, the taste of meat and beans together.  I have not made it in a while because of the onions, tomatoes and spices that usually gives it flavor.  This version achieves that depth of flavor by using different aromatics.

Mild-Mannered Chili

serves 4 people

2 tbs. olive oil
1/2 fennel bulb diced
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 1/2 lbs. grass-fed ground sirloin beef
1 1/2 cups black beans, cooked until just tender, drained
3-4 cups beef stock
2 bay leaves
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
2 tbs. butter
1 cup English cheddar, preferably from the Dorset coast, grated

Pre-heat the oven to 325 degrees

In a dutch oven, saute the fennel bulb in the olive oil, add the salt and cumin and cook until soft and golden.  Add the beef and break it up into big bite size chunks.  The sirloin will hold together, you want it chunky.  Saute until lightly browned, add the beans, and the beef stock to just cover. Add the bay leaves and stir in the cilantro.  Cover and bake in the oven for 20 minutes, give it a stir and bake another 20 minutes, still covered.


After the 40 minutes, return to the stove top on medium heat and stir in the butter and 1/2 cup of the cheddar cheese.  Remove the bay leaves.  Cook for a few minutes until the chili thickens.

Serve in bowls and garnish with more cheese, Greek yogurt and cilantro leaves.  Put a little pile of clover sprouts on the side and dress with a little lemon juice, olive oil and salt.  At this point you can add hot sauce if you like it a little spicy.  I prefer the mild mannered chili.

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