That's right Tony & Toni cooked up a big, big crock pot of chili and joined the 9th Annual Ocean County Harley Davidson Chili Cook-Off this weekend.
Tony gets an e-mail from Ocean County Harley Davidson, his second home, about a chili event they are hosting. With out a flinch he says "we are going" and I concur. Tony's only request is I make it with ground turkey. I will admit I do not absolutely love chili but I have an idea of the flavor I'm looking for. So in normal Toni fashion I head to Shoprite, my second home, and I gather up some chili ingredients...poblano peppers, dried beans, onions, ground turkey, tomatoes, cheese, and 30 other items I picked up along the way for general purpose.
I come home flip on the Frank Sinatra (that is the best cooking music) and dive into my chili project. I prepare the chili and cook and stir for about 2 hours. The outcome a full bodied pot of chili. Tony got his turkey and I got the deep, rich flavor. A perfect marriage. We taste it and agree it's going to Harley Davidson on Saturday.
The guidelines said it chili has to be hot and in a crock pot at 11:30 a.m. So 9:00 a.m. we warm the cauldron of chili low and slow, transfer to the crock pot and off we go to Lakewood, New Jersey.
We are welcomed and given number 17. We plug into the outlet and set the crock pot on keep warm. The other chili hogs come in, set up, and we all stand around from 12:00 - 2:00. Toni talks to others about chili while Tony talks to others about chili and hogs. A great day.
It is $3.00 for a spoon and all you can eat Dixie cups of chili. Tony buys a spoon and heads around the table tasting the other 23 different crock pots of chili. His feedback...some good, not so good, mushy, spicy, contestant #19 really spicy, sweet, hot, vegetarian. It is going to be close. People taste and we receive some positive feedback from the crowd.
The tally comes in and....3 3rd place winners, spicy #19 wins 2nd place and a mother daughter combo take the win for a $100.00 Harley Davidson Gift Card. All spicy chili's won the challenge...spicy equals memorable! Better luck next year for the Moschello Chili Team.
Don't worry I heard there is Meatball Cook-Off in the fall!
Moschello Chili
2 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil
2 Poblano Peppers (sliced)
1 Lg. Vidalia Onion (diced)
Salt/Pepper
2 Lbs. Ground Turkey
4 Cups of Strong Brewed Coffee
2 Teaspoons Ground Cumin
4 Small Shakes Cayenne Pepper
2 Lg. Cans Organic Diced Tomatoes
1 Can Tomato Paste
1/2 Cup Frank's Red Hot Sauce
1 Bag Red Kidney Beans (soaked, rinsed, picked over)
1 1/2 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Saute peppers and onion till soft about 5 minutes
Season with salt and pepper
Add the turkey and pour in coffee
Season with cumin and cayenne pepper
Stir to incorporate
Add diced tomatoes, tomato paste, Frank's Red Hot Sauce, and beans
Stir to incorporate
Reason with salt/pepper
Cover with the lid and cook for 2 hours, stirring occasionally
Taste and re-season if necessary add cheese and stir
Enjoy!
***For a hotter more memorable chili add a habanero pepper along with the poblano pepper at the beginning of the recipe***
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