I was recently sent this very unique and intriguing cookbook called More Spies, Black Ties, & Mango Pies – Second Helpings of Stories and Recipes From CIA Families All Over the World. You don’t need to rub your eyes because the title is correct and pretty well sums up what the cookbook is about. It’s definitely not your usual set up of recipes.
Paired with each recipe is a different experience of various CIA agents and their families. These experiences are then accompanied by a recipe. It’s a great book because you learn more about what it’s like to be a CIA agent and how the food they have to come up with is sometimes less then ordinary. After all they usually have to travel to far and foreign destinations where ingredients are not familiar.
The recipe I chose to include isn’t exotic but I think is appropriate as we near the Holidays. It’s an International Award Winning Chili recipe made by Michael V. Hayden the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and one of the creators of this book.
Chili is one of those comfort foods that is exactly what the body needs after Turkey overload. After the left overs have all been eaten up I recommend making this Chili recipe (I should remind you it’s an award winning recipe).
When Michael was posted in Eastern Europe during the mid-80s he decided to enter his famous chili into a chili-cooking contest. He was competing against fellow Americans and other from the international community. None of them knowing he was a CIA agent of course. The Belgian Ambassador was one of the judges and awarded Michael the first prize!
International Award Winning Chili
Ingredients:
3 cups chopped onion
9 cloves garlic, minced
5 tablespoons oil (additional as needed)
3 pounds beef (chuck or round) cubed
9 tabelspoons chili powder
6 tablespoons flour
5-6 teaspoons cumin seeds
3 cans kidney beans (optional)
6 cups low fat, low sodium beef broth
Salt
Pepper
Cayenne pepper
Directions:
Saute the onion and garlic in oil until wilted. Add beef and saute until it just begins to brown. Stir in chili powder, flour, cumin, and beans, if using them. Add broth and simmer 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Add salt, pepper and cayenne to taste. Serves 10-12.
This has to be the easiest recipe for after the Holidays. You definitely don’t want to be putting too much work into dinner after you slaved over your Holiday feast.
Not to mention it’s the best meal during the cold winter months!
Happy Holidays!
Recipe Source and Cover Art: More Spies, Black Ties, & Mango Pies – Second Helpings of Stories and Recipes from CIA Families All Over the World.
Chili Image Credit: iStockPhoto
Post from: Blisstree