Thursday, September 27, 2012

Football Season Love or Frito Pie for Football Lovers! or Texas Chili and Chips

So inspired by my previous Frito entry and how many people on google seemed to have picked this up, I will give you a little more Frito football season love.

So I can't take credit for this dish at all. Perhaps my friend Trisha Bastion can but even she good Texan that she is may shy away from the credit. Or my friend Daryl another Texan might also take credit for introducing me. But either way I cannot, nor would I pretend to take credit, because Frito Pie is as famous in Texas and Southwestern football as beer and tailgating.

Frito Pie, the very name conjours up all sort of interesting images. Not immediately gourmet ones and not ones directly about football perhaps, but who care's this is all about good eats we are talking about. I mean if you have ever been to to great fall football game? You know the deal. Nip in the air, crowds of excited onlookers and fans moving about. Colors and scents of Fall are everywhere. The cool air and sweater clad co-eds and boys in jerseys or sweaters and hoodies. Cars lined up in the parking lots with BBQ's going and beer beer beer! Yeah team!

Well in Texas and the southwestern parts of our nation a big part of high school football games and team fundraising for at those games I am told, centers around Mom's selling food at games. Frito Pie in particular is a big seller. It's not a fancy thing. It's basically a bag of fritos that gets opened up and they ladle chili and cheese all over inside the bag then they hand you the bag and a fork and you go to town! Yum right.  I mean what could be bad about that.

But who came up with this? Well the story goes it was invented at a Woolworth's lunch counter in Santa Fe, New Mexico. There is even a recipe for the original chili online you can check out if you want. There is also a story that in the 1930's the wife of the President of the Frito Lay Corporation invented it. But either way we are all the winners cause someone came up with it.

So here's my take on the Frito Pie, it's a little more work than just opening up a can, but hey that's why we have recipes. This also includes my recipe for authentic Texas chili ( aka no tomatoes). Enjoy Yall.

Forrest's Authentic Texas Chili and Frito Pie Recipe

For the sauce:

1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup flour
3 Tablespoons Garlic powder
2 Tablespoons Ground Cumin
2 Tablespoons Dried Oregano
2 Tablespoons Dried Coriander
1 teaspoon cinnamon 
1 Tablespoon Kosher Salt
1/2 Cup Red Chili Powder ( I used a mix of regular Store Brand Chili powder and ground Guajillo Pepper powder and Ancho Chili powder in equal amounts)
31/2 cups beef broth
1 bottle of lager beer

For the chili:
2 strips of bacon diced
1 pound Beef Brisket cut up into 1/2 inch cubes
1 large white onion diced finely
1 can green chilis
2 Tablespoons of hot Coco Mix with sugar added.
2 Tablespoons cornmeal baking mix or Masa

Method:

Cook the bacon add the onions over low heat until browned and the onion is soft then add the beef and cook till browned
salt to taste

In another pan:

Melt butter and stir in the flour
Let cook for a few moments then pour in the other dry ingredients
Cook till starts to smoke stirring constantly
Then add the beef broth slowly combining the mix
Add the cocoa 
Then add the beer
When combined let it come to a bubble and boil
Cook for 5 mins stirring often
At this point you are done but to get more combined complex flavor to can
reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 to 30 mins
If it gets too thick add more broth or just water
It should be thick and delicious
Add salt to taste if you like it more salty add it
Add the meat mixture to this and the can of chili's and the Masa
Cover and let cook over low heat for 3 hours together adding water if it gets too dry.

Frito Pie

In a 9 x 9 baking pan  or in individual gratin dishes layer about 2 cups of fritos on the bottom
Top with a layer of the chili ( as much as you want)
Add chopped raw onion and tomatoes
Top with a layer of grated cheese ( I like white cheddar)
Bake in a 350 degree oven till cheese is melted and everything is good
To serve place portion on plate and garnish with sour cream, chopped cilantro, jalapenos and radish sticks for crunch and color. Enjoy Ya'll and GO TEAM!!!











No comments:

Post a Comment