So, you have a bunch of friends coming over to watch the Superbowl with you on Sunday, and you need an idea for a crowd-friendly dish.  Maybe something, even, you can make the day before.  Something hearty and flavorful.  I've one idea for you, and I think you'll find it the very best chilli you'll ever eat.  Don't let the ingredient list intimidate you, though.  It's pretty easy to make, and once assembled, will cook without attention for about 4 hours.  I've modified this dish from the one I made in commercial kitchens to make it a little more home cook friendly.  This will take care of 20 friends.

2 ancho chiles (you'll find these dried)
2 mulato chiles (also dried)
4 passila chiles (again, dried)
6# beef chuck, cubed (about 1/2 inch in size)
1/2 # smoked bacon, cut into matchsticks
1# of diced, smoked pork chops (or smoked ham)
3# yellow onions, diced
1 cup celery, diced
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
5 bay leaves
3 jalapeno peppers, seeds removed, minced
3 serrano chiles, seeds removed, minced
1 small can chipotle peppers, chopped
2-35 ounce cans of plum tomatoes
1/2 cup tequila
2 cups beef stock
1/2 tsp rosemary
1 tsp sage
1 tsp oregano
1 tbls cumin
2 tbls ground coriander

In a large pot, cook the cubed chuck, bacon and smoked pork chops in a little corn oil to brown, about 20 minutes.  Add the onions and cook until they brown.

Add the celery and ancho, mulato and pasilla chiles and cook for 10 minutes.  Add everything else all together, bring just to a simmer, and cook, uncovered, for about 4 hours.

Serve with warm hunks of corn bread and cold beer, and you'll be a hero.  If you try it, come back and post a comment to let us know how it turned out for you. 

Oh, and one other thing . . . . GO PATRIOTS!

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