Bear's Anecdote - As always with Grandpa Bauer, every good meat recipe starts with one, two or three onions,
depending on the price of onions. Grandpa Bauer was an amazing man. It seemed as if he could do anything he
set his hand to, and do it astoundingly well. He was a shark at cribbage. He had an excellent feel for
fashion. To top it off, he had a wonderful sense of humor.
2 lbs chopped beef (could be ground beef, cubes or whatever)
2 medium onions, diced finely (could be chopped or whatever)
1 cup diced green peppers
2 cups chopped celery (sweet celery if you can find it)
2 large cans (#2-1/2) chili or kidney beans (experiment with other beans if you like)
2 6oz cans tomato paste
4 tomato paste cans of water
1 tbsp chili powder (this recipe is even good without chili powder!!!)
1 small clove garlic or 1/4 tsp instant garlic flakes (I always add more garlic!)
1 tbsp salt
2 tbsp brown sugar (Grandpa Bauer always added sugar to any tomato recipe!!)
Get the garlic going in hot oil in the bottom of a Dutch oven (or big stock pot) on the stove
Add the meat and brown it.
Add onions, green peppers and celery.
Cook on stove top until the celery is wilted.
In a sauce pan, combine beans, tomato paste, sugar and water.
Once hot, add the tomato and bean mixture to the meat veggie mix.
Simmer for 1-1/2 to 2 hours.
This recipe is a great starting point for experimentation. Try a little cayenne pepper in place of the
chili powder. Try adding some venison, pork or veal in place of some of the beef. Try black beans or a
mix of beans. Add corn. Add some red bell peppers for color. Experiment with other types of peppers.
Try a dash of Chinese hot oil in place of the chili powder.