Recipe Monday (Tuesday)

Because of the holiday I didn't get a chance to post my recipe yesterday. Today's recipe is for Chili Cheese Oven Fries. This is a combination of two recipes I found and I think they paired nicely together. About 2 weeks ago I was watching Down Home with the Neelys on Food Network. Pat was making his famous chili and it looked really good, so I decided I would give it a try. Chili is one of my favorite things to eat even in the dead heat of summer I will eat a hot bowl of chili. One of the best things that goes with chili is potatoes, so I thought I would make Chili Cheese Oven Fries. I did make a few changes to the chili recipe, but I will post the link to the original recipe if you would like to try it.

Chili Cheese Oven Fries
6 slices bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 medium onions, finely chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
3 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 pound 85 percent lean ground beef
1 pound ground pork
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15-ounce) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
2 (15-ounce) can roasted tomatoes
2 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes, with juice
4 medium Russet potatoes, washed
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1/2 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. Kosher salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
Sour cream, for garnish
Shredded Cheddar, for garnish

In large heavy-bottomed Dutch oven, cook the bacon over medium heat until lightly crisp, stirring occasionally. Once the bacon is browned, add the garlic,
onions, bell peppers, chili powder, cumin, oregano, and smoked paprika and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cook until the vegetables are tender and seasonings are aromatic. Add the beef and break it up with a wooden spoon. Once beef is broken up and beginning to brown, add the pork. Break up with wooden spoon like the beef, and brown, until no longer pink, roughly 4 minutes. Stir in the beans. Toss together, then add the crushed and diced tomatoes. Turn the heat down to low and simmer for 1 1/2 hours. Once the chili has been cooking for an hour start the oven fries. Preheat oven to 400. Mix spices in a medium bowl. Add olive oil and combine well. Cut potatoes into 8 wedges each. Add potato wedges to seasonings and toss to coat. Lightly crumple some aluminum foil and place on a baking sheet. Spray with cooking spray and then arrange potato wedges on foil. This makes cleanup easy because your potatoes won't stick and it will also ensures they're cooked evenly. Bake at 400 for about 40 minutes.
Taste for seasoning and add salt and pepper, if necessary. Transfer oven fries to plate or bowl top with chili, cheese, and sour cream.

Recipe Source:Down Home With The Neelys
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