Step #2 You may do it in the same pan that you are going to put the chili in.
Step #3 The meat should be brown on the outside, but you don't have to cook it much at this time.
Step #4 Drain the fat from the beef.
Step #5 Put everything in a big pot over low heat/flame (a slow cooker is handy) & stir this together.
Step #6 Wait half an hr to an hr & check the flavor of the soupy base.
Step #7 Adjust as you see fit.
Step #8 Perhaps add more beer, hot peppers, or spices.
Step #9 Repeat as necessary.
Step #10 Wait as long as you can, stirring every once in awhile.
Step #11 You may eat it when the beans & beef are soft.
Step #12 serve this with bread, fresh-baked biscuits or cornbread.
Step #13 This is best if it has cooked at least overnight.
Step #14 Generally it's ready for consumption after about three hrs.
Step #15 If you can't turn your stove down to a very low heat, you're bound to burn the bottom of the chili a little, but as long as you don't scrape it off, it will taste okay.
Step #16 Slow-cookers are great in this regard! At the three hr mark, the chili is somewhat soupy.
Step #17 If you want it to thicken up, turn up the heat a bit & let it boil off the excess water.
Step #18 While doing this, stir every few mins or you may burn the bottom! NOTES: Andy's own recipe for meat/bean chili -- This is the descendant of the chili that I've been making since 1974.
Step #19 I change the proportions of ingredients (double the beef, drop the beans, add LOTS more cumin) all the time; this recipe is just a general guideline.
Step #20 The amount of garlic given in the recipe is very conservative.
Step #21 Garbanzo beans (chick peas) are nice, but they take a lot longer to cook.
Step #22 Making it with lamb or Italian sausage instead of beef is also interesting.
Step #23 Cherry peppers instead of jalapeno peppers are very nice also.
Step #24 Do not use wimpy American beer! I have found that Moosehead adds a good flavor, & I bet that Anchor Steam will too.
Step #25 : Difficulty: easy.
Step #26 : Time: 15 mins preparation, 3 hrs cooking.
Step #27 : Precision: no need to measure.
Step #28 : Andrew Scott Beals : Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore Ca : bandy@lll-crg.