I've taken to the kitchen to make a chilli con carne base. This will produce about a kilo of food for just under $20. Where possible I've included photos along the way - blurry at times as they are. Without further adieu, I begin!

Ingredients:
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500g Extra Lean Mince (I cook healthy and you should too!)
2x Brown Onion
1x Red Chilli (hot)
1x Can of 4-Bean Mix
1x Can of Chopped Tomatoes with Basil and Garlic
1x Taco Seasoning Mix
Mexican Chilli Powder
Optional - trendy Thai restaurant cookbook to set the scene and make everyone think you're a connoisseur.

Method:
Prepare chilli and onion - dicing both finely and set aside.
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Add a small amount amount of extra virgin olive oil to a pan, heat on high until the oil shimmers like the air above the tarmac on a 34ºC Brisbane day.
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Brown the onions in the pan, stirring regularly. Score the mince into rough cubes while still in the tray to make it easier to manage, and then add it to the pan.
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Add the diced chilli to the onion and mince and mix well. After all, there's nothing worse than a chilli-hotspot in your meal - if you're entertaining guests you may quickly find a firm boot in a shin or other very personal area.
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As the meat is browning, add the taco seasoning to 3/4 cup of hot water. Mix thoroughly and to the pan on a low heat. This allows the mince and onions to absorb the taco seasoning and the freshly chopped chilli.
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After a few minutes add the tomatoes including all juice and mix through. Return to a medium heat. In the mean time we need to deal with those beans the musical fruits (♫the more you eat the more you...♫ bah you get the idea). Strain in a sink, washing thoroughly.
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Add the beans to the mix, along with the Mexican chilli powder to taste. I recommend at least two tablespoons.
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I prefer Johnny Cash style (♫ I'll sit down on a burnin' ring of fire... ♫) so I'm going five. Stir through ensuring an even distribution, please refer to the previously stated issue of chilli hotspots and kicks received therein.
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Your mix is complete! From here you can simply simmer the pan on a medium heat to reduce the chilli to your own personal taste. I've gone medium-juicy, mmm.

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You now have a chunky, spicy, chilli con carne base to be used in nachos, burritos, enchiladas, tacos, served on rice or simply neat with a bit of cheese - just like a good scotch...wait, what?

that looks delish.

Lucky you included a photo of oil in the pan, I wasn't sure how that step went...

looks nice man, although im not a fan of that four bean mix stuff... just regular old red kidney beans in my chilli :)

p.s. if you feel all gourmet sometime, I stumbled upon this kickass chili recipe the other day:
http://mikes-table.themulligans.org/2008/12/18/chili-mole/

Lucky you included a photo of oil in the pan, I wasn't sure how that step went...

I dunno, there's been a lot of f***ing idiots on the forums lately...

haha nubbin

your anoos will be on fire from that...enjoy :)

ps. I f***ing hate chilli. Lemon and Herb ftw

This might or might not be the best place to ask, but since we're on mexican food...
Anyone knows of a good recipe for beef mole (chocolate sauce)?

ps. I f***ing hate chilli. Lemon and Herb ftw

Don't be a girly man Skitza.

I dunno, I thought your first joke about the cookbook was good, but was followed up with that really average 'keke they will kick you in teh nutz' number.

The beans song joke was just pathetic.

vote fpot food critic #1 !#@$!#%$!#@%R!#%

I dunno, I thought your first joke about the cookbook was good, but was followed up with that really average 'keke they will kick you in teh nutz' number.

The beans song joke was just pathetic.

I'll admit, the jokes are terrible - they were written for another forum of less discerning comedy taste and quickly crossposted here.

looks good, not quite stinkys caliber but I'd eat it anyway

I personally prefer my meat disease free so way to go exo!

Needs chocolate.

yum

Needs chocolate.

Agreed Chocolate is a must ingredient in chilli.

This thread has inspired me to make a batch of my awesome chilli this weekend.

You ruined it by putting beans in it. Beans are the most horrible things ever!!

Apart from that it looked nice.

f*** yesssssss chillii ! I love it.

Not bad son

Lucky you included a photo of oil in the pan, I wasn't sure how that step went...

hey I never know how much oil to use :(

"Discerning" - what a sophisticated word to attribute to this forum. I like it.

Having just tasted a sample, I'll vote for it's awesomeness!

Needed more chilli tho exo.. lots more :D

I cant believe you left out the Garlic.

He used tinned tomatoes with basil and garlic. Also, you should make this next.

last edited by Mantorok at 13:52:32 09/Jan/09

^ That's not garlic ^

agreed, that hardly counts as garlic.

garlic is probably the best ever

Yeah, it's not the same as using freshly chopped garlic, but he also used taco seasoning mix and chilli powder which you don't seem to have a problem with.

last edited by Mantorok at 14:22:12 09/Jan/09

This is the cheap bastard's chilli, the idea is that you can make a kilo of good food for less than $20. If i want to go gourmet I would've ground the spices myself, I can do a gourmet version too if you want?

garlic is probably the best ever

Garlic pwns, I used to get those flat pannini bread-type things, nice cheese (cracker barrel red..mmmm), and those fresh garlic sauce things. Holy s*** they are good. Too bad my gf is gluten intolerant, so i havn't had one in ages (plus she cooks for me, so i can't really make requests, or make anything for myself because then I'd need to make something special for her!)

possibly one of the easiest meals out there... whens the spag boll, cabonara, beef strog, moroccan beef threads coming?

http://recipefinder.ninemsn.com.au/recipesearch/searchresults.aspx?collection=AllRecipes&query=chilli%20con%20carne

I love a good spag boll, love it. So many food snobs were like "nigga waaaat? spag boll? u trippin'". I think stinky or someone needs to show to snobs where it's at.