Mule-kicking Hot Chili

Total Time: 2 hrs 5 mins Preparation Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 20 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 3 dried ancho chiles
• 2 dried pasilla peppers
• 2 dried chipotle chiles
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 lb beef round steak, trimmed of fat and cut into 1/2 inch cubes
• 1 1/2 lbs sweet italian sausage
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon dried mexican oregano
• 1 1/2 teaspoons prepared hot mustard
• 1 (12 ounce) can budweiser beer (or your choice of non-yuppie brew)
• 1 tablespoon masa harina (dissolved in 1/4 cup water)

Recipe

• 1 put the chiles in a large heatproof bowl; add boiling water to cover.
• 2 let stand 30 minutes, until soft; stem and seed them.
• 3 in a food processor, puree the chiles with some of the soaking water; set aside.
• 4 in a large pot, saute the onion and garlic in the oil until soft.
• 5 add in the beef; cook until browned; drain any excess fat; set aside.
• 6 preheat the broiler; cook the sausages under the broiler until they are cooked through and crisp skinned.
• 7 cut into 1 inch discs and add to the beef/onion mixture in the large pot along with the chile puree, sugar, salt, pepper, oregano, mustard, and beer.
• 8 stir well and bring to a boil; decrease heat and cook at a simmering boil, partially covered, for 40 minutes.
• 9 add in the masa harina mixture; cook for 10 more minutes.