In my dreams, I am a cowgirl. I ride the mountain range, heat food over an open flame and breath in the fresh air….
If you are not a meat eater then you might want to tune me out for a minute. You could also sub out the elk with any ground meat or poultry of your choice. If you are vegan then you could go with tofu crumbles, beans or a meatless substitute. You would still benefit greatly with all the other ingredients in this chili. I mean really, sweet potatoes and spices all done up cowgirl or cowboy style. Bring it.
The heat driven blackouts in Southern California are not reflective of crispy fall days right now but in other parts of the country, there is a hint of fall in the air. That hint makes me very, very happy.
I eat my chili over a big green salad. I love a bit of cool crisp with my warming foods.
Every time we travel to Telluride I prepare two things within the first few days of arrival. A giant pot of homemade applesauce and an even bigger pot of chili. Sometimes I use bison, other times lean ground beef. Turkey or chicken can find their way in the pot too. Just depends on what I find at the market and what I am in the mood for.
For this batch, I scored ground elk at the local farmers market. Each and every Friday throughout the summer there is an amazing farmers market with the freshest produce, artisan creations, flowers, meats, cheeses, chocolate, pastry, breads….you name it, it’s there. All on one small block. Spectacular if you ask me.
Have you ever had elk meat? It is lean and full of flavor. I would say it is a cross between bison and ground beef. I got mine from the awesome High Wire Ranch.
I added ground cinnamon to this recipe. It ponies up nicely to the cumin and chili powder.
One of my other favorite vendors at the market is James Ranch. The 400 acre ranch is located 10 miles outside of Durango, CO. Here’s what they say “….irrigated pastures, crystal clear flowing water, 100% grass fed and finished beef cattle, grazing Jersey milk cows, a spruce tree nursery, an organic vegetable and flower garden, and busy families who utilize organic growing practices in the day-to-day operation of the ranch and their enterprises.” Idealic huh!
It is my plan to visit there someday, the ranch is about 2 hours from where we stay, perhaps next summer. I was too busy hiking & mushroom hunting this visit.
We enjoyed plenty of their artisan, raw milk sharp cheddar cheese. Blissful. I had the opportunity to meet the owners Kay and Dave James at Mountain Film this past May. A lovely couple if you ask me. They take great pride in their family, food and sustainable farming practices.
This recipe is featured on the Chef Marcus Samuelsson blog too…..
What is your favorite chili recipe?
Click HERE for Recipe Details.
Relevant Recipe Links
Lots of links for you today. I tweeted for you guys to send me your favorites and boy did you send me great recipes!
- Chinese Five Spice Harvest Chili with Bison MarlaMeridith.com
- Chocolate Chip Chili Simple Bites
- Easy Vegetarian Chili Two Peas and Their Pod
- Game Day and White Chili Aggie’s Kitchen
- Mom’s Chili and Portobello Vegetarian Shockingly Delicious
- Pumpkin Beef Chili Chocolate and Carrots
- Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Black Bean Chili Have Recipes Will Cook
- Slow Cooked Beef Chili Duchess of Fork
- Slow Cooker Summer Chicken Chili Back to Her Roots
- Southwest Chicken Chili Mac…Skillet Style Picky Palate
- Spicy Sweet Chili and Brown Sugar The Life’s and Love’s of Grumpy’s Honeybunch
- Thick Oven Baked Chili Barbara Bakes
- Valentine’s Red Beet Chili Reluctant Entertainer
- Vegetable Chili Never Enough Thyme
- White Chicken Chili Not Rachael Ray
This post has been included in TidyMom’s I’m Lovin it Fridays
I’ve never had elk but this seems like a great way to try it. Any chance you froze the leftovers and brought them back west? 😉
Ha! Aida, no I did not freeze the leftovers ~ but this chili sure would freeze well for lazy nights when a cowgirl cannot cook up a meal.
This sounds delicious!
I would love to live in the mountains somewhere in cowboy country…
Congrats on being featured on Chef Marcus Samuelsson’s site!
That chili looks amazing! Wow, elk meat, how intriguing.
Cheers,
Rosa
Thanks Rosa! I know you and I are mountain gals. Now we just need to get together & cook for one another. Colorado or Switzerland? …your choice. OK how about both!
Looks delicious, headed over there to check out the recipe. Thanks for including my link!
Rachel, you are so welcome. Your chili looks great girl!
This recipe looks delicious and so do the pictures. I love making chili in the winter because of the layers of flavors and spices and it can be a “stick to your ribs” nutritious dish. Here is a chili recipe you might be interested in – it is one I will make over and over again, although unconventional! http://sweetsavoryplanet.blogspot.com/2011/05/chicken-chili-verde-with-beans.html
Laura, your chili verde looks awesome. Thanks for sharing the link. I have never tried one like this (always the red) but need to pronto! Not only do I love a steamy bowl of chili on the cooler days for all the reasons you mention, but I love the fact you can make a big batch & freeze it for lazy winter nights. More cuddle time 😉
It’s totally getting to be chili season…and coincidentally elk season too! Can’t wait 🙂
Heather have you had elk….I am thinking yes??
You’re so cute in your cowgirl photo. Love it!
I look forward to making more chili this fall. It’s such a great dish when it’s cold and crisp out!
I’ve never tried Elk before…I think I would be afraid to. And I love love love that you added cinnamon. That makes chili so good! Thank you for including me in your round up! 😀
I am a meat lover and have eaten a lots of different kinda meat. I ate dear too but not sure if that was elk or something else. This dish is looking so yum and spicy, just the kind I enjoy 🙂
I dont know how you do it… but you manage to make foods that I wouldnt normally consider beautiful look just amazing Marla!! Great recipe!
Marla- I do LOVE chiil, and have certainly never had elk chili before! Would love to try this!
Fun post, fun photos — really captured the cowgirl side of you!
aaah ! so need to go to James Ranch. also, love elk meat. just tried all the game meats at Half Moon around here in Kennet Square. love.
ps, http://amandamantes.blogspot.com !
The pictures are stunning, as usual.
This time, not JUST of the food. Because YOU look awesome! You look like a natural next to that horse.
And the cowgirl that’s printed on that dishtowel or napkin…oh, that is too cute 🙂
Just got power on over here & blogged. WHAT a harrowing 24 hours it’s been. Coffee with you is going to taste so good next week 🙂
If any of your readers are looking for that super-cute cowgirl towel, we sell them on our online store – http://www.homealamode.com. We specialize in vintage-inspired kitchen and home items, including many western and cowboy themed items.
Thanks Jill! I am gonna go & check out your website now 🙂
Awesome looking chili. Hope you’re having a great birthday 🙂
Oh wow, this sounds fantastic! Can’t wait for winter season so I can make chili all the time.
Elk? How exotic! That market sounds really close to my version of heaven. Beautiful photos!
I looooooove chili. So much that I can barely see what I type through the tears.
Dear. Babies.
Yummy! Love the cowgirl napkin!!!
Happy birthday sweet friend! xo
What an awesome recipe! Yum!
Love your photos! Thanks for linking to my chili. I am excited for chili season. Happy birthday to you:) xoxo
Congrats on the feature!!!
I’ve never tasted chili or elk, for that matter. Shocker?!? 😀 It looks tasty though.
Love that you added sweet potato to your chili, might need to try a vegetarian version of this! xx
Wow, this chili looks so good. After seeing all of your gorgeous photographs from Telluride, I need to go see it someday! You look adorable, by the way. 🙂
This looks so tasty. I think you and I need to sit around a campfire together one day soon!
Georgia, can I tell you how much I LOVE that idea. Where? When? We need to plan some outings soon 🙂
marla, your images are simply stunning! i’m always in awe when i read through your posts. 🙂
Valentina, you are the sweetest. Thank you!
I’ve never tried or seen elk or bison around here, but it sounds interesting. Love that cowgirl napkin 😉 Happy belated birthday!
Love the pictures! I’ve not tried elk. We don’t have much of an opportunity here to get it, but I’m sure beef would work fine.
Hi Kristi, beef would be perfect! Hope you enjoy your Cowgirl Chili 🙂
YUM!!! This sounds delish! My moms side of the family is from Texas and chili is a staple in our household!!
Katie, isn’t chili the perfect staple! Love that you can make a huge batch & freeze some for lazy days. I need to get me some of that awesome Texan chili 🙂
Well, I can’t say I’ve ever eaten elk, but this chili looks delicious. Love the sweet potatoes in there. Another inventive Marla recipe that I want to try. 🙂
Monica, the roasted sweet potatoes add so much to this chili. So does the dash of cinnamon. I hope you do get to try it!
Yum, what a wonderful recipe! Thanks for sharing 🙂
As always, your photos are gorgeous. I just love that tea towel!
I love a good chilli. We will never get elk meat here, but I think beef or venison (hard to get here too) would do the trick.
Hi Cakelaw, any of those meats you mentioned would be perfect. What I love about chili is how versatile we can make the ingredients. That dash of cinnamon adds a little something special to this recipe.
Love your cute cowgirl towel. Such a great idea to whip up big batch of chili to have ready and waiting after hiking. Thanks for including my link!
Barbara, I am so in love with that little cowgirl. She is so happy & precious! Your chili looks great too 🙂
You’ve got me in such the mood for chili right now girl! I love your photo of you and the horse. I LOVE it. I kinda want to be a cowgirl sometimes too, though I have no idea how to be 🙂
And since you mentioned it…chili over salad sounds absolutely delicious!!!
Thanks so much for including me in your link love!
Hi Marla!
I love elk… and venison and bison and…. to be blunt – “game is good”!! This chili sounds wonderful and a great way to showcase game! Wish it were easier to get in our neck of the woods though!!
My favorite chili recipe involves cinnamon too. And pumpkin! Kind of like sweet potato 🙂
Cara, I tend to use the two interchangeably. Both pumpkin & sweet potatoes are favorites in sweets and savories. So is cinnamon for that matter.
It’s all about the boots really – but where’s your hat?! You have the horse, the chili and the back drop – you so so so need a ten gallon hat!
my brother shot an elk a few years ago, and he’s still working on that meat–it was huge! there have been more chilis than anything else, i’m sure. 🙂
Ha! That is the best thing to do with all that elk meat. Slow cooker stews too 🙂
Looks delicious!! I love any chili as long as it’s spicy! 🙂
Courtney….I love spicy chili too!
Oh, that sounds just delicious! I’ve only had a *bite* of elk when my husband ordered it at one of our favorite places in Austin. It was delicious!
With the weather just starting to turn chilly (pun intended) in NYC, I could really go for a big bowl of this for lunch today! Your photos are stunning!
This recipe looks absolutely fabulous and even though I’ll be making it with ground beef, I can’t wait to try it! Thank you for such a wonderful cool-weather recipe!
It will be equally amazing with beef. Enjoy 🙂
Made it. Loved it! Thanks for a new spin on an old favorite!
Looks fantastic! Love the picture of you with the horse, cute jeans too. I also love the cowgirl tea towel, adorable.
Looks great Marla,we eat lots of Elk Chili over here and Elk everything else for that matter. I have a freezer full of Elk 🙂 Just make Elk Stew yesterday. Will have to give your recipe a try…with one of the umpteen pounds of elk we have. Last one my husband got was 700 lbs. yea….that’s a lot of Elk 🙂
Wow Diane! Had no idea your hubs was a hunter. Very cool. To think you have a freezer full of Elk is awesome. Could you imagine how much you would pay for that at the butcher??!! Let me know if you try the chili. That dash of cinnamon & sweet potatoes adds so much fun flavor.
YUM!! LOVE ELK! LOVE CHILI! And my daughter and I were just talking today about how we secretly think we’d love to live on a ranch!
I made chili last week with a can of pumpkin in it….it was pretty good!
Kirstin, I think the same thing all the time. How I would love to live on a ranch! So glad you love elk chili too! Chili with pumpkin is amazing. Have you checked out my Pumpkin Coconut Curry with Chicken Meatballs??