Hopefully everyone’s brackets are looking like winners.  This month is sure to bring out some crazy foodie recipes that will revolve around basketball in some way.

One of my go-to recipes for March Madness is Triple Threat Chili! If you know your basketball terms, you know that a “Triple Threat” is a position where you have three options to shoot, pass, dribble the ball and drive it towards the basket. This position, while facing the basket, gives you an advantage to see the entire court.  You can read the defensive players and see any open players on your team.  This Triple Threat Chili, gives you the advantage of seeing your guests and seeing the look of pure pleasure on their faces after trying this chili.

Triple Threat Chili has countless variations of how it should be made and what ingredients to use.  What is the history of chili?  There are myths and tall tales of the origins of chili.  One tale tells of a Spanish nun, Sister Mary of Agreda, who supernaturally appeared to Native Americans in the early 1600s with the first recipe.  This recipe consisted of chili peppers, venison (deer meat), onions and tomatoes.

A newer legend suggests immigrants from the Canary Islands brought the chili recipe to San Antonio, Texas in the early 1700s.  It wasn’t until the 1800s when chili stands began popping up in San Antonio and served by women called “chili queens”.  The fame of this scrumptious dish began to spread across the country kicking off the first chili cook-off in 1952.  Many dispute the 1952 claim and believe the chili cook-off actually began in 1967 in Terilingua, Texas.  Whenever and where ever it began, chili is a staple at any March Madness party.

Triple Threat chili can be made using many different combinations of foods.  There are recipes for beef, chicken, sausage chili.   Or, jalapeño, New Mexico green chili and chipotle.  You can even choose bacon, BBQ sauce and bourbon.  The combinations are endless.  Whatever recipe you choose,  Le Creuset Dutch Ovens can make it a one pot dish.  Check out Le Creuset’s “New Calm” spring colours, such as Meringue and Sage.  ON SALE FOR A LIMITED TIME!

Want to serve your Triple Threat Chili in a bread bowl?  The Vitamix Explorian E310 Blender can help in creating the perfect dough.  The Vitamix Explorian is NOW ON SALE FOR A LIMITED TIME at UNDER $400!!

With all of the mixing and measuring that will be going on to create your culinary Triple Threat Chili, make sure to use All Clad mixing bowls, measuring cups and spoons.

The following Triple Threat Chili recipe was inspired from The Healthy Foodie with some flavor variations.  I like mine spicy, savory and I use three different types of meats.

 Triple Threat Chili Recipe: 

Ingredients:

• 1 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 white onion, roughly chopped
• 1-pound ground pork
• 1-pound lean ground beef
• 1-pound ground chicken
• 1 Tbsp. salt (I use pink Himalayan salt)
• 1 Tbsp. ground black pepper
• 1 (6oz.) can tomato paste
• 1 (28-oz) can diced tomatoes
• 1 (28-oz) crushed tomatoes
• 2 (15.5-ounce) cans red beans
• 1 can (7oz) chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
• 2½ Tbsp. ground cumin
• 1 Tbsp. garlic powder
• 2 Tbsp. fresh curled parsley chopped
• ½ tsp. cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp. paprika
• 1 tsp. red pepper flakes
• ¼ cup hot sauce or your choice
• Shredded Cheddar, for serving
• Crème Fraiche for serving
• Sliced green onion, white and green parts, for garnish

Directions:

• Pour 1 Tbsp. in a 6.75 QT. Dutch Oven over medium heat. Add onions to Dutch oven and cook until fragrant and softened, about 2-3 minutes.
• Add ground pork, beef, chicken, salt and pepper to onions.  Cook over medium-high heat until meat is brown, about 10 minutes.
• Add canned tomato paste, diced and crushed tomatoes, red beans, chipotle in adobo sauce, ground cumin, garlic powder and parsley and stir until well combined.
• Add cayenne pepper, paprika and, red pepper flakes, mix until incorporated.
• Stir in hot sauce and simmer over low-heat for 2 hours or until ready to serve, stirring occasionally.
• Serve with a dollop of Crème Fraiche and a pinch of chopped green onions.

Happy Spring and Happy March Madness!