"Skyline" Chili

I've never tried Skyline Chili, but my friend has made it and tweaked it to suit her family. She said it's exactly like Skyline's.

**ADDENDUM: I have now tried Skyline chili and I'm proud to say mine is better. No, seriously. Theirs has weird texture that isn't identifiable. I'm told there are pieces of cocoa shell in it? I dunno. Anyway. The flavors are similar, but I think mine has a richer taste. Try it for yourself.

Skyline Chili

4lb ground beef (brown)
6 cloves garlic (minced)
2 onions (chopped, but I put in food processor on pulse)
2 lg cans Hunts tomato sauce (29oz each)
1 sm can tomato sauce (12 oz)
3 lg cans water + 1 sm can water (total about 100 oz but I use less if I need to, to make it fit in my pot)
3 T white vinegar
6 dashes Worchestershire sauce

Combine:
1/4 cup sugar
4T Chili powder
1 1/4 T salt
12 drops Tabasco sauce
1T Cumin
1 tsp Coriander
1tsp Cayenne pepper
1tsp Black pepper
1T Cinnamon
1T Allspice
10 Bay leaves
1 tsp red pepper (crushed)
4 oz unsweetened chocolate - (I usually use Ghirardelli Chile Pepper Chocolate, but if that's not available, I use semi-sweet dark)

Brown beef and chop finely (I put in my food processor and pulse on low for a bit to get it really fine without making a paste out of it!). Saute onions and garlic, place in LARGE pot. Add wet ingredients, combine dry ingredients and add. Simmer uncovered 5-6 hours, stirring frequently (I use a spatula to scrape bottom). Serve over spaghetti with onions/oyster crackers/cheese...whatever you like! ENJOY!!!

My coveted meatloaf recipe

I've been asked for years to share my meatloaf recipe.

For years, I've declined to share any part of it.

I'm finally going to share with you the basic recipe. I will tell you that this recipe will NOT taste exactly like mine, because I'm not including the secret twist that makes my meatloaf mine. But, this recipe is still VERY very good.

1½ lbs lean ground beef (leaner the better)
½ c ketchup
1/3 c tomato juice
½ tsp each salt and black pepper
¼ tsp red pepper flakes (or a couple dashes of cayenne pepper)
2 eggs, beaten
¾ c fresh bread crumbs (crushed croutons work best here)
¼ c finely diced onions
2 tsp yellow mustard

Topping:
¼ c ketchup
½ tsp yellow mustard
2 tsp brown sugar


1) In large bowl, combine ketchup, tomato juice, salt, peppers, eggs, bread crumbs, onions and mustard. Mix until thoroughly blended.

2) Add ground beef. I mix with my hands so I can make sure all the chunks of meat are broken down and mixed thoroughly.

3) Line a 9x5" loaf pan with foil and press in the meat mixture.

4) In a separate bowl, combine the topping ingredients, mixing well. Spread topping over meatloaf.

5) Bake at 400° for 35-45 mins or until done.

6) Drain off fat. Rest meatloaf for 5 minutes before serving.

**This recipe can also be made in the microwave and I've found works almost better than in the oven.

1) In large bowl, combine ketchup, tomato juice, salt, peppers, eggs, bread crumbs, onions and mustard. Mix until thoroughly blended.

2) Add ground beef. I mix with my hands so I can make sure all the chunks of meat are broken down and mixed thoroughly.


3) On a microwave safe dish, form meat mixture into a 9" ring. Cover with waxed paper.

4) Microwave at 30% power for 15 minutes. Pour off any juices.

5) Repeat step 3 twice more for a total of 45 minutes cook time.

6) Cover top of meatloaf with sauce and microwave uncovered at 100% power for 5 mins.

7) There shouldn't be much, if any, fat to drain off, but if there is, do that. Rest meatloaf for 5 minutes before serving.