Chili and Buttermilk Cornbread

Uptown Downhome Chili - recipe courtesy of Rachael Ray
Heat and enjoy.

Ingredients
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
2 pounds ground sirloin (Turkey for Kim)
2 tablespoons grill seasoning (recommended: McCormick's Montreal Steak Seasoning) a palm full
1/2 pound baby Portobello mushrooms, chopped
1/4 pound shiitake mushroom caps, sliced - (I use regulate white if I can't find these)
1 medium yellow skinned onion, chopped
3 ribs celery, chopped
1 large red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
4 to 6 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 canned chipotle peppers in adobo, chopped, with their juices or 1 generous palm full ground chipotle chili powder, about 2 tablespoons
1 tablespoon ground cumin, half a palm full
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained
1 (15 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
2 cups beef stock

Directions
Heat a deep, large skillet or a pot over high heat. Add 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil and the meat. Season it with grill seasoning and sear it up, browning and crumbling it, for 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer meat to a plate and return pot to stove. Reduce heat to medium- high and add another tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil. Add the mushrooms and begin to brown them before adding the other veggies. After 2 or 3 minutes the mushrooms will begin to shirk and soften. Push the mushrooms off to one side of the pot and add all the remaining veggies to the opposite side of the pot surface. Once the onions, celery, peppers and garlic have been working for a few minutes as well, mix the veggies with the mushrooms. Add the meat back, season with Worcestershire sauce, chipotle in adobo or chipotle powder and cumin. Add in stock to deglaze the pot, scraping up all the pan drippings. Add the black beans, tomatoes, and stock to chili and simmer 10 minutes for flavors to combine. Taste to adjust seasonings.


Buttermilk Cornbread

1/2 cup butter, melted
2/3 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup corn meal
1 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt

Stir together and bake in 8" square pan at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.