Secret Ingredient Chili – You Will Never View Chili The Same Way Again! #7Waysto7UP

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of 7UP®. The opinions and text are all mine.

March has arrived and it has come in with a bang.  Living in New England we were pretty happy with the way winter had progressed so far.  We have had some cold (really cold) days but for the most part the days have been pretty mild and manageable.  I can live with 30 degree days no problem.

However, last week we have had near blizzard conditions offset by a day of 60 degrees – yes, New England weather is absolutely crazy.  You pretty much never know what you are going to get – tshirt weather or ski suit weather.

We spend a great deal of time outside since we own three horses.  Not only are we quite cold at times but I don’t have time to make a sit down meal when I get home.  We are gone for 12 hours per day and the kids go to bed not too much after we get home.  Slow cookers have become a way of life – I think I have every size and design possible at this point. We often have three or four going at one time.

Today however, I have just one cooking up a batch of chili.  No batch of my chili is ever the same.  Seriously I love variety and I love surprising my family.  Sometimes my chili is a pretty straightforward batch and other times I like to add some spice and excitement.

So after digging out of our driveway, because of course we woke up to more snow this morning – I made my way to Stop & Shop with the kids.  Because of course as soon as the kids hear shopping they are all about what’s in it for them…  We purchased the traditional chili items – hamburger, black beans, red beans, tomato sauce, tomato paste and chili mix.  But what would our secret ingredient be?

Drum roll please…. 7UP!

You read that right.  I like to add an ingredient that will add a hint of sweetness to our chili but we don’t like to add sugar or brown sugar (though those are definitely possibilities for future batches).  Two cups of 7UP helps make everything nice and tender and just a tinge of sweet with the spice.  7UP is incredibly versatile and can easily change up a recipe.

Have you ever made chili?  Chili seems to be one of those foods that allow for the ultimate creativity and flavors.  There are very few ways you can go wrong making chili.  I am sharing my recipe but remember you can get creative with the following additional ingredients:

Corn

Carrots

Veggie Crumbles

Cinnamon

Coffee

Chocolate

Sugar

Brown Sugar

Onions

Garlic

Cheese

Cream Cheese

And more…

Make sure to check out Savory Magazine in the “New Flavors” edition until 3/30 to save $1.00 when you buy two 7UP 2-Liter bottles.

All four flavors of 7UP are available at Stop & Shop (our local grocery store) and Giant Landover and Giant Carlisle.

Brown up some hamburger – approximately 2.25 pounds lean ground beef.

Add tomato sauce – 2 large cans.

Add beans – I use black and red beans (or whatever beans you’d like to add).  I suggest rinsing them first.  A total of four cans.

Tomato paste – 1 can.

Add the chili powder mix (or your own seasonings).  I add two packets to start but if it needs more once it is done cooking, I simply add another packet.  I can always add one – I can’t take one away.

And the secret ingredient – Diet 7UP.  You could also use Diet 7UP Cherry or regular (not diet).  Add approximately 2 cups.

It’s all in

Mixing it up – cook on low for 6 hours.

Ready to Eat!

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save