Chili con carne

Is there anyone out there who doesn't like chili con carne? This easy and effective dish is great for parties, especially when hungry teenagers are involved. I always prepare a large quantity of chili, even if it's just for us five, because the leftovers (if there are any) are perfect for freezing and then enjoying on another day, when you don't have time to or feel like cooking.

Ingredients (for 10)

• 1 kg lean ground beef
• 1 extra large onion or 2 medium ones
• olive oil
  
• 3 cloves garlic
• 2 tablespoons ground cumin
• salt
• ground chili pepper
• 2 tins red beans
• 1 large tin of canned tomatoes

1. Chop the onion and stir-fry it in olive oil together with the whole cloves of garlic
2. When the onions are getting brown, add the meat and keep stirring until the meat is thoroughly browned too
3. Add the cumin, salt and chili pepper
4. Add the beans (liquid in the tin included)
5. Chop the tomatoes and add them to the casserole (liquid in the tin included).
6. Cook in low heat for around half an hour.
   

Serve with white rice, a green salad, guacamole and, for those who like it hot, Tabasco.

Pasta (with meat sauce) bolognaise

My children have always called this international Italian favourite "pasta with meat sauce". However, I use far less meat than most recipes for pasta bolognaise. It tastes just as good and is consistent with my 2010 resolution to eat less meat (a small contribution to the environment).

Ingredients (for lots: prepare it once and freeze the rest for days when you don't feel like cooking)

• 750 grams lean minced meat
• 250 grams soya granules
• 4 onions
• 2 cloves garlic
• 3 carrots
• 1 stalk of celery
• 2 large tins of peeled tomatoes
• 1 small packet of tomato puree
  
• olive oil
  
• 4 tablespoons salt
• cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon sugar
  

+ any kind of pasta cooked al dente
+ grated parmesan or grana padano

1. Soak the soya granules in cold water
2. Chop the onions and stir-fry them in olive oil until soft (use a very large casserole)
3. Add the minced meat and keep stirring till the meat is browned
4. Chop the carrots, celery and garlic in a blender and add to the meat
5. Chop the tinned tomatoes and pour them in, together with the remaining liquid in the tin and the tomato puree
   
6. Season with salt, cayene pepper and sugar
7. Strain the soya granules and add them to the sauce
8. Cover the pan and let the sauce simmer for around 40 minutes
   

Meat balls (bolinho de carne)

My mum taught me how to make meat balls this way (which she probably learned from her mum) and now it's time for me to pass on the recipe to my children. I hate frying things, but once in a while I make an exception for these really delicious meat balls.

Ingredients (for 5, hungry teenagers included)

• 800 grams minced meat
• 5 slices of bread (doesn't need to be fresh, but use a good quality loaf like Pão de Mafra or Pão Alentejano or even something wholemeal)
• 2 eggs
• 2 cloves of garlic
• parsley
• salt
• black pepper
• peanut or olive oil for deep-frying

1. Soak the bread in cold water for 5 minutes then squeeze it dry and blend it with the garlic and parsley.
2. Put the meat and eggs into a bowl and add the above bread mixture.
3. Season with salt and pepper and mix everything very well with clean hands.
4. Roll the meat balls into 3 cm balls and deep-fry them.

In the picture, I served them with mashed potatoes and green beans.