| Round the Campfire Now, you’ve got your power snack to keep you going but what about when you stop. Say, you’ve gone on hols with your trusty bike and a tent. Something hot and tasty at the campfire would be nice. (No I DON’T have Kylie Minogues phone number!) But I do have a damn good chilli recipe. It uses Textured Vegetable Protien (TVP), anyone who says it tastes like grit has never cooked it properly!! TVP keeps longer and once marinated and saturated to taste easier to cook with than mince especially as you don’t have to brown it. Bear with me though, Im not really into 'cooking by numbers'……rough guide, keep tasting, put liquid in gradually, but don’t be frightened, you should see liquid just covering the TVP not drowning it. If it looks like drying out sling in some more liquid, water, wine or that can of beer you’ve got handy…….Im not kidding! Right, if you spot this recipe and think 'Oh yum, I'm having some of this' (or words to that effect). And decide to cook it on the move rather than at home, pack in your rucksack…….This magic stuff…… |
Measure TVP into a jug to 1pt level, put in a tupperware box or one that seals firmly and in the emply pint pot mix one pint of boiling water with garlic powder (however much you like, I like lots), a 2 vegetable stock or bullion cubes) a 1 tsp of cumin, corriander and cayenne (cayenne can be substituted with chilli powder), tabasco sauce and a pinch black pepper. Stir it all up and pour over the TVP………if it starts to look like its going for a swim, ………no more water but use a spoon to scrape in any spices etc left in the jug. Stir well and leave to soak. If it starts to look like it will never saturate, simple stir in a bit more TVP. Leave it to cool and seal tightly ready to take on your trip. If you are looking at the TVP thinking 'Oh Bu**er, Ive gone a bit overboard here!' don’t be tempted to leave some of it at home, 2 reasons. 1) This is a good base for many a meal I'll tell you about………..hence the highlighting. And It’s a good way to make friends if you are a sociable soul……… people cooking supernoodles and beans come over saying 'Ooooh that smells nice'. Now, youre all prepared, route decided, TVP marinade packed along with all other kit and tent and CAN-OPENER. |
* On the way visit a supermarket and buy * 1 x 14oz can chopped peeled tomatoes * 1 tube tomato puree * 1 medium onion (which your going to have to chop roughly (but not into LUMPS like my husband) * 1 large can red kidney beans (if the supermarket happens to be a Te*co's get the ones in chilli sauce) * a packet of chilli powder for extra seasoning if needed (tabasco sauce is a good substitute if you cant find chilli powder) * red wine or/and beer or/and bottled water for liquid. Set up your campfire, when the flames are nice and hot, put the onions in your pot and soften in whatever liquid you are using, when softadd TVP mix well, add kidney beans (with the chilli sauce if you went to that well known supermarket!) stir well for a bit add the tomatoes and all the juice and all the tomato paste, stir well for a bit (getting the hang of this arent you) and liquid, preferably alchohol (to the limit where you can still see that the TVP is there and not totally drowned.………………………and BREW! Bring to the boil then stir regularly at a simmer. Drink copious amounts of chosen fluid before during and after meal for maximum enjoyment. |
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| Christine's chilli Creation |
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