A Hurricane Tradition: Nurse Nancy’s Famous Chili with a Secret Twist
When I worked at our local hospital, I had a dear friend Nurse Nancy, who lived on the Pamlico River. Whenever a hurricane threatened Eastern North Carolina, she packed up and came to stay with me. And every time, without fail, we made her legendary chili. The secret ingredient that made it unforgettable was a splash of tequila.
Ingredients
- 2-3 pounds ground beef
- 1 large green pepper chopped into pieces
- 1 large onion diced
- 2 28-ounce cans tomatoes
- 2 10-ounce Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies medium heat
- 3 15.5-ounce cans dark red kidney beans drained
- 1 15.5-ounce can cannellini beans drained
- 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 1-1 1/2 Tablespoon chili pepper or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
- 2-3 Tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1/4 cup Tequila
- 1 8.5-ounce can corn optional
- 1/2 cup cheddar cheese shredded for garnish
- sour cream garnish, optional
- diced onion garnish, optional
Instructions
- Cook ground beef, bell pepper and onion in a large pot. Pour off fat and drippings into a Pyrex dish. I usually put the grease in refrigerator until the grease rises to the top. Skim off fat and add the remaining drippings to the chili pot.
- Add the two cans of whole tomatoes with juice. Cut whole tomatoes in half with kitchen scissors. Add the Rotel diced tomatoes with green peppers and juice.
- Add the beans.
- Add the salt, chili pepper, ground peppers, lime juice, and tequila.
- Cook for an hour on fairly low temperature.
- To serve, garnish with corn, cheese, sour cream and diced onion. Bon appetit!
Nurse Nancy and I had many fun times on the river. We never knew that looking back we would be so wistful. We had no fear. Often, we took off in her 16-foot open day sailor and sailed all the way to the Pamlico Sound. Darkness fell and, whew, finding our way home was interesting! We always made it and never doubted ourselves.
Before we came to Big Mill B&B for refuge, we readied her cottage for the onslaught of wind and water. An old-timer told us to remove every third board on her pier so that the water could escape and not take the pier with it. That year Nancy’s pier was the only one to remain intact for about a mile along the river.
For another hurricane, we made Hurricane Hannah Pear Preserves. My pear tree dumped bushels of pears during that storm.
I hope you enjoy this chili as much as we did.
Big Mill B&B Extended Stay in Williamston, NC 252-799-8787, We cater to guests who are in our area for contract works like traveling nurses, docs, business professionals. We have 5 suites, 3 RV slots, and an Airstream.
If you’re a traveling nurse, a contractor on assignment, or simply someone planning to stay a while in eastern NC, Big Mill offers comfortable, fully furnished long?term rentals right here on the property.
Book your stay, pull up a chair, and make yourself at home.
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