CHILI-RICE SOUP GIFT MIX

Steps:

• NOTE: Ingredients do not contain salt, which allows recipient to salt to taste.
• Mix all dry ingredients together and pour into a sealable jar or plastic bag.
• Enclose Cooking Instructions (see below).
• Slip into a decorative celophane bag and attach a bow.
• Give as a hostess gift or add to a gift basket.
• COOKING INSTRUCTIONS: Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil.
• Add Dry Package Mix and tomatoes with green chilis.
• Stir and cook for 35-45 minutes, or until lentils and barley are tender.
• While soup is cooking, brown ground beef in a hot skillet until no longer pink, breaking up beef as you brown it.
• Pour beef into a colander and rinse under hot water.
• Drain well.
• Add to soup mixture.
• Add chili beans and continue to cook until beans are hot.
• Taste for seasonings, adding a little salt if needed.
• TO SERVE: Ladle into large bowls and serve with crackers, cornbread, or toasted sourdough bread.
• OPTIONAL GARNISHES: Top each serving with any or all of the following: grated cheddar cheese, a dollop of sour cream, chopped pickled jalapenos.
• VARIATIONS: (1) You can add or substitute (for the chili beans), any of the following: canned black beans, great northern beans, navy beans, kidney beans, or corn.
• You may need to add an additional cup or 2 of water.
• (2) Bulk sausage (beef or venison) can be substituted for the lean ground beef.
• NOTE: If you use plain canned tomatoes instead of tomatoes with green chilis, you will need to add a can chopped green chilies, or about 1/8-1/4 tsp.
• crushed red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to compensate for the heat nd flavor or the tomato/green chili mixture.