Wayne Boatwright wrote:
> On Tue 27 Sep 2005 09:37:38p, jmcquown wrote in rec.food.cooking:
>
>> Wayne Boatwright wrote:
>>> On Tue 27 Sep 2005 09:03:28p, zxcvbob wrote in rec.food.cooking:
>>>
>>>> Wayne Boatwright wrote:
>>>>> The flavor found in canned chili and in canned "chili beans"
>>>>> eludes me.
>>>>>
>>>>> When I make my own chili recipe it's flavored with onion, garlic,
>>>>> chili powder, cumin, coriander, Mexican oregano and a bay leaf.
>>>>> It's a good basic chili and we like it.
>>>>>
>>>>> However, the canned products have a very different flavor and
>>>>> almost all brands taste quite similar. The list of ingredients
>>>>> on the
>>>>> cans, of course, just say "and spices".
>>>>>
>>>>> Anyone have an idea what makes up this flavor?
>>>>>
>>>>> TIA
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Pressure-can some beef stew meat. The long processing time gives
>>>> it
>>>> a subtle fishy taste that is what you are looking for. Add a jar
>>>> of the canned meat to your chili, and thicken it with a little
>>>> wheat flour and cheap paprika. HTH :-)
>>>>
>>>> Best regards,
>>>> Bob
>>>>
>>>
>>> LOL! I know what you mean, Bob. Some canned products containing
>>> meat don't smell much different from dog or cat food.
>>>
>>> However, this "spice" flavor also dominates the canned "chili beans"
>>> like Bush's, and contain no meat or meat products.
>>
>> I know what you mean, Wayne, and I wish I knew what it was, too. I'm
>> starting to think it's like a reverse sort of (non-sexual)
>> salt-peter... something that makes us *want* to buy the chili or
>> chili beans. I get cravings for this stuff! I had to add "chili
>> beans" to my sloppy joe meat (before I turned it into chili mac)
>> last week. The pull was irresistable. And man did it taste good!
>>
>> Jill
>
> I would add "chili beans" to my homemade chili, but I prefer kidney
> beans over pinto beans. I really like the sauce part.
>
But the ones I buy are kidney beans, not pinto beans! And don't let anyone
get into a political argument, they are Bush's chili beans! Sorry, they
were available waaaay before the first man named Bush was president. Back
in high school my friend Libby and I used to make up rhymes about the canned
vegetables and beans in my mothers glass front pantry (yes, we were that
bored!) in the 1970's and we made up, "Bush's Best Beans Went by Boat
Bypassing Boston". I think we didn't like Boston baked beans. Hmmm.
Teenage commentary on pantry contents, circa 1974. LOL

> When I make chili I have to make two pots. David wants his very
> plain, but he likes the chili beans in it. I put lots of "stuff" in
> my chili, but not the chili beans.

They aren't very spicy. They just add a little "something". Took me years
to discover them, too.

Jill