Pioneer Woman's Frito Chili Pie

I found this recipe a few days ago over on The Pioneer Woman's blog.  It immediately caught my eye, because she literally served this in mini Frito bags.  What in the world?  Then, that night, I saw a show on Food Network that did the exact same thing.  For something I had never seen before, to seeing it twice in the same day, I guess I had to try it.  The only problem was, that I would have to buy a big box of variety chips in order to get the small Frito bags and I didn't want to do that and there wasn't a vending machine around to buy two bags from.  So, I didn't get to try the fun way of serving this and went with the boring way of just eating it a regular old bowl.  This was really really yummy.  What better way to welcome October, than with a warm comforting bowl of chili.

Frito Chili Pie

adapted from: The Pioneer Woman    

(Printable Recipe)

1 Lb. ground beef

1/2 onion, finely chopped, opt.

1/2 green pepper, finely chopped, opt.

1 1/2 cloves garlic, minced

8 oz. can tomato sauce

1/2 can Rotel (diced tomatoes and green chiles)

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. oregano

1/2 Tbl. cumin

1 Tbl. chili powder

1/2 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1/2 can pinto beans, drained and rinsed

2 Tbl. masa or cornmeal

1/2 c. warm water

Fritos

Cheddar cheese, grated

sour cream

Brown ground beef in a large pot over medium high heat.  Add the onion and green pepper and cook until tender.  Add garlic and cook 30 more seconds.  Add tomato sauce, Rotel, salt, oregano, cumin and chili powder.  Cover and reduce heat to low.  Simmer for 30 minutes.  Add the kidney beans and pinto beans.  Cover and simmer another 20 minutes.  Combine masa and warm water and add.  Simmer a final 10-15 minutes.  Serve with Fritos, shredded Cheddar and sour cream.  Serves: 4

Jenn's Notes: Pioneer Woman's recipe does not include onion or green pepper, but I had some in my fridge, so I added them.  I even had one garden tomato, so I diced it and threw that it in there too.  I also added more water than her recipe called for, because it was super thick without it.  I cut the above recipe in half and it was perfect for the two of us to each have a big bowl full with no leftovers