Chili Cheese Fries

It's NBA finals time! Whoohoo! I actually enjoy watching basketball more than football, but football always brings the game watch parties and the fun food.  Basketball doesn't seem to warrant the same sense of celebrations in our group of friends.  They are more football loving.  Plus NBA games are later on at night on weekdays.  We are adults, and old, and have early bedtimes.  At least we do.

Today I'm sharing Shazad's favorite food ever, and a game day/night pleaser, chili cheese fries!  Who doesn't love chili cheese fries?  It's practically gluttony at it's finest with meat, cheese, and potatoes.

My only gripe with this meal is that it makes too much for 2 people...so invite a friend or friends over to help you eat this up!

Chili Cheese Fries:

Chili:

olive oil
1 lb ground beef
1/2 onion, diced
2 tbs. tomato paste
1/2 can beans (I used black, rinsed)
Salt
Pepper
Garlic Powder
Chili Powder
Cumin
Coriander
Taco seasoning (in lieu of spices listed above, or your own homemade taco blend)
1 cup water

Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.  Add ground beef and brown.  Push the beef to the side of the skillet and add your onion.  Saute them until softened and translucent.  Add tomato paste and let it fry up a bit to get all tasty.  Just a minute or two.

Combine everything together in the skillet, and add your spices.  Pretty much a dash of everything.  I tend to add quite a bit of chili powder and garlic powder, but add to your liking.  If you have pre-made taco seasoning (so much salt, geez, make your own), add about half the package or use 1-2 tbs of your homemade seasoning.  I just kind of sprinkled in a bit of all the spices myself.  You can add more once you taste the meat.  Just make sure the meat is cooked first before you shove it into your mouth.

Add the beans and water, and let it cook down.

As that is going, pop in your favorite fries into the oven.  I used Alice's All Natural Sweet Potato Fries.  They were already seasoned and tasted delicious with the chili and cheese. I love sweet potato fries.  You can use traditional fries, tots, steak fries, or make your own!  Just get the base in the oven to start crisping up.

Cheese Sauce:

2 tbs. butter
2 tbs. all purpose flour
1 1/2 cup milk
2 cups shredded cheese
1 tbs. ketchup
1 tsp. mustard
black pepper
salt

Over medium heat, make a roux by melting the butter, then adding the flour and whisking both until it begins to give off a nutty aroma and starts turning brown.

Whisk in the milk and turn the heat to low.  Once the milk is warmed up, add the shredded cheese one cup at a time, waiting for it to melt until adding the next handful.  You want the cheese to melt slowly, otherwise, you'll have a grainy sauce.  This has happened to me countless times!

Add the ketchup and mustard, a dash of salt and a couple cranks of fresh black pepper. Voila, melty cheese that's is not made with a crockpot and Velveeta!

To assemble:

Plate up some crispy hot fries, ladle on a bit of cheese sauce, put on a scoop of chili, more cheese and then dress it up with cilantro, pico, sour cream, guac, lettuce, whatever, and ENJOY!!