Perfect Meal For A COLD day!! ~ Surfer's Chili Delight!

Since most of us are living in an arctic freeze this week, I thought I would post a great comfort food/ meal.  This makes a yummy, stick to your ribs meal!  It is a classic chili topped with mashed potatoes.  It is amazing.  I made this for the 1st time last week & actually had the leftovers the next morning for breakfast. (I know, I'm weird!)  Here it goes for my Surfer's Chili Delight:

Mashed Potato Topping:
Take about 2 and a half pounds of baking potatoes, quarter them (don't peel- lots of good nutrients and flavor in the skin!), and put them in a pot of cold water.  Bring to a rolling boil until fully cooked- about 15 minutes.  Drain and place back in pot.  Add about 2 cups of milk (depending on how creamy you want), one container of sour cream (about 2 cups), sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste.  Mash with a masher. Take extra sharp cheddar cheese- about 1 cup's worth, and break up pieces on top of mashed potatoes.  Fold into mashed potatoes, then set aside.

Chili:
Heat up a cast iron or stainless steel skillet over medium heat.  Add enough extra virgin olive oil to thinly cover bottom of pan- about 2 tablespoons.  Brown 2 and a half pounds of extra lean ground beef.
Add the following once browned:

3-4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 medium to large finely chopped yellow onion
1 large can of red kidney beans (about 2-3 cups worth)
4 tablespoons of chili powder
4 tablespoons of cumin
2 tablespoons of paprika
1 tablespoons of red pepper (cayenne pepper)
1/2 Bottle of Guinness Extra Stout Beer (or any good, flavorful beer- no light beer here!! I think the Guinness Extra Stout add the best flavor!)

Feel free to adjust these ingredients to your own personal taste- I find these amount give a really nice flavor to the chili without making it too hot.. add more red pepper if you want a hotter chili.

Allow chili to slow cook for an hour to allow flavors to blend- the longer the better!  Keep it on low.

When you are ready to serve,  set your oven to broil.  Place chili in single serving crock pots to near top. Pile on a nice mound of your mashed potatoes.  Place in the lower rack of the oven for 3- 4 minutes to heat up & melt cheese in mashed potatoes.  Put on a higher rack for the last minute to brown the potatoes.  Serve and enjoy!!!!