Just one more thing!

Hallo everyone.
It's been a while I know. I've been a busy little bee, working, working, working away.
I didn't forget you all. I have a few wee treats for ya.

But on with the bloggery.
As many who know me will tell,
I LOVE Columbo.

Not the man of course but the TV show. I am the proud owner of the complete box set. Every episode ever made including specials and even a few episodes of Mrs Columbo, staring Captain Janeway from Star Trek Voyager. No joke. I watch an episode every day.
Columbo is a part of my every day life and I was deeply, deeply saddened by Peter Falks death this year. So sad that I lay in bed for a week clutching my box set, smoking cigars and crying like a baby. Well, not really, I just had a Columboathon instead.

Now you might ask what Columbo has to do with Heavy Metal cooking. Well, nothing! This is purely a food inspired tribute to the man and character who has brought joy to my life. I love Columbo so much
I'm dressing as him for Halloween. Oh yes.

Believe it or not, food plays a part in quite a lot of Columbo episodes. You'll find Columbo making omelets, eating ice cream, hard boiled eggs that he's pulled out from his pocket, hot dogs and fancy restaurant food. In fact, there is a whole episode revolving around a deadly chef called "Murder under Glass".
Here is a clip of The man in action.




Columbo ALWAYS knows you did it!

Now here is a trivia question.
What is Columbo's favourite food?
Chilli. Columbo loves chilli and he eats it in every other episode.

See?
So as a tribute to the man and legend. I shall honour him with my own Columbo loves chilli recipe.
Now, I'm not sure if this is the type of chilli that Columbo would have eaten but I think he would have liked it. It's got beer and chocolate in it. Yeah you heard right. The beer and chocolate make this chilli rich and super tasty. In fact, I would go so far as the say it's "Cillicious". Hee hee.

I used Innis and Gunn oak aged beer as it tastes of caramel. Yum, yum. Buy it.

So here you go RIP Peter Falk. You may be gone but Columbo will always be with us.

Columbo Loves Chocolate and Beer Chilli

Ingredients

500g lean minced beef
100g chorizo diced
1 onion diced
4 cloves garlic minced
500g passata
1 bottle Innis and Gunn oak aged beer
1 teaspoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
Half teaspoon cayenne pepper (if you like your chiili hot then add another half teaspoon)
Half teaspoon chilli powder
1 beef jelly stock cube
1 teaspoon dark thick soy sauce
50g good quality 70% dark chocolate
Splash vegetable oil
Pinch salt and pepper

Get yourself a big pot, add a splash of vegetable oil and put onto a medium high heat.
Add your onion and garlic and cook for a few minutes until softened. Add the chorizo and cook for a few minutes until the smokey paprika oil starts to come out.   
Add the oregano, cumin, cayenne and chilli powder and cook for one minute.
Add your beef and cook till browned all over and broken up.
Add the tomato paste and cook for one minute.
Add the beef jelly stock cube, soy sauce, passata, chocolate and the bottle of Innis and Gunn.
Stir and bring to a simmer and cook for about 40 minutes to one hour, stirring every now and then until sauce is nice and thick. Add as much salt and pepper as you like then serve with rice or over potato wedges with some sour cream and cheese. Or if you want to do it like Columbo then eat it with some saltine crackers.

Oh and  just one more thing.....................