January in the Black Hills = Chili

Jan here, shivering in the Black Hills!

Winter is a mercurial season for us. We live in the "banana belt" of South Dakota - a misnomer, really. I've never seen banana trees here! But while the rest of the state is dealing with blizzards, high winds, and tons of snow, we'll have a day where the temps reach the 50's or even 60's.

Custer State Park on a balmy January day

But don't count on it lasting! Because the weather can change drastically in a matter of a couple hours. You know that saying, "If you don't like the weather, just wait an hour?" We've heard that saying in every location where we've lived...but it's true here.

Another January picture - the group of pine trees
on the left are the same in both pictures.

Spearfish, South Dakota (just a quick jaunt up the highway from us) holds the world record for the fastest temperature change. On January 22, 1943, the temperature changed from -4° to 45° in...wait for it... two minutes!

While we haven't come close to that world record, we often experience huge temperature changes. The National Weather Service explains the 1943 event like this:

"The wild temperature fluctuations were likely due to cold air and warm air sloshing back and forth along the plains at the base of the Black Hills. A similar effect would be to pour warm water into a shallow bowl of cold water. The water would slosh back and forth a few times before settling down. This is likely what happened with the warm and cold air along the Black Hills."

Sunday was another example. Yesterday morning, we woke up to temperatures in the mid-40's with a mild wind from the south. A real "snow-eater," or Chinook. By noon it was 53° and rising. A beautiful sunny day!

But around 3:00 in the afternoon, the wind swung to the Northwest, and we enjoyed(?) winds of 40-50 mph, with gusts up to 70 mph. (We actually lost a piece of trim off the truck during one of those wind gusts!)

With the change in wind direction, we saw a drop in temperatures. From the mid-50's to 25° in twelve hours, and it continued dropping. By this morning, we were in the teens, and the temps aren't going up at all today. Tomorrow is supposed to be even colder.

This is definitely chili weather, so you know what we're having for supper tonight! I'm going to be making one of my favorite chili recipes - Jan's Cowboy Chili. I shared this recipe several years ago, but I think it's time for a refresher. :-)

And don't worry - there's a vegetarian option...as long as you aren't a cowboy!

 
Jan's Cowboy Chili

Start with about 1 1/2 pounds steak. I like to use round steak, or these little chuck steaks.

They're slightly icy in this picture - being slightly frozen makes the meat easier to handle.

Cut the meat into 1/2 inch cubes, and then prepare the marinade.

Marinade ingredients:
1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup oil - vegetable or olive
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Mix the marinade ingredients together, and then pour over the cubed meat in a plastic bag or glass bowl. Put it in the refrigerator and let it marinate for at least 30 minutes - an hour or two is better.

After an hour or so, it's time to start cooking the chili.

Drain the marinated meat, reserving the onions and meat.

Brown in a tablespoon of olive oil in a large pot, and then add the rest of the ingredients:

2 cups beef broth
2 cans red beans (drained and rinsed)
1 can (14 oz.) tomato sauce
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
1 teaspoon oregano
2 tablespoons cumin

Let all this simmer, covered, for an hour or two. Or three. Or put it in the crock pot for a half day or so...

*Vegetarian option: Instead of marinating beef, marinate your beans instead. Whether you use canned beans or cook your own, marinate the beans just as you would the meat. Drain and use in the chili. And instead of beef broth, use vegetable broth.


Now, lift the lid and take a whiff. Don't you feel like you're on a cattle drive with the cowboy of your dreams?

So, how is January treating you at your house? We could use some more snow, but other than that, I'm not complaining. I love the cold!

Jan Drexler lives in the Black Hills of South Dakota with her husband and growing family. When she isn't writing, she loves hiking in the Hills or satisfying her cross stitch addiction.

You can find Jan on Facebook, Jan Drexler, author, or her website, Jan Drexler.com.