Beef and Bean Chili with Chicken Livers

Looking for a yummy way to get organ meats into your family's diet? Check out this recipe for chili with chicken liver (it's hidden! No one will know!)--I'm trying this without the beans. A great way to get more liver in our diet!

Recipe:  Beef and Bean Chili with Chicken Livers

Ingredients:

• 2/3 lb chicken liver (pastured chicken, if possible)
• 2 lemons
• 2 tbsp ghee, coconut oil or fat of your choice
• 2 lbs grass fed ground beef
• 2 large onions, peeled and chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
• 5-6 cloves of garlic, peeled and minced
• 2 cans of organic kidney beans, drained (1/2 to 3/4 cup dried beans, cooked)
• 10 tomatoes, peeled and chopped or a large can of diced tomatoes (I used a quart of home canned whole tomatoes, which I lightly pureed.)
• 1-2 cup bone broth (or water)
• 5 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tbsp cumin
• 2 tbsp dried parsley
• 2 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp allspice
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• pinch cayenne (optional)
• dash of cinnamon
• 1 square of dark chocolate
• 1-2 tbsp of sea salt (may need to salt more when it is finished)
• Optional:  1/4 cup nutritional yeast, 1 tbsp kelp flakes and/or a piece of kombu (for added nutritional benefits)

Method:

1. Soak your chicken livers in water with the juice of 2 lemons overnight.  (you could also soak in milk)
2. The next day, when you are ready to make your chili, rinse the livers well and drain.
3. Optional step:  Puree the livers in your food processor.  This will really ‘hide’ the liver in the chili.  I recommend if you are squeamish about the liver.
4. In a heavy soup pot (I used my Le Creuset cast iron 5 1/12 qt dutch oven), heat the oil/ghee.
5. Add ground beef and cook until browned.  Remove from pan and set aside.
6. Add onions, bell pepper and liver to pan, adding oil/ghee if needed.  Saute for 5-7minutes. (If you did not puree the liver, simply break it up well with your wooden spoon).
7. Add garlic.  Saute for about 2 more minutes.
8. Add beans and stir.
9. Add tomatoes and stir.
10. Add bone broth and stir. (if you are using a piece of kombu, add it now)
11. Add all of the spices and the chocolate.
12. Add ground beef back to pot.
13. Bring to a boil and then lower to a simmer.  Simmer for 1 1/2 hours.
14. Stir in nutritional yeast and kelp flakes (if using).  Remove kombu (if using).
15. Serve with a side salad and some corn bread!