Three years ago this week, I made a big pot of black bean chili as a birthday present for my nephew.  I portioned it out and froze it, except that H. Katrina arrived before I could gift the chili.  Pictured is this year’s pot of birthday chili, and here’s hoping that TS Faye won’t turn out the power in coming days so that the chili makes it to its intended recipient.

This 19th-birthday chili is made with ground buffalo, tomatoes, onions, garlic, black beans, white beans, green chilis, cumin, cayenne, chipotle powder, smoked pimenton, and a few dried anchos (soaked & pureed).  Oh, and a bottle of Peroni beer, just for good measure.  All chili improves with the addition of beer, doesn’t it?