Slow-Cooker Recipe: Lone Star Sirloin Chili

I recently checked out from the library a ridiculous number of cookbooks with soup and slow-cooker recipes. With all of the snowy, cold weather, I have been craving these things like nobody's business. This Tex-Mex spin on chili was only made better by the fact that it contained a bottle of beer. I loved the fact that I could taste the flavor of the beer after it was cooked. I was also worried about the steak, and whether it would turn out to be tender enough. It absolutely was, my friends.

Even though this recipe required more preparation on the front end than I am used to with slow cooker recipes, the smell I woke up to the following morning after it cooking all night made it worth it.

I WILL be making this again. Maybe tomorrow since we have another snow day...

Year of Yum Rating: 4 1/2 STARS

INGREDIENTS
2 1/2 pounds beef sirloin, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (This was the most time-consuming part of the process. I think I will ask the meat counter next time if they have a machine that might make this easier. Also, the dude behind the counter asked if I wanted the top (read: good) sirloin, or if I wanted the less expensive one. We decinded on the cheaper one since it would have 8-10 hours to get tender in the slow-cooker.)
2 teaspoons salt
pinch of cayenne pepper
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 large sweet onions, coursely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons finely chopped jalapeno (I used the whole thing...seeds and all. Don't be scared!)
2 teaspoons ancho chile powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 cup cornmeal
2 cups beef broth
one 12-ounce bottle Lone Star beer (I didn't have this, so I used Dos Equis Amber. Totally worked.)
one 15-ounce can tomato puree
two 15-ounce cans black beans, drained and rinsed

DIRECTIONS
Sprinkle the beef evenly with te salt and cayenne. Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef in batches and brown on all sides.

Transfer the meat to the insert of a 5 to 7-quart slow cooker.

Lower the heat to medium-low and heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Add the onions, garlic, jalapeno, chile powder, cumin, and oregano and saute until the onions are softened, about 5 minutes, being careful to stir the mixture so the chile powder doesn't burn. Add the cornmeal and stir until blended with the other ingredients, and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the broth, whisking, and bring to a boil.

Transfer the contents of the skillet to the slow-cooker insert. Add the beer, tomato puree, and beans. Cover and cook on high for 4 to 5 hours or on low for 8 to 10 hours, until the meat is tender and the sauce is thickened.

Skim off any fat from the top of the chili. Serve the chili with yummy toppings like tortilla chips, grated cheese, sour cream, chopped onions, and chopped pickled jalapenos.