This is a quote from zombie-killing badass Rick Grimes. If you are a fan of “The Walking Dead”, you may have recently been introduced to Chili Mac. This article was inspired by the seventh season of the show. In episode 12,”Say Yes”, the hero of the series introduces a new food to his girlfriend. It comes in the form of an MRE. To non-military folk this stands for meals ready to eat.
In their search for food and supplies they stumble on a cache of MREs. When I watched this episode it reminded me of my time in the Army. Every time we were served chili mac in basic training, they would make us exercise until the ground was covered in pasta.
I hope to create a better chili mac than the US Army can produce. It shouldn’t be hard.
I started with the basics. I chopped a sweet Vidalia onion and added half a pound of 80/20 beef. I added the necessary spices along with the diced tomatoes and Rotel. In a separate pan, I boiled 3 oz. of pasta and added 6 oz. of Velveeta cheese and 5 oz. of cream cheese.
Now it was time to bring it together.
Once it is combined, it is ready to eat and better than anything you will ever get in a military mess hall.
I have mixed feelings about Velveeta cheese. When I look at it, I always think to myself – this is not food. Eventually it melts down and it makes the dish magical. Enjoy this pseudo-chili if you try it.
Ingredients
1/2 pound 80/20 mix ground beef
1 small Vidalia sweet onion chopped
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can Rotel
dash of salt
dash of pepper
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. garlic powder
3 oz. elbow noodles
6 oz. Velveeta “cheese”
5 oz. cream cheese
Shredded cheddar as needed for topping
"Adventures in Chili" 