Recipes from my Kitchen

I spent a little time in the kitchen today. The cool weather and cloudy skies was certainly not feeling like a summer day! Instead I put on a sweater and my fuzzy slippers and decided chili was the perfect meal for the family.

This is my basic chili recipe and it can be made on the stove top or assembled and put in the crockpot on low to simmer and blend flavors. I got a later start in the kitchen so opted to make it on the stove top. I served it with a little cheese sprinkled on the top and dollop of sour cream and on the side we had a green salad, tortilla chips & homemade salsa (canned from last year’s tomatoes).

Super Yummy Chili

3 cups dried red beans
12 cups water
1T salt
1 lb hamburger
1 cup chopped onions
1 cup chopped peppers (these can be green or red or yellow peppers or a combo of any of them)
1 cup chopped celery
2 14oz cans diced tomatoes
2T chili powder
1T hot pepper sauce (such as the brand Tabasco)
1T minced garlic
1t salt, if desired

In a large stock pot combine beans, water & salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and let this simmer for about 3 hours or until beans are soft. When beans are done cooking drain a little of water out of the pan (but save it, you may want to add it later). 

In a medium sized frying pan cook the hamburger and veggies until the meat is completely cooked and the veggies are tender. Add this to pot of beans as well as the tomatoes and spices. Add enough reserved bean broth to give it your desired consistency. Simmer on the stove for 20 minutes to hour to blend flavors. If you want to you can put it all in a crockpot and let it cook on low for 4 to 6 hours. Serve with tortilla chips and salsa or cornbread and a green salad.

While my chili was simmering I made a batch of oatmeal smoothies for the fridge. This is a similar idea to the overnight refrigerator oatmeal I posted about here. I got the basic idea from the same website (http://www.theyummylife.com/recipes/233/Oatmeal+Smootie+-+Invent-your-own+flavor+formula) . I did my own version based on what I had on hand.

Here is what I used to make mine:

½ cup quick oats (you grind them up so regular oats would work too)
1 cup frozen blueberries (fresh or canned fruit would work)
1 6oz container strawberry yogurt
1 ½ cups milk (I used whole milk)
2T organic strawberry jam (to give it just a little sweetness boost)

Put the oats in the blender and blend until they are powder (or most of them are). Add remaining ingredients. Blend until smooth. Pour into pint canning jars. Put a lid on and put in fridge overnight. They will thicken up due to the oats (that is the idea :) ). In the morning shake the jar (you can add a little more milk if you need to).. and drink! Breakfast in a jar.. prefect for an on the go morning.

I was going to make a batch of cookies but ran out of time.. I’ll see if I can get to it tomorrow!