Super Bowl Chili

Super Bowl Chili
(File Photo)

Super Bowl Sunday is this weekend! Every year on that special Sunday we enjoy Chili for dinner! Delicious, hot, flavorful Chili!  Definitely it's served with a dollop of Sour Cream on top.  The Sour Cream is stirred in just before enjoying that first spoonful of this yummy meal.  Cannot forget a slice of Rye or Oatmeal bread for dunking into the tasty tomato sauce.  It's all part of the enjoyment of eating Chili! 

This is a very easy dinner to prep in a Slow Cooker or in a Crock Pot.  I have a Slow Cooker that comes in so handy any season during the year.  My Slow Cooker has a non stick pot, BUT I have learned that meats/ poultry can overcook/ burn on the very bottom.  For that reason I place the Green Pepper that has been cut into chunks on the pot's bottom. 

Sometimes, I prepare Chili using ground beef and at other times I use ground turkey.  I do not notice any difference in the Chili's taste when using either.  It's spicy, so either works.  Lately, I've been using the ground beef, because the date on the ground beef package (when we purchase it) is better.  Grocery shopping has definitely changed for us during this pandemic.  I plan for more than a week's meals when writing out the grocery list.      

Yesterday, I made a batch of my Chili.  It was so good!  I have also learned that Chili freezes very well!  The extra portions were placed in freezer containers and into the freezer they went.  You guessed it!  On Saturday, which is tomorrow, I will place a large container of my Chili in the fridge to begin defrosting overnight.  On Sunday it will be reheated for dinner.  It's really great to have Sunday's dinner in the freezer!  Yes, we do have the Sour Cream and Oatmeal bread, too.

For my Chili recipe click on this link for the Ingredients and the Directions that I wrote in a previous post.  Then, add the ingredients for Chili to your grocery list.  Sour Cream and Rye or Oatmeal Bread, too!   Prepare a batch of Chili for Super Bowl Sunday!

Enjoy!
Yummy! 

~Baked Taco Pie~

~Baked Taco Pie~
cut into slices

One afternoon last week I was deciding what to prepare for dinner.  "What am I going to make?" is a question that seems to be on my mind a lot.  We had tortillas and ground beef in the fridge, so that was a start.  Then, I remembered a dinner that I had not prepared in quite some time.  It was Baked Taco Pie!  Some of the ingredients are browned ground beef, corn, tomato sauce and tortillas.  Suddenly, I knew it would be served at dinner.

The recipe is so easy to prepare and then it is baked.  I've changed it up a bit from the original recipe and I like it even better.  Add a little Sour Cream on top when serving!

***I use a baking dish that the Tortillas will fit in easily.  We do not always purchase the same size Tortillas, so I use whatever size in in our fridge.

This is a very tasty dinner!!     

Baked Taco Pie      

        Oven Temperature:  375°    Time:  30- 35 Minutes   

Ingredients: 

1 lb. Ground Beef
2 teaspoons Chopped Onion (dehydrated)
1 teaspoon Chili Powder
Sprinkle of Dried Basil
Sprinkle of Dried Oregano
1 can (14.5 ounces) Diced Tomatoes (drained)
1 pkg. Frozen Corn (10 ounces) thawed/ defrosted
(6) 7" or 8" or 9" ***Tortillas
1 Cup shredded Cheese- can be low fat
1 can (15 ounce) Tomato Sauce
Sour Cream

Directions:

1. Preheat Oven to 375° F.
2. Brown Ground Beef in skillet, drain any fat.
3. Add Chopped Onions, Chili Powder, Basil & Oregano. Stir.
4. Add drained Diced Tomatoes & Corn. 
5. Stir in 1 Cup Tomato Sauce.
6. Cook for 5 Minutes in skillet.
7. Spray casserole baking dish with PAM.
8. Place 1/4 Cup Tomato Sauce on bottom of baking dish, spread.
9. Place 2 Tortillas on Sauce.
10. Add 1/3 filling mixture on top.  Spread evenly.
11. Place 2 Tortillas on filling.
12. Add 1/3 filling on Tortillas.  Spread evenly.
13. Sprinkle on 1/2 Cup Shredded Cheese.
    
14. Then, add 2 Tortillas on Filling mixture.
15. Add remaining filling mixture on top, spreading evenly.
16. Pour remaining Tomato Sauce on top, spread evenly.
    
17. Then, sprinkle on remaining Shredded Cheese.
18. Bake 30- 35 Minutes in 375° Oven.
19. Cut into slices and serve.
20. Top with sour cream.

This is a very easy dish to prepare!  Before you know it, the oven timer will buzz it's done.  It is a hearty dish for this time of year.  If you have any slices left after dinner, they may be frozen to enjoy for another dinner.

Enjoy!
Yummy!

~Super Bowl Chili~

Slow Cooker will be cooking away!

It's that time of year!  Tomorrow is Super Bowl Sunday!  The day when watching the commercials on t.v. & watching the football game are both FuN!  And, you just do not wanna' miss the half time show.  You get the picture- spending time in the kitchen, cooking? Ah, no!

Hey, it's fine to get the dishes & utensils, but just not the day to cook.  But you gotta' eat!  The choice is not ordering salty "take out"  foods, either.  Super Bowl Chili is a great choice!  In the early afternoon brown the Ground Beef & place it along with the other ingredients in the slow cooker/ crock pot.  That small appliance will take care of the cooking detail.  When it's ready, remove the lid, stir the cooked ingredients & take out the serving ladle!  The great aroma will invite everyone to take a bowl & fill it.

If, there are any remaining portions later, cool & pack in freezer containers.  Super Bowl Chili freezes very well, too!      

Super Bowl Chili

Ingredients:
1- 1¼  lbs. Ground Beef
1 small Green Pepper, cut into small chunks
(1) 14.5 oz. can Diced Tomatoes, drained
(2) cans Red Kidney Beans (about 19 oz. each)
Chopped Onions (I use 1 Tablespoon dehydrated Onions.)
Chopped Parsley (I use 1 Tablespoon dehydrated Parsley.)
2- 3 teaspoons Chili Powder
1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
1/2 teaspoon Oregano
(2) cans Tomato Sauce (15 oz. each)

***and do not forget the:

Fat Free Sour Cream - Add a dollop on top of Chili in bowl before eating!
Rye Bread - for dunking

Method:

1. Spray nonstick cooking pot of Slow Cooker with PAM.
2. Brown Ground Beef in a frying pan.
3. Place Green Pepper chunks in cooking pot.
4. Add browned Ground Beef.
5. Add drained Diced Tomatoes.
6. Drain Kidney Beans.  Rinse in cold water.  Drain again.
7. Place on top of Tomatoes.
8. Sprinkle on desired amount of chopped Onions & chopped Parsley.
9. Then, sprinkle Chili Powder, Garlic Powder & Oregano on top.
10. Pour Tomato Sauce over top & spread.
11. Place lid on top.
12. Set temperature to High for 2 and 1/2 hours.  Then, reduce to Medium for 1/2 hour.
13. Stir before serving into bowls. 

**I brown the Ground Beef before placing in the Slow Cooker's pot to remove the fat.
**The Green Pepper cut into chunks is added on the bottom of the pot first to prevent any too crispy Ground Beef. 

This Chili is incredible!  It's so good & it's so easy!  A great family style dinner that only needs to be ladled from the cooking pot. 

Enjoy!
Yummy!

Spanish Rice

A canopy of trees in my neighborhood!

First, the sight outside my kitchen window only attracted my attention each morning.  Now, as my backyard perennial garden grows, the beautiful colorful trees in my neighborhood are bursting with color!  Spring has arrived in MA!  While taking a daily walk or driving through my New England town, the gorgeous colors found on an artist's palette are right before my eyes!   

The first days of May bring tulips and daffodils.  It also brings Cinco de Mayo!  On the fifth day of May it has become a tradition with me to prepare Spanish Rice for dinner.  It surely is a change of pace to make dinner on my stove top rather than use the outdoor grill.  A can of Tomatoes, Tomato Sauce & Rice will be located easily tomorrow.  Sliced Peppers will be defrosted and the Ground Beef will be purchased.   

The Rice is cooked before using.  This is an easy delicious dinner!

 

Spanish Rice

Ingredients:
1 lb. Ground Beef, browned
1 can (15 oz.) Tomato Sauce
1 can (15 - 20 oz.) Tomatoes - whole or pieces, drained
1 Green Pepper - cut into strips (I use defrosted slices.)
2 Cups cooked Rice

1/4 tsp. Oregano
1/4 tsp. Basil
1 Tablespoon chopped Parsley

Method:

1. Brown 1 lb. Ground Beef.
2. While browning Beef, combine Tomato Sauce, Tomatoes and cut/ or defrosted Green Pepper in large pot and simmer.
3. Add browned Beef and stir.
4. Add in cooked Rice, Oregano, Basil and Parsley.  Stir well and simmer 30 minutes.
5. Stir occasionally while simmering. 

This is also a quick dinner on after a very busy day!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

    

A Chili Weekend

Go team!

It was a great weekend and also cold!  Not ideal for taking a walk, but there were other things on our agenda!   We are always up for watching the Boston College Eagles Men's Basketball team and Saturday afternoon's ACC game brought a W!  That quickly led to the NFL Divisional Playoffs!  Sunday afternoon, again, we watched the Playoffs.  Who had time to think about making dinner???  Sure "take out" could work, but my West Bend Slow Cooker is a great little appliance.  Chili made in the Slow Cooker is so good!  Did I mention so easy?

On Saturday evening during the Saints/49ers game we dined on the delicious hearty Chili that had basically cooked itself, with little help from me.  Then came the game we in MA were waiting for - Tom vs. Tim!  :)  Sunday afternoon we were once again glued to our t.v. screen and also enjoying watching former BC Football players in the Divisional Playoffs.  It's unusual for us to be just glued to the t.v. screen, but the Giants/Packers game took our attention.  Dinner time rolled around - again.  I was planning on a dish with chicken, but time just disappeared.  Ah, fortunately in our fridge just waiting to be reheated for dinner - there it was - the extra delicious Chili! 

This is a great meal to prep in a Slow Cooker or Crock Pot.  My Slow Cooker has a nonstick surface, yet I do spray it lightly with PAM.  I also brown the Ground Beef before placing it in the cooker's pot to reduce the fat content. 

(Usually I place one veggie on the pot's bottom and then add the meat/chicken I am using.)

After watching all of the games and enjoying ALL of our Chili, there are no photos to share.  I can share that Chili tastes wonderful on a frigid day and it's very easy to prep this family fave!   

Slow Cooker Chili

Ingredients:
1 to 1 and 1/4 lbs. Ground Beef
1 small Green Pepper, cut into small chunks
(1) 14.5 oz. can Diced Tomatoes, drained
(2) cans Red Kidney Beans (about 19 oz. each)
Chopped Onions (I use 1 Tablespoon dehydrated Onions.)
Chopped Parsley (I use 1 Tablespoon dehydrated Parsley.)
2 teaspoons Chili Powder, more if desired
1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
1/2 teaspoon Oregano
(2) cans Tomato Sauce (15 oz. each)

Method:

1. Spray nonstick cooking pot of Slow Cooker with PAM.
2. Brown Ground Beef in a frying pan.
3. Place Green Pepper chunks in cooking pot.
4. Add browned Ground Beef.
5. Add drained Diced Tomatoes.
6. Drain Kidney Beans and rinse in cold water.  Drain again.
7. Place on top of Tomatoes.
8. Sprinkle on desired amount of chopped Onions & chopped Parsley.
9. Then, sprinkle Chili Powder, Garlic Powder & Oregano on top.
10. Pour Tomato Sauce over top & spread.
11. Place lid on top.
12. Set temperature to High for 2 and 1/2 hours.  Then, reduce to Medium for 1/2 hour.
13. Stir before serving into bowls. 

We enjoy our Chili with a dollop of Fat Free Sour Cream on top.  Rye Bread is great for dunking!

Do you Enjoy Chili?
Yummy!

                 

Red-Hot Chili

Do you have a Slow Cooker or a Crock Pot? Have you used it in the past few weeks? My answer to both questions is YES! Quite often I use my West Bend Slow Cooker when I am at home working on other projects. The meals prepared in this small appliance have few instructions, take little prep work/time, and taste absolutely delicious! Chili can be prepared on top of the stove, but if the ingredients are placed in the cooking pot of a Slow Cooker or Crock Pot and simmer for a few hours, the resulting dinner is very tender and full of flavor.

The instructions for Red-Hot Chili are simple. Brown about 1 lb. Ground Beef in a frying pan and then place the browned meat in the bottom of the cooking pot of the Slow Cooker/Crock Pot. Place the contents of one 14.5 oz. can of Diced Tomatoes on top of the browned beef. Drain, rinse in cold water and drain again the contents of two cans of Red Kidney Beans. Place the Kidney Beans on top of tomatoes. Sprinkle desired amount of dehydrated chopped onions and chopped parsley on top. Then, sprinkle on 2 tsp. Chili Powder (or desired amount) ½ tsp. Garlic Powder and ½ tsp. Oregano. Pour Tomato Sauce (two 15 oz. cans) evenly over top. Place lid on. Set the temperature on High for 2 and ½ hours. Then, reduce to Medium for ½ hour.

When it is ready to be served stir the scrumptious appetizing Red-Hot Chili before placing into bowls. Your family will know dinner is ready.

We enjoy a bowl of Red-Hot Chili served with a spoonful of Fat Free Sour Cream on top. Add a slice of Oatmeal Bread – Yummy!

Any extra portions can be cooled, refrigerated and reheated to enjoy again. However, there might not be any left after dinner! ;-)

Enjoy!
Yummy!