Award Winning Chili {A Recipe}

So excited to have my Buckeye recipe featured on the blog Home to 4 Kiddos today.

Here is another recipe for your enjoyment. This is one of my favorite fall recipes.  My award winning chili.

• 1 lb ground beef, turkey or any kind of meat (we used strip steak in the photo above)
• 1/4 cup brown sugar 
• 1 Tbsp flour
• 1 {10 3/4 oz} can tomato soup
• 1 {10 3/4 oz} can water
• 1 {28 oz} can Dei Fratelli seasoned diced tomatoes
• 1 Tbsp smoked chili powder
• 1 can kidney beans

Stove top directions:  
Brown beef/turkey, drain.  Add brown sugar, flour, tomato soup, water, seasoned tomatoes, and chili powder.  Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour.  Add kidney beans simmer for additional 15 minutes. 

Fabulous for freezing

Crock pot directions:
Brown beef/turkey on the stove, drain.  Add brown sugar, flour, tomato soup, water, seasoned tomatoes and chili powder.  Cook on low for 8 - 10 hours. One hour before serving add kidney beans. 

Great chili toppers include:
* Green Onions
* Cheese
* Crackers
* Corn Bread

What do you like to put on top of your chili?  Or what do you like to put chili on?  Leave a comment I'd love to know.

{Linking Up} Try a New Recipe Tuesday

Buckeyes {A Recipe}

A while ago I lost my buckeye recipe. I found a replacement that is nearly as good, but it makes enough for an army.  While cleaning this week I found my original.  Yay.  I want to share it with all my wonderful readers.  It makes about 3 dozen.

Ingredients:

1 cup peanut butter

1/4 cup butter (room temprature) 

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cup confectioner's sugar

12 oz bag chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Cream together butter and peanut butter

2. Add vanilla and confectioners sugar, mix until totally combined.

3. Shape into 1 inch balls.

4. Place in refrigerator or freezer to harden.

5. Melt chocolate chips in a double boiler. 

6. Using a skewer dip the balls in the chocolate leaving the top not dipped. 

7. Smudge over the hole with your finger.

8. Return to refrigerator or freezer until the chocolate is hard. 

Eat and enjoy!

{Linking Up} Try a New Recipe Tuesday 

  

85 Apple Recipes

A few weeks ago we went apple picking.  Lots of fun.  Lots of apples.  Here are a few recipes that I gathered together to use up all those apples.  Now, I have not tried all 85, but I sure want to. 

Salads
Waldorf Salad

 Apple Broccoli Salad Source: fakefoodfree.com via Lianne on Pinterest

Carmel Apple Salad 
Cheddar, Apple and Walnut Salad
Autumn Apple and Grape Medley 
Celery and Apple Salad 
Beet and Apple Salad
Zucchini Apple Salad
Spinach Apple Salad
Quinoa & Apple Salad with Curry Dressing
Crunchy Apple and Cabbage Salad
Apple Barley Salad
Carrot Apple Salad
Apple Salad
Cashew and Apple Salad
Apple Chips

Spreads, Sauces and Drinks
Crock Pot Apple Butter

Source: houndsinthekitchen.com via Nicole on Pinteres

Apple Cider in an Apple

Applesauce 
Brown Sugar Apple Simple Syrup
Bacon, Fennel and Apple Chutney
Canned Apples
Applesauce Fruit Blends
Plumb Apple Butter
Maple-Brandy Apple Butter
Spiced Apple Butter
Caramelized Onion & Apple Cream Cheese Spread
Apple Cheese Spread
Caramel Cheesecake Apple Dip
Toffee Apple Dip

Savory
Apple and Onion Stuffin' Muffins

Barbecued Pork and Apple Kebobs
Apple Onion Tart
Apple Braised Turkey Thighs
Sage, Sausage and Apple Dressing 
Chicken 'n Apple Salad
Caramelized Apple, Onion, Cheddar and Blue Cheese Tart 

Apple Leek Pork Tenderloin Source: eatingwell.com via Holly on Pinterest

Apple Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Hungarian Apple Soup 
Apple and Sage Roasted Chicken 
Chicken and Apple Curry
Apple Cheddar Chicken
Apple Chicken Chili
Turkey Apple Sausage
Chicken Cheddar and Apple Sliders
Chicken Apple Hash 
Maple Apple Chicken 
Pork and Apple Burgers
Apple Pork Chops
Roast Pork with Apple Mustard Glaze
Apple Cranberry Stuffed Pork Roast

Sweet
Apple Cake 
Apple Spice Cake
Swirly Baked Apples
Carmel Apple Steamed Pudding
Candy Apples
Caramelized Apple Crepes
Apple Brown Betty
Apple Cinnamon Bread
Apple Pie [caramel]  Apple
French Apple Tart

Apple Apple Pie  Source: larissameek.com via Holly on Pinterest

Apple Fried Pies

Taffy Apple Salad 
Pear and Apple Crisp  
Apple Bread Pudding
Apple Rings
Caramel Apple Crisp
Caramel Apple Cookies
Apple Nachos
Apple Turnovers
Spiced Apple and Pear Shortcakes
Bite Sized Apple Pies
Apple Braid
Pannekoeken
Apple Fritters
Apple Strudel
Apple Butter Apple Pie
Dutch Apple Pie
Apple Cup Pies
Apple Pie Oatmeal
Crock Pot Baked Apples
Peanut Butter Apple Bars
Apple Pecan Cheesecake

Day One : A Two day recipe

 Day one of The Great Eat In.  A challenge to eat in every single day for a month, to make time for family and save money. 

Eating out is my biggest budget buster because at the end of a hard day cooking is just one more thing I have to do {ug} and calling out for pizza or going out for fast food is just easier.  Planning and preparation is key to combating that end of day fatigue.  

Menu Planning is a must.
Freezer Cooking offers a some great options.
And Two Day Cooking is great idea.  

The idea is to cook once, eat twice. 

Here is my recipe for 2 Day Chicken

Day 1 baked chicken.

Ingredients:

• 6 lb chicken pieces (I use legs)

Arrange chicken in two 8x13 pans.  Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until done (falling off the bone/ 165 degrees using a meat thermometer).

Serve 2/3 of the chicken with a side of choice as dinner on day one.  De-bone the rest of the chicken and refrigerate overnight.

Day 2 Chicken Salad

Ingredients:

•  Chicken from the night before
• 1 lb elbow macaroni cooked
• 1 1/2 cup grapes, cut in half
• large can of mandarin oranges
• 1/4 cup Miracle Whip (or more to taste)

Combine all ingredients in a bowl, refrigerate for at least 1 hours before serving.

Do you have any 2 day recipes?  I'd love to try them out.  Just leave a comment. 

 

Chili

• 1 lb ground beef or turkey
• 1/4 cup brown sugar 
• 1 Tbsp flour
• 1 {10 3/4 oz} can tomato soup
• 1 {10 3/4 oz} can water
• 1 {28 oz} can Dei Fratelli seasoned diced tomatoes
• 1 Tbsp smoked chili powder
• 1 can kidney beans

Stove top directions: 
Brown beef/turkey, drain.  Add brown sugar, flour, tomato soup, water, seasoned tomatoes, and chili powder.  Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour.  Add kidney beans simmer for additional 15 minutes. 

Fabulous for freezing

Crock pot directions:
Brown beef/turkey on the stove, drain.  Add brown sugar, flour, tomato soup, water, seasoned tomatoes and chili powder.  Cook on low for 8 - 10 hours. One hour before serving add kidney beans.  

Christmas Salad

This is my go-to salad for summer.  I call it Christmas Salad because it is red and green.

Christmas Salad

3 medium tomtoes
1 medium cucumber

Chop tomatoes and cucumber in 1 inch cubes.  Toss together.  Add a oil and vinegar as desired.  (If I dress this salad I use about 1TSB olive oil and 3 TBS red wine vinegar). 

Pie Irons

Source: applevalleygirl.blogspot.com via Holly on Pinterest

I learned about these a few years ago and have been smitten ever since. They are two interlocking metal plates at the end of long sticks. Some of the yummiest campfire dinners and desserts come from these beauties.  They are available at any good camping retailer.  I got mine at Cabellas.

Here is what to do:

1. Get the cheapest, fluffiest white bread you can get your hands on. 
2. Butter each piece of bread on one side, like for a grilled cheese sandwich.
3. Place one piece of bread butter side down on one side of the pie iron.  
4. Put the innards (see below) on the bread, but don't stuff it too full.
5. Put the other piece of bread on top and close the iron.
6. Cook over an open fire for 5 minutes or so.  When they are done the bread is toasted a nice golden color and the innards are warm and melty.  

Some Ideas for the insides:

• Cheese - pretty much any kind.
• Pizza - tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and your favorite pizza toppings - ham, mushrooms, black olives, pepperoni, sausage, peppers, anchovies, pineapples or whatever you like.
• Ham and cheese.
• Turkey and cheese
• Roast Beef and cheese
• Sloppy Joe (ground beef or turkey and a can of sloppy joe)
• Pie filling - ok this may sound weird but it makes such a delicious dessert.

Pie Irons are great any time there is food, fire and friends.

Squished Cheese Sandwich

This is one of those childhood lunches that I still love today.  It is easy, tasty and reasonably healthy.

Ingredients:

English Muffin or bagel
Cheese slice (I usually use American, but any cheese will work)

Toast English Muffin, as soon as it pops, place cheese on one half.

Using a clean bowl or glass "squish" the sandwich together

Enjoy !

The squishing makes the cheese all melty.  Yum

Rice Krispie Treats

Now that band camp is over Zippy is succumbing to summer boredom.  So I brought out our intentional summer bowl of activities. The first slip drawn out was Rice Krispie Treats.

Here is the recipe (you can find the official Rice Krispie webpage here) :

Ingredients:
3 Tbsp Butter

1 package big marshmallows or 4 cups mini marshmallows
6 Cups Crispy Rice Cereal

Directions:
1. Melt butter in a saucepan.
2. Add marshmallows, cook over medium heat until melted.
3. Add cereal.  Quickly stir until the cereal is coated.
4. Put the cereal/marshmallow mixture into a 9x13 in pan.  Use a piece of wax paper to smoosh down the mixture.
5. Cool, cut into squares and serve.

Popcorn

A homemade take on microwave popcorn. This version of the pop-ular snack  is cheaper than store bought.  The cheapest popcorn pack that I can find is $1.00 for 3 envelopes on sale.  Whereas bulk popcorn is $.77 per pound.  Since there are no oils (or other artificial ingredients) in making the popcorn, it is a wholly healthy treat.  Of course if you want to add in some real melted butter and salt, this popcorn provides the perfect blank canvas.

Here is how to make popcorn in just 3 easy steps:

You will need popcorn and a small, plain, paper bag (like a lunch bag).

STEP 1
Add about 1/4 cup of popcorn to the bag.

STEP 2
Fold the bag over twice. 

STEP 3
Microwave on high for 3 minutes.  Make sure to watch, listening for when the popping slows down.

STEP 4
Eat.

 
What is your favorite popcorn topping?