Easy Chili and Cornbread

Super quick and easy chili and cornbread...the recipe was given to me by my friend Barbie who helped me see that I needed to actually cook for my family in the first place. That's what started this blog. I'm so grateful for her!

I make browned hamburger and put one pound ziplocs in the freezer when I can. Easy to add one pound ground hamburger to any recipe by pulling it out of the freezer. I like to use ground turkey in this recipe, though I use twice the amount of meat because turkey doesn't have the bulk/fat that the beef does, it is just more tender.

Phillip's Chili
1lb ground hamburger browned (I prefer more protein. I can add 2lbs turkey in addition because it shrinks, or another pound of hamburger for my carnivore family)
saute onion and garlic
3 cans black beans
3 cans pinto beans
1 can garbanzo
plus 1 can water
1 small can corn
30oz tomato sauce
1T coriander
1/4C chili powder
2t cumin
Bring to boil. Simmer 15 minutes. EAT!

Cornbread
I think I made the cornbread recipe on the back of the corn meal box but added a half cup of sour cream to make it more moist. I poured the batter half full into a large muffin tin. Add butter and honey. :)

UPDATE 01/12/2012: We are loving the cornbread (I did not add sour cream, it doesn't need it!) and I usually pour it into a 9x13 pan as the portions are too big in the muffin tin.

Beef Burgundy-No Crockpot!

Well shiver me timbers, I can still taste this DELICIOUS meal just looking at the pictures! The turkey bacon is insanely delicious and flavored the pan right away. I added a little olive oil and garlic and tossed in the meat, then the can of tomatoes and let it simmer then tossed fresh carrots and frozen peas on top...WOW, this turned out SO GOOD without the crockpot! I didn't have mushrooms but who cares because the flavor was outstanding! The TSG seasoning that goes in here is incredible! We all enjoyed the tender meat!

This TSG recipe was prepared in June (read about it here) and it wasn't anything like this because I cooked it in the crockpot (aka-boiled meat). I used BEEF bouillon instead of chicken tonight...wonder if that made a difference, too?

Asian Pot Roast

This TSG Asian Pot Roast is outstanding! Sarah loved it and ate it all, asking for seconds. She rated it a 7. John rated it much higher. I used the TSG Lemon Flavored Oil to fry the frozen stir-fry vegetables and tossed in some tomatoes and orange bell pepper I had in the frig. This would have been great with asparagus, too. John ate the roast, stir fry veggies and a salad with Drew's Sesame Orange dressing that was surprisingly tasty for being so healthy. I want to use it as a marinade for chicken someday soon.

I made Uncle Ben's rice (which I hate but it was fast) and molded it in a little bowl. It really helped me eat less rice! Later while putting the dishes in the dishwasher-(I run a load of dishes every night before I go to bed no matter how full or empty-this has helped me as I've been learning to cook)-I noticed a new bag of brown rice tucked under some other stuff by the toaster! Oh well!

Beef Burgundy and Green Salad

TSG's Beef Burgundy recipe was great (I added carrots)! John liked it enough to have it again but the kids didn't care for the flavors. I reserved the sauce from yesterday's asparagus for salad dressing plus cold roasted asparagus for the salad. I made baked potatoes for the rest of the family.

One of the challenges of making new meals is deciding how to actually serve them...what plates to put them on...we've gone through a lot dishes because of this issue!

Favorite Flank Steak & Roasted Asparagus

This terrific flank steak marinade is my mother-in-law's recipe. So easy!
3T olive oil
3T soy sauce
1T ketchup
1/4t oregano
garlic of your choice
Marinate for 12-24 hours.

We've discovered fresh asparagus-not steamed-but cooked in a super yummy way. Roasted on a foil-lined cookie sheet for about 15 minutes at 350ish. Sprinkle olive oil and kosher salt and a splash of balsamic vinegar before cooking. YUM!

Wrap a poked potato in plastic wrap and microwave for 5 minutes. Viola! I made another dinner!

Old El Paso Beef Burritos

I'm still cooking!

I lost interest in fully documenting each dish as it was cooking...I decided I simply want to use this blog to serve me NOT me serving it by trying to document everything which was turning into a burden. I needed to simply focus on PLANNING and PREPARING instead of blogging!

Wow, here it is the end of May and I've had the desire to take a simple photo of our meals as I set the table. The past few months have been me really working on this new habit of planning and preparing meals-something I've stuggled with my whole life. I'm GIDDY over the fact that I've actually been D O I N G it!

Spaghetti & Meatballs

Well...I'm hoping this tastes a little better tomorrow. And I didn't like the whole wheat spaghetti noodles. I REALLY enjoy the whole wheat spiral pasta from Trader Joes, I think that's what this needs. And maybe putting it all in a 9x13 casserole and baking it with some cheese on top...I think I'll try that tomorrow night.