Not as Quick as Mom's Chili but Good in a Different Way

(Recipe mostly from SmittenKitchen -- check out her photos to see how great it looks!)

1 T olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
2-3 peppers, whatever spicy-ness you can handle (I do 2 Bell and 1 jalapeño, seeded)
1 t minced garlic
2 T chili powder
2 t cumin
1 1/2 t table salt
1 T unsweetened cocoa
1/2 t oregano
2 15 oz. cans fire-roasted tomatoes
3-4 cans beans, whichever kinds, drained and rinsed
1 pound hamburger

Heat oil in pan; saute onions on med-low about 10 minutes. Add peppers, saute additional 5 minutes. Add garlic, chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, cocoa, and oregano; cook until browned and just starting to stick to the pan. Throw this mixture and the tomatoes and beans into the crockpot with a cup of water. In the pan you just emptied, brown the hamburger and add to the crockpot. Cook on high for 3-4 hours. Serve with sour cream, shredded cheddar, lime slices, extra diced onion, fresh cilantro, and tortilla chips. Serves 4-6.

Story: Like the moth to a flame, I'm drawn to recipes that meet these criterian: 1. Can be prepped during Zane's nap.  2. Makes a large amount, which can be easily frozen and reheated later.  3. Don't require a ton of dishes.  4. Are just a little unusual.  Hope you try this one! Or, come over -- I'll make it for you! :)

Sweet & Spicy BBQ Pork

Menu Idea:

Mexican Rice (easy version: Replace half the water with salsa when cooking.)

Avocado

Olives

Cheddar

Cilantro

Shredded lettuce

Sour Cream

BBQ Pork

to fill a warmed tortilla

3 pounds pork (I usually use stew meat or a combo of chicken/pork if that's what's in the freezer)
1 can Rotel (diced tomatoes and green chilies)
1 cup Coke
1 cup brown sugar
1 T chili powder
1/4 t garlic powder
1/4 t crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 t dried oregano
1/2 t paprika
1 1/2 t ground cumin
1/2 t salt

Put the thawed meat in the crockpot with about 4 cups water. Cook on high for around 5 hours. Drain off the liquid and shred the meat. Add the rest of the ingredients, continue to cook on high for about 4 more hours. Finish shredding meat right before serving.

I first tried a recipe similar to this after experiencing Cafe Rio's Sweet Pork, and this is my favorite version yet -- and this is the meal Blair requests more than anything else I make. I like how easy it is, and how versatile the leftovers are -- we eat them in quesadillas, on sandwiches, and over salad. 

Ruth's Chris Sweet Potato Casserole

This is absolutely fantastic!

INGREDIENTS:
Topping

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup flour
• 1 cup chopped nuts (pecans preferred)
• 1/3 stick butter, melted

Combine brown sugar, flour, nuts and butter in mixing bowl. Set aside.

Sweet Potato Mixture

• 3 cups mashed yams
• 1 cup sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 eggs, well beaten
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted

PROCESS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a medium-size casserole dish with nonstick spray.
2. Combine sweet potato mixture in a large mixing bowl in the order listed. Beat thoroughly with a hand mixer to increase the fluffiness of the sweet potato mixture.
3. Pour mixture into buttered baking dish.
4. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. (At this point, dish can be covered and refrigerated.)
5. Sprinkle the surface of the sweet potato mixture evenly with the topping mixture and return to oven for 10 minutes. Allow to set at least 30 minutes before serving.

The brown sugar and pecan crust should be slightly browned and crunchy.

Broccoli Salad

1 head of Broccoli cut in pieces

1 cup sun flower seeds

1/2 cup raisins

6 strips of bacon fried and crumbled

Minced onion to taste- I've used green onions, and red onions,

Dressing

1 cup mayonnaise

2 Tablespoons vinegar

1/4 cup sugar

Mix together dressing, pour over broccoli, onions, raisins, sunflower seeds, and bacon

Refrigerate. 

There are many variations of this recipe, some add shredded cheddar cheese, green peppers, green grapes, celery, water chestnuts, cauliflower, and one recipe has carrots too. The dressing is much the same for all of the recipes, though. 

These variations and the recipe are from the 'Taste of Heaven' cook book from Lisbon. (2004)

Peanut Butter Cookies

2 cups brown sugar

2 cups white sugar

2 cups peanut butter

2 cups softened butter

4 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. salt

2 tsp. baking powder

3 tsp. soda

5 cups flour

Mix first 6 ingredients, add next 4 and mix together. Cover dough and let it set in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours. 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees, lightly grease cookie sheets. Rill dough in balls and roll in sugar (if you like, I skip this step).  Make a fork print 2 directions to flaten the cookies somewhat,

Bake about 12 minutes. Watch to not over bake.

Good recipe, a 1/2 of this recipe makes a lot of cookies!

Pistachio Ice cream Dessert

45 Ritz crackers (crushed)

1 stick butter (melted)

Mix melted butter and crushed crackers together and put in a 9 X13 inch pan, bake 325 degrees for 20 minutes. Cool

2 packages pistachio instant pudding (can use chocolate or what ever flavor you would like)

1/2 cup milk

Mix milk and pudding together with a hand mixer

Stir in......or use the hand mixer....

1 quart ice cream (softened)

Spoon over cooled crust and freeze until ready to serve.

Top with

1 large container of cool whip

Sprinkle top with crushed Heath bars or chocolate shavings

This is from a cook book published from the Sheldon community in the 1960's. Even though we eat mostly whole foods now, and few desserts, frozen desserts are wonderful to have on hand when company is here.

Date Dessert

From Kate Pizzey

18 Oreo cookies-crumbled
3/4 cup water
1 cup chopped dates
1/4 tsp salt
2 cups miniature marshmallows
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 cup whipping cream

Spread all but a 1/4 cup of the Oreo cookie crumbs in a 8x8 pan. Mix dates, water, and salt. Bring to a boil. Simmer slowly until thick. Mash while cooking. Remove from heat and add the marshmallows and and stir to melt. Cool. Add the pecans and spread over the crumbs. Whip cream and add a little vanilla. Pour over dates. Top with remaining 1/4 cup crumbs. Refrigerate.