Best Chili for Cool Weather

Hello 10-11-12!  Congrats to those getting married on this day or that have babies.  You're special day will be easy to remember.  Just a small shout out for all of you.

We welcomed the cooler weather with open arms last weekend!  Oh how I've missed the crisp, cool air of fall.  I love wearing my zip up hoodie because t's so big and comfy.  I wore it all weekend, even in the house with windows open.  We didn't bother to light the fire yet but if it gets any cooler we may have to.

I love to cook soups and stews and try to use the crockpot when I can to save time during this time of year.  If you've never made a soup, chili or stew you are definitely missing out on some homemade tastiness.  It's so easy and worth it to make a soul warming meal at home.  You'll find tons of easy and delicious recipes online for various soups or stews.   Also try out my awesome Beef Stew.

Football weekends are a perfect time for this chili.  My husband requests it often to eat while he watches football all day.  It's one of his favorite dishes for linner, as he calls it.  (Lunch and Dinner)  I don't know if that's a real thing or if it's something he just made up.  It's a word in our house.

2 slices of bacon, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb ground chuck beef
2 cans red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 can diced tomatoes with juices
1 tbsp tomato paste
2 1/2 tbsp chili powder
1 1/2 tsp cumin
1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1 tsp cocoa powder
2 bay leaves
1 12 oz bottle amber beer (I used Shiner Oktoberfest)
1 c beef broth salt and pepper to taste

In a large soup pot or dutch oven, cook bacon to render fat.  When bacon is almost done, add onions and saute until onions are soft, about 8 minutes.  Stir in garlic and cook for an additional minute.   Add in ground beef and cook until no longer pink, stirring occasionally.   Stir in kidney beans and diced tomatoes.  Then add tomato paste, chili powder, cumin, red pepper flakes, cocoa powder and bay leaves.  Stir in beer and beef broth.  Bring to a boil.  Then lower heat, cover and simmer for about 20 minutes.   Add salt and pepper to taste  and serve.  We like to add shredded cheese, sour cream and chili cheese Fritos on top to make a supreme Frito chili pie.   It's delicious! Enjoy!!

BLT Crostini

During the summertime there is no need to slave over the hot stove when you can make easy light meals without much cooking, if any at all.   I’m sure we all feel the same way about cooking and baking.  It’s a great accomplishment to create a delicious meal or dessert that takes a whole day and sometimes more. 

It is not only a rewarding feeling when the final product is so delectable which makes it worth our hard work, but also it’s nice to see the smile on the faces of those we share our treats with.  However, I’m sure we all agree that once in a while it’s nice to throw something together that is easy and simple without much work.   It frees us of distraction and worry so that we have more time to relax on the patio with an icy beverage while visiting with friends and family.

These bacon, lettuce and tomato bites are a great option for something light when you don’t feel like cooking a big meal.   You can make as little or as much as you need or even make bigger sandwich version.  This recipe made me dream of other things I can throw together in a similar manner with French bread, a spread and a fruit or vegetable.   For examples I think the kids would also love this quick idea: toast the slices of bread, spread on peanut butter and top with a slice of banana and drizzle of honey. 

1 loaf French bread

Bacon Slices, cooked or Bacon Jam (Store-bought or homemade. I used the Bacon Jam made by Skillet Street Food and it was really good.)

1 head green leaf lettuce

1 pkg. cherry tomatoes

Sea Salt

I made these delicious bite-sized morsels as snacks for a brunch I hosted.  I sliced the loaf of French bread about ¼ inch thick.  I placed all the sliced bread on a cookie sheet and drizzled with olive oil and broiled until toasted (about 2-4 minutes).   Then spread about a teaspoon of bacon jam on each toast.  Tear clean lettuce leaves into small pieces that fit on the toasts. Place on top of the jam.   Slice cherry tomatoes in half and place both halves on lettuce leaves.  Sprinkle sea salt over the top. 

**This recipe and article is also featured on SouthlakeMoms.com.  http://www.southlakemoms.com/2012/05/01/blt-crostini/

Bacon Chocolate Chunk Cookies with Maple Cinnamon Glaze

My husband (Chris) and my best friend (Lesley) love bacon. So I thought I'd try something out of the ordinary just for them. I tried two recipes that were very different. The first turned out very bland and was more like a biscuit than a cookie. I should have known by looking at it that without sugar and vanilla it was going to be a little tasteless. Lesley enjoyed them and took the leftovers home to have with coffee for breakfast. Chris & I didn't like them at all so we were glad that they weren't going to waste. Then I tried another recipe this morning that turned out amazing. It could use more bacon and chocolate but I'll include that in the recipe so that you don't feel cheated. The glaze is optional but it definitely adds another layer of sweetness to the cookie.


Bacon Chocolate Chunk Cookies with Maple-Cinnamon Glaze

6 tbsp butter, softened
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1/3 cup white sugar
1/2 tsp almond extract
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 egg
1 1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup semisweet or dark chocolate chips (I cut up baking chocolate into chunks and it worked well)
1 cup crumbled cooked bacon (about 1 pound)
Maple-Cinnamon Glaze (recipe follows)

In a large bowl, beat together the butter, sugars and extracts until blended. Then add the egg and mix until incorporated. In another bowl, sift together the dry ingredients. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and stir together (or mix on low).

Stir in chocolate chunks and crumbled bacon until integrated well.

Create a ball out of the dough and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove dough from fridge. Use a cookie scoop or roll dough into 1 1/2 inch balls. Place dough about 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten dough slightly with fingers by pressing on center. Bake for 10 minutes or until golden. Allow cookies to cool on cooling rack while you make the glaze.

Maple-Cinnamon Glaze
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 tbsp maple syrup (best if you use 100% maple syrup)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2-3 tbsp water

Mix all ingredients together until smooth. Add a little water at a time to get a creamy consistency.

Spread a small amount of glaze on top of each cookie. Makes about 18 cookies.

Let me know what you think!!