Friday, November 20, 2009

Amy's Sweet & Spicy Cilantro Lime Chili




Amy's Sweet & Spicy Cilantro Lime Chili


1 tbls olive oil

Green pepper

Yellow Onion

3 Tomatoes (medium, or 2 large)

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 lb extra lean ground beef, browned

1/4 c beef broth

1 can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1 can pinto beans, drained and rinsed

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 can tomato sauce, 8 oz

1 can diced tomatoes (15 oz can)

1/2 cup habanero bbq sauce (or your choice of spicy bbq sauce)


(*option - use a packaged chili seasoning in replacement of following seasonings, like McCormicks chili seasoning packet)

Seasoning:

2 tbls chili powder

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp dried basil

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp garlic salt or powder

1/4 tsp coriander

pinch cayenne pepper (*optional)

Sea salt & fresh ground pepper; to your taste preference


1 tbls honey

1/2 tbls fresh lime juice (about 1 lime)

1/3 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

Cheddar cheese, freshly shredded (about 1-2 cups)


Heat 1 tbls olive oil in a large sauce pan on medium heat. Rough chop green pepper, sweet yellow onion, and put in pan once oil is hot, but not too hot. While sauteing, chop 2-3 tomatoes and 3 cloves garlic, and add to mixture. Let saute for 10 minutes or until onions are translucent. While mixture is sauteing, cook brown beef on medium heat (I salt my beef a little while its cooking). Once browned, add beef to mixture as well as 1/4 cup beef broth.

Bring to a boil, than cook uncovered on low until moisture is almost gone, about 10 minutes. Than add: 1 can red kidney beans, 1 can pinto beans, and 1 can black beans, 1 can tomato sauce, and 1 can tomatoes. Stir in 1/4 cup habanero bbq sauce, 2 tbls chili powder, 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp dried basil, 1/4 tsp coriander, pinch of cayenne pepper, salt and pepper (or after bbq sauce, stir in package of chili seasoning). Heat through and let simmer about 10-15 minutes, than remove from heat and stir in 1 tbls honey, 1/2 tbls fresh lime juice, and fresh cilnantro.

Shred cheddar cheese for topping. You can also have sour cream, oyster crackers, chopped green onions, minced white or red onion, etc. for toppings. Enjoy!!

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Green Salad Medley


(Not the jello salad- that recipe is posted before this; I'm referring to the green lettuce salad ;)

We made this today for Samantha's baby blessing. It turned out really good! I sort of made it up as I went, so I've tried to recreate it. The proportions don't have to be exact.


Green Salad Medley Recipe

(*These proportions are for a large group -about 30 people)


Greens:


Romaine Lettuce, 1-2 heads (depending on size; 2 if small, 1 if big)

Baby spinach, about 6 cups

Mixed greens, 4-6 cups


-Gently toss greens together


Salad Topping Mixture:


Sliced gala apple,1 -sliced thin and small

Yellow bell pepper sliced, 1

Shredded Carrot, 2

Yellow onion, 1, sliced thin

Dried cranberries, 3/4 cup

Lemon juice (fresh squeezed), 1 tbls

Agave nectar (or honey), 1/2 tbls

Salt & Pepper, 1/2 tsp each

Thyme, 1/2 tsp

Paprika, 1/4 tsp

Tumeric, pinch


-Stir ingredients together in separate a bowl; let chill for 15-30 minutes before serving


Gently Toss into salad, and than add:


Strawberries, sliced, 1 cup

Feta cheese, 2/3 cup

Candied sliced almonds, 3/4 cup -*add at very end, right before dressing


Gently Toss once, than add:


Raspberry Orange Herb Vinaigrette Salad Dressing: *Let dressing chill first, about 20-30 minutes


Orange Juice, 1/3 cup

Lemon Juice, 3 tbls

Raspberries, 1/3 cup

Canola Oil, 3 tbls

Apple Cider Vin, 3 tbls

Red Wine Vin, 2 tbls

Sugar, 1/4 cup (or less if needed;... taste to test before adding more,?)

Garlic, 2 cloves, pressed

Chopped fresh cilantro, 2 tbls

Chopped fresh parsley, 2 tbls

Sea Salt & Pepper (fresh ground) -about 1 tsp each

Paprika, 1/2 tsp

Sweet Paprika, dash

Tumeric, pinch (or 1/4 tsp)


Gently toss into salad until coated evenly (pour first half of dressing than toss and pour other to half).

Puke Salad

Nice name right?
Its a type of jello pudding salad...

Whisk 1 small pkg of pistachio pudding with 1 can crushed pineapple. Then add container of thawed frozen whipped topping, 1 can drained pineapple tidbits, 1-2 cans drained mandarin oranges, 1-2 cups marshmallows, 1-2 sliced bananas, 1 container cottage cheese, etc... You can use any flavor or pudding-vanilla, lemon--and any variety of canned or fresh fruit.

(*See picture on next post)