The Food Thread

After all the discussion about Chris' chili, I got hungry!    But I thought it'd be fun to have a thread about food in which we can discuss meals we've cooked, share recipes, and the like.  I know a handful of folks here are starting an accountability group for their weight [which is awesome!].  This thread could be a "companion thread" to that to share healthy meals folks have found to be enjoyable too.

On the topic of chili, I've made a handful of batches of chili in my crockpot that have turned out great!  I kinda just throw stuff in the pot and let it cook all day, but my general recipe looks something like this:

-1 pound lean ground beef (I cook it beforehand and drain any excess oil before I put it in the pot, but I don't think that's necessary)
-1 can chili beans (I'll often pick stuff that's already got good flavor like Busch's baked beans, etc.)
-1 can kidney beans, drained
-1 or 2 cans diced tomatoes, drained (I like the "fire roasted" ones)
-1 can tomato paste
-a whole onion, diced (I think yellow onions have the best flavor but red or white would be good in chili too)
-garlic, diced/pressed/whatever (I looooooooooove garlic so I put lots in)
-a bell pepper, chopped up
-a habanero pepper, chopped into tiny bits (I like things spicy but for those who don't... ya might should skip this item)
-chili powder (I don't measure but just shake a bunch in haha)
-a splash of red wine (I've heard beer is good too in chili - I'm going to try that next time instead of wine!)
-a few glugs of hot sauce

Sometimes I like to add one of those baby-cans of corn too (a full-size can would be too much corn with respect to meat and beans I think).  I believe my crockpot is a three-quart model and this fills it up pretty well.

I make a mean toast.

Here is what I used in my chili:

2 lbs. of ground beef
1 whole white onion

I sauteed the onions after chopping and then cooked the meat in the skillet with the onions.

In the Crock Pot, I put in:

1 Large and 1 small can of diced tomatoes
1 regular can of Rotel
2 cans of tomato paste (I like a thicker chili)
1 can of chili beans
Lots of garlic powder
Even more chili powder (just go crazy until it tastes right)

Simmer on low for a few hours and then prepare to be amazed.


My wife makes hers the same way and just laid out the stuff and told me that I couldn't go wrong.  No recipe.  It tasted just like hers.  She has entered several chili cookoffs at church and has always placed 3rd.  The ironic part is that her chili is always devoured with no leftovers and the winners always carry a lot home.  Back in October, she made two pots of it and both were eaten while the 1st and 2nd place winners carried most of theirs home.  Strange, huh?

Food is nice.

Sadly, I like it way more than I should.  I am a food junkie.  That's why I weigh what I do.

Reading the recipes you have posted to make chili makes me want to make chili too.

I made some chicken tortilla soup for my family on Monday in the crockpot and it turned out great!  Everyone really liked it a lot.  I would've added more spice/heat to it, but otherwise it was pretty good.  Just throw all this stuff into the crockpot and turn on "low" for the day and voila!

-2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
-1 32 oz thing of chicken broth
-1 onion, diced
-1 can of diced tomatoes
-salsa (I just dumped ~1/2 jar in)
-1 can black beans
-chili powder
-cayenne pepper powder

Serve with tortilla chips that you crush up and put in the soup.  

kerrick wrote:

I made some chicken tortilla soup for my family on Monday in the crockpot and it turned out great!  Everyone really liked it a lot.  I would've added more spice/heat to it, but otherwise it was pretty good.  Just throw all this stuff into the crockpot and turn on "low" for the day and voila!

-2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
-1 32 oz thing of chicken broth
-1 onion, diced
-1 can of diced tomatoes
-salsa (I just dumped ~1/2 jar in)
-1 can black beans
-chili powder
-cayenne pepper powder

Serve with tortilla chips that you crush up and put in the soup.  

That's almost exactly the same recipe we use for Chicken Tortilla soup (but I grill the chicken first, and saute the onions)...after it is done we add cooked brown rice to the bowl before adding the soup...makes it even more hearty.