Hearty Chili

Everyone is gearing up for Hurricane Sandy around here.  The local schools are closed, some until Tuesday and my office is closed tomorrow!  So what could be better on cold rainy day than a bowl of warm, hearty chili?  This hearty chili is satisfying with chunks of ground beef, vegetables and red kidney beans.  You can quickly put this chili together within an hour for an easy weeknight dinner.  This would also be a perfect game day chili to share with family and friends.  Serve with shredded cheese, green onions, and/or sour cream.  Top with some tortilla chips or corn chips for extra crunch.  Enjoy!

Hearty Chili 

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

2 tablespoons oil (vegetable or olive oil)

1 ½ cup red onion, diced (½ large red onion)

1 cup diced peppers

1 pound ground beef

15 ounce can diced tomatoes with green chilies

28 ounce crushed tomatoes

15 ounce can red kidney beans

salt

freshly ground black pepper

1 teaspoons cumin

2 tablespoons chili powder

Directions

In a large heavy pan or dutch oven, over medium heat, add in oil and onions.  Cook for about 3 to 4 minutes.

Add in peppers and cook for about 3 to 4 minutes, until vegetables are tender.

Next, add in ground beef.  Season with salt, pepper, and cumin.  Cook for about 5 minutes until beef is lightly browned.

Stir in diced tomatoes, beans and crushed tomatoes.

Stir in chili powder.

Cover and cook on low for at least 30 minutes.

Serves 6 to 8.

Top with shredded cheese, sliced green onions, and/or sour cream.

Guacamole

I love a good guacamole and this recipe is one I typically follow.  You could easily adjust it to your own tastes.  If you want spicy guacamole, use jalapeno peppers.  I am a wimp and don't eat anything too spicy so I used some mini (not spicy) peppers I already had.  If you don't have any peppers, add in some Tabasco sauce, my favorite is the Green Jalapeno Pepper Sauce.  It is not too spicy but it is not mild either, it is just right.  Make this guacamole for your next football watching party!  Hail to the Redskins (HTTR)! Yup, that's my team!

Guacamole

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

5 ripe avocados, halved, seeded and peeled

2 roma tomatos, diced

½ cup diced red onions

2 peppers, seeded and diced (I used mini peppers but use jalapeños for spice).

½ teaspoon cumin

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 tablespoon lemon or lime juice

Directions

In a bowl, add in avocados and lemon or lime juice to coat avocadoes.

Mash avocados with a fork. 

Stir in tomatoes, onions and peppers.

Stir in cumin, salt and pepper.

Cover with plastic wrap, be sure to place the plastic wrap directly on top of the guacamole to prevent it from browning.

Store in fridge until ready to serve. 

Serve with tortilla chips.