Snow Day Chili

Today was a snow day! The husband and I both stayed home and enjoyed a bonus day at home, we cleaned, played games, relaxed, and I made chili! I love stews and chilis on snow days, they warm the soul. I've also been on a spicy food kick. 

Here are a few pictures of our snow day: 

Snow Day Chili - in one dis

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Ingredients:

1lb ground beef

2 cans diced tomato

1 small can tomato paste + 1/2 that same can of water

2 cans kidney beans (or 1 can kidney, 1 can

 pinto, your call, I just hate pinto beans)

1 tsp trader joe's chili sauce

1 tsp crushed red pepper

1 tbsp chili powder

Black pepper to taste

Garlic, cumin, corriander to taste

Directions:

1. Brown the ground beef in the same pot you will cook the chili in, and I highly recommend a dutch oven, specifically the enamel covered one from Calphalon. The heavy cast iron allows for very even heating over long periods of time. Plus, since it is enamel coated, you can clean it with soap unlike regular cast iron.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients, if its too think, use some of the juice from the kidney beans to thin it out. 
3. Simmer for as long as you can, at least an hour. 
4. Serve with toppings of your choice, like cheese, sour cream, chives, chopped onion... 

Birthday Panini!

For Donald's birthday, which was the 4th of July, I made him corned beef paninis to take on a picnic in the local park. It was a gorgeous day, and the corned beef was fresh and great. They're simple but good. I had to take the pic while they were still on the grill, but you get the idea!

Corned Beef Panini for a picnic

1/2 lb corned beef, shaved thin
1c sauerkraut
Thousand island dressing
8 pieces Italian bread, sliced moderately thin
Fat Free butter (I can't believe its not butter makes a good one, but don't eat it on bread, just use it for cooking)
- Makes 4 sandwiches

1. Butter one side of each piece of bread, place buttered side down on George Foreman grill.
2. Place 2-3 slices of corned beef on the bread and then 1/8 to 1/4 cup sauerkraut to taste.
3. Place other piece of bread on top, butter side up, and lower the lid of the grill. NOTE: If serving immediately, add the thousand island dressing before grilling.
4. Once heated through, wrap in foil to keep warm. They will stay warm for 20-30 minutes like this.
   
5. Add thousand island dressing just before eating, if necessary.

Enjoy!