Wednesday: Taco salad, cake
Thursday: Pizza, salad (We had Book-It coupons to use so they got each a personal pizza)
Friday: Chili in the crockpot, cornbread, apple pie
Saturday: Chili over rice, Greek Spinach salad
Sunday: Chicken legs, mashed potatoes, salad
Monday: Homemade pizza, salad
Tuesday: Beef Stew, bread
I woke up this morning with a long list, but one thing on the list was to bake apple pies. My uncle had surgery and well, apple pie seemed more appropriate than flowers and another friend lost her grandmother and I needed to drop off a card, so they both got some apple pies. I also had started a pound of dry pintos in the crockpot the night before so I drained off the water and added the rest of the stuff for the recipe for chili to simmer while I was out today.
I baked a pan of corn bread when I got home
We like our cornbread in the cast iron skillet. I don’t put any butter in the cornbread, but instead just melt butter in the pan to grease it and bake it in the pan in the oven. It has a buttery crisp outer layer that is really tasty and goes well with chili! I like the coarse ground cornmeal, but the store did not have it this time, so I used corn flour which worked okay!
<p> After dinner we have been able to go for a mile walk, which the boys ride bike, roller blade etc. I would like to go farther, but am building it up slow after a winter’s inactivity somewhat!
<p> I finally got some paperwork done I needed to get done today and was so nervous about. I hope I did everything right!!<p>
Chili recipe
I make it sort of different each time, but I do have a method!
Brown ground beef 1-2 pounds (I use ground turkey sometimes too) with 2 cloves minced garlic, 1 chopped onion if you like (I sometimes skip this) and 1 finely chopped green pepper.
1 pound dry pinto beans cooked or 5-6 c. cooked pinto beans or canned ones
2 cans whole or diced tomatoes
1 can diced tomatoes with green chilies
1 12 oz. can tomato sauce or 1 small can and 1 can El Pato if you like it spicy
(I like to blend the tomatoes and the green chilies all up in the blender, you can add some of the beans to it too and then the boys who do not like to eat beans do not realize they are eating them).
Add to crockpot all together. Season with 1 T. chili powder and salt. Cook on low 6-8 hours.
Add cumin to taste right before serving, (I do not do good with following recipes so adjust to your own taste!)