Southwest Chili

Nothing is quite as satisfying as a large bowl of chili on a snowy day!  You can serve it with cheese and crackers or bread.

1 lb ground beef, browned (or stew meet, or leftover pot roast)

1 can chopped tomatoes

2 cans beans (kidney, pinto, black, white or combo), rinsed

1 medium onion, chopped

1 can chili peppers

3 C beef broth (can be from bouillon)

1 tsp garlic powder (or 3 cloves of garlic, crushed)

4 T chili powder

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp oregano or italian seasoning

1 tsp salt

Lightly brown the onion then add all the other ingredients.  Simmer for 2-3 hours. Can be made in the crock pot for 5 hours on high or 10 hours on low.  Serves 4-6.

Quinoa Tabouli

This is a great salad for a party or picnic.  It's unique and packed with nutrients!

1 cup quinoa, cooked
2 C parsley, chopped
1 1/2 C mint
1 cucumber, peeled and diced
1/2 C red onion, diced
4 roma tomatoes, diced
Mix all of the above together then stir in the dressing:

4 T olive oil
3 T lemon juice
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cracked pepper
Serves 10- 12

Mrs. Fields' Cookies

I got this recipe from Aunt Linda.  I have no idea if it's an authentic "Mrs. Fields" recipe or not! Sometimes I substitute half of the the butter with coconut oil.  And sometimes I substitute some of the white flour with wheat.  Maybe to assuage the guilt?  Anyway, the secret to making these soft and delicious is to take them out of the oven when they still look undercooked.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (325 convection)
Blend:
1 C butter
1 C sugar
1 C brown sugar
Add:
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
Mix in:
2 C flour
2.5 C oatmeal (blended)
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
12 oz. chocolate chips
1.5 C chopped walnuts

Scoop onto greased cookie sheet (or better yet, use a silicone mat on a jelly roll pan).  Bake for 8-10 minutes. (start with the minimum!)  Take cookies out while still a little doughy.  They will continue to cook while they cool.  Loosen from pan after 2 minutes.

Tortilla Soup

This is a super easy and satisfying meal.  I made this batch a couple of days after we had pulled pork tacos so used pulled pork, but you could also make it with boiled chicken (boil for about 20-30minutes).

2 Cups pulled pork or boiled chicken.
2 cans diced tomatoes with juice
1 can corn
1 can pinto, white or kidney beans
1 can black beans
l med can chopped chili peppers
1 small onion, diced
2 C chicken broth (from bouillon or can use fresh or canned)
4 Tbs chili powder
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. oregano

Toppings:
Sour cream or greek yogurt
Shredded cheese
Chopped cilanto
Avocado, sliced

Put all of the above (except toppings) in a crockpot and cook on low for 5 1/2 hours.  Or add 1 more Cup of chicken broth and cook on the stove for an hour.

This is one of Peityn's favorite meals!