Sweet and Spicy Chili

Sweet and Spicy Chili

Sweet and Spicy Chili

Chili ………congers up images of winter, football, and Sunday!

I was going to stun you with my incredible chili knowledge…….you know the history of chili……..yada…..yada……yada. Well, it seems there is quite a controversy as to the origins of chili so, if you are really all that interested, you will have to google it. By the time I wrote all of it down and you read it ……..holy moly.

So, instead, I will amaze you with this Sweet and Spicy Chili. First, let me say that chili is Tim’s thing. There are a few items in the food world that for some reason are beyond my scope…….for reasons unknown………chili is one of them.

As we were planning our next recipe Tim suggested chili. I tried to steer the planning anywhere but there, but he kept coming back to it. The next words out of his mouth were music to my ears…… “I’ll make my chili”……..done!

Only one problem……….he had never written it down into a recipe. So, as he added ingredients I wrote them down. Now let me say that we always have the same spice conversation……

Tim: “ It needs more spice”
Marty :“ Tim, not everyone likes that much spice”
Tim: “Just a little bit more”
Marty: “ No, its fine”…….and then he adds more.

Tim Chili

Turns out, in this recipe he was totally right! It was not too spicy……. it was perfect. Chili powder, cumin, red pepper flakes, and two things I have not had in chili before…….cocoa powder and cinnamon.

I had a big ????? with the cocoa and the cinnamon. They are that in the background taste, you can’t quite pick them out, but they make the dish. We also added brown sugar and salsa…….that added that some’m..some’m………and it all came together perfectly.

Sweet and Spicy Chili 1

Just spicy enough, with a touch of sweet. We did not add any toppings to ours but feel free to add whatever you like……. we ate ours with biscuits…….or as Tim calls them skits.

However you top it or whatever you eat with it, Sweet and Spicy Chili will warm you up, make your favorite team win, and let you have a super Sunday.

It makes a small batch, it will serve 4-6, and if its just for two you can have it again and you know how it goes with chili …….even better the next day!

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
Sweet and Spicy Chili

Sweet and Spicy Chili

  • Author: Tim Boyd
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes
  • Total Time: 55 minutes
  • Yield: 6 1x
  • Category: Soup
  • Method: Simmer
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 14.5 oz. can chopped green chilies
  • 115 oz. can dark red kidney beans
  • 128 oz. can diced tomatoes
  • 1 cup salsa
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 3 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoons cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Instructions

  1. In a large pot over medium heat, brown ground beef, onion, and garlic. Meanwhile mix together brown sugar, chili powder, cocoa powder, cumin, cinnamon, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes in a small bowl. Add to the browning meat mixture. Cook for 2-3 minutes to let the spices release their flavor. Add remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30-45 minutes. Serve with shredded cheese or your favorite chili topper.

Keywords: chili, sweet, spicy, ground beef, kidney beans, tomatoes, soup

 

Green Bean Casserole

Green Bean Casserole

Green Bean Casserole

Nothing says holidays like…………Green Bean Casserole. 

The green bean casserole was first created in 1955 by the Campbell Soup Company. Dorcas Reilly led the team that created the recipe while working as a staff member in the home economics department. The inspiration for the dish was “to create a quick and easy recipe” around two things most Americans always had on hand in the 1950s: green beans and Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom Soup.

The tradition of this casserole has been here for almost 60 years. Now, sometimes “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it”……well this wasn’t so much broke, as it needed an update. 

Canned vegetable to my mind are mushy and oddly colored. I prefer fresh. Canned cream of mushroom soup…….everyone grew up with it as the base for…….well anything with the word casserole in it. Again I prefer homemade. Sure a little more time consuming, but come on……..it the holidays. Doesn’t your family deserve your very best?

Now, I have a story to tell about green bean casserole………I have a brother……he was married……..to a very nice woman who gave him an absolutely amazing son……..that being said…….she did not really cook, except on holidays and she always made….you guessed it…..Green Bean Casserole. It was perfectly fine, don’t get me wrong, but by this time I had become kind of a food snob. So, anything that was not made from scratch…….well I turned up my nose. I have eased up a bit on the homemade thing……not a lot but some…….after they divorced it was kind of a joke that we wouldn’t be having green bean casserole anymore.

Green Bean Casserole 1

Ok……. so I swooped in on my white…..apron……… and revamped the recipe so it was part homemade, part traditional.

I used real green beans, onions, mushrooms, a simple white sauce with sour cream for …..well creaminess. I just couldn’t make the fried onions for the topping that were anywhere near those traditional store bought ones. Of course I couldn’t leave well enough alone so, I added some panko crumbs for extra crunch.

It is not as easy as the open can and dump method, but you can make it ahead, so all you have to do is throw it in the oven.

So, treat you family right and make them a homemade Green Bean Casserole for this holiday season.

Green Bean Collage

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
Green Bean Casserole

Green Bean Casserole

  • Author: Marty Boyd
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 50 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 4 1x
  • Category: Side Dish
  • Method: Bake
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound green beans, trimmed
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • ½ medium onion, sliced
  • 4 ounces baby bella mushrooms sliced
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 1 cup half and half
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • 3/4 cup fried onions
  • 1/4 cup panko bread crumbs

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Spray a baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. Cook the green beans to desired doneness in a pot of salted boiling water. Plunge in an ice bath (big bowl of ice and water) to stop the cooking.
  3. Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat; add onion and mushrooms cooking about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more. Add flour and cook 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Slowly whisk in milk. Simmer 5-10 minutes, until mixture thickens. Whisk in sour cream, and season with salt and pepper.
  4. Drain beans add to sauce in saucepan. Stir to combine. Bake 25 minutes, until hot and bubbly. Top with fried onions and panko crumbs and bake 5 minutes more or until topping is golden brown.

Keywords: casserole, green beans, mushrooms, onion, fried onions, bake, holiday

 

 

Tomato Cobbler

Tomato Cobbler

Tomato Cobbler

One of the great joys of a garden, is the wonderful produce you receive,and receive, and receive …………..We have a lot of tomatoes. Correction we have a lot of small tomatoes. Just a heads up, if you ever want to plant cherry tomatoes……..1 plant will do……….they are prolific little suckers.  But,they make a beautiful Tomato Cobbler.

I must admit, this year was not my finest garden. The weather was odd, too wet, too cool, then too dry. Not the best growing conditions. But, what it did produce was……..well, wonderful! There is nothing in the world better than a home grown tomatoes. No store bought can ever compare……ever!!

But what to do with them? One of my claim to fame dishes has alway been Bruschetta. I am always asked to bring it to gatherings. I think what really makes it good is the goat cheese that I serve with it. Now, I must give credit for the goat cheese to my friend Michelle. She introduced me to the combination years ago.THANK YOU Michelle!

So, back to the tomatoes………I also think that balsamic vinegar brings out the very best in tomatoes……..it’s part of my bruschetta recipe, but I wanted to make a dish that was warm…..kinda stewed tomato like……only better.

Tomato Cobbler………Scientifically speaking, a tomato is definitely a fruit. True fruits are developed from the ovary in the base of the flower, and contain the seeds of the plant. Today’s Science lesson…….lol.

So, why not make a cobbler. I do not hold to the sugar on sliced tomatoes as many do, I prefer salt. So, savory not sweet for a topping. Biscuit came to mind, but so did goat cheese…….goat cheese biscuits?? You bet!!!!

Tomato Cobbler 1

I replaced some of the butter with goat cheese……….OMG it was the perfect topping for the tomatoes, which were added to sautéed onions, and balsamic vinegar, with just a touch of flour to thicken. The biscuit are drop biscuits, so no messy rolling and cutting…….just plop them on top. A touch of parmesan on top during the last few minutes and you have Tomato Cobbler.

Tim is not a fan of the tomato per say but, he really enjoyed the cobbler. It was a nice complement to a grilled steak.

So, if you have an over abundance of tomatoes or are looking for a yummy tomato recipe……..Tomato Cobbler!!!!!!!

Tomato Cobbler Collage

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

Tomato Cobbler

  • Author: Marty Boyd
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
  • Yield: 6 1x
  • Category: Side Dish
  • Method: Bake
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pints cherry tomatoes
  • 
2 teaspoons coconut oil
  • 1 onion, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 3/4 teaspoons salt, divided
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • For the biscuits:
  • 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 tablespoons (1 oz.) goat cheese
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic pepper – divided

Instructions

  1. Heat the oven to 375°F with a rack placed in the middle of the oven
  2. Pick the stems off of the cherry tomatoes and rinse them under running water. Larger tomatoes can be sliced in half, but I generally just leave the tomatoes whole.
  3. Warm the coconut oil in a 10-inch cast-iron or high-sided stainless steel skillet over medium-high heat. When warm, add the onions, 1/4 teaspoon garlic pepper and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Sauté until the onions are very soft and tender, about 10 minutes, Stir the garlic into the onions and cook until fragrant, 30 to 60 seconds. Pour in the balsamic vinegar and cook until almost evaporated. Stir in the flour and cook until the flour is paste-like. Remove the pan from heat. Add the cherry tomatoes and 1 teaspoon of salt, carefully stirring and folding until the onions are evenly mixed with the tomatoes.
  4. To prepare the biscuits:
  5. In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
  6. Using your fingertips cut the goat cheese and 3 tablespoons of cold butter into the flour mixture.
  7. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and gradually in the buttermilk. Slowly mix the dry into the buttermilk, stirring until just moistened (add more or less milk as needed).
  8. Drop the dough over the tomatoes, making 5 to 6 biscuits.
  9. Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 teaspoon garlic pepper over biscuits.
  10. Cook for 45 to 50 minutes, until the tomatoes are very bubbly and the tops of the biscuits are nicely browned. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and bake for an additional 8-10 minutes.
  11. Remove from the oven and let the cobbler rest for about 15 minutes….then enjoy!

Notes

You can use any kind of tomato, just be sure to cut into bite size chunks.
You can prepare this in a skillet and transfer to a baking dish if you do not have a cast iron skillet.

Keywords: cherry tomatoes, cast iron skillet, onion, biscuits, bake, side dish, cobbler, goat cheese

Tomato Cobbler