Chili and cornbread

Josh and Anne

           We went to Atlanta to see our son Josh and his new bride Anne last weekend. We had a fabulous time with them golfing, playing tennis, and hiking just to name a few things we did.It is so exciting to see them getting along so well.

•          While there they shared with my husband their turkey chili they had made. My husband loved it. It was a little too spicy for me, but i still wanted to try it, so here is my version of it...If you like it hot and spicy double up on the chili powder, jalepeno and maybe throw in a couple of chipolte peppers with sauce  for extra heat and flavor. I made a small batch, enough for 4 people. Usually i make a whole stockpot of it.  

1 onion, diced small
1 red pepper, diced
1 pound of ground white turkey
1 T chili powder
2 tsp ground cumin
2 T minced garlic
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp basil
salt and pepper to taste
1 can diced tomatoes with juice
1 can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1 jalepeno, seeded and diced very 

Saute onion, red pepper until vegetables soften for 3-4 minutes. 

Add garlic and saute for one minute only so as not to scorch.

Add turkey and all seasonings until turkey is browned and no longer pink.

Add diced tomatoes, jalepeno and pinto beans.

Next is my husband's version of chili that he has  perfected over the years. This is great on a cold winter night with some cornbread. My husband also likes to add fritos corn chips crumbled up in his bowl, along with shredded sharp cheese.

Ernies chili 

1 lb ground beef
1/4 onion
1/4 green pepper
1 pack shelbys chili mix  not too much red pepper
1 can mexican chili beans
1 can diced tomatoes
1 bottle chili sauce
1 cup bottle grape jam ( not jelly)
1 can green chilies

3 chipolte peppers with sauce
1 jar prego sauce 16 oz

 

corn bread
corn chips
baking potatoes
hot dog buns for chilli dogs

Saute onions and green pepper. Brown meat…drain fat . Add tomato sauce, 16 oz of water, spice packet.Cover and simmer for 15 min. In crockpot. Mix chili sauce, grape jam, prego sauce, green chilis, chili beans and chipolte with sauce. Add meat and sauce. Simmer for 2 hours.

  Now the way I like it is on top of a baked potato. So, I place the chili on top of a large baked potato. Then I add shredded cheese and some sour cream.. That's how I like it.. The baked potato calms down the heat of the chili for me. I also like to have a side salad and maybe some sweet cornbread. The following recipe is sweet and moist.

Homemade Sweet Buttermilk Cornbread
Ingredients

1/3 cup butter, softened
2/3 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup cornmeal
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups low fat buttermilk
1 cup creamed corn
1 tbsp butter (split in half)


Directions (serves 20)

1. Preheat oven 375 degrees. You will use 2 9 inch cake pans
2. Mix butter, sugar, and eggs w/ electric mixer till well blended.
3. Sift flour, cornmeal, baking powder, and salt. Add to butter mixture. Add buttermilk and creamed corn. Mix well.
4. Place 1/2 tbsp butter in each pan. Place in oven for 5 minutes till butter has melted. Pour batter in each pan evenly. Bake in oven for 30 minutes or do toothpick test to see if done.