18 Sep 2014
by sparksfromthekitchen
in Lunch, Main Dish, Slow Cooker, Thaw/Reheat & Serve
Tags: black beans, chili, delicata, feta cheese, kidney beans, slow cooker, squash
So we’re coming up on the last weekend of summer. What a fantastic summer it has been-full of outdoor fun, friends, family and baseball.
But I’m ready for fall. It’s such a gorgeous time of year-the colors of the trees, the crisp blue or gloomy grey skies, fall festivals and I can finally pull my boots out again. I miss them all summer.
Even though there’s still summer left last Saturday started cold and rainy. So naturally chili came to mind immediately. The result of pulling different items from my pantry was delicious! Just enough heat, different tastes and textures and it’s very very very good for you.
If you’re not familiar with Delicata squash it’s shaped like a giant pickle and is green and white striped. You can eat the skins but I prefer to remove them for this recipe. The taste is similar to acorn squash-perhaps a touch sweeter. They’re much easier to cut and peel than butternut or acorn squashes. Here’s a photo of the cap of the squash and the diced pieces. I forgot to take a photo of the complete squash but you get the idea 🙂
Delicata Squash Chili
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped small
- 1 clove garlic, diced
- 1 tbsp ancho chili powder
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1/2 tbsp cumin
- 4 cups (about 2) delicata squash, peeled, seeded and cubed to 1/2 inch pieces
- 1 16oz can low sodium black beans rinsed and drained
- 1 16oz can low sodium red kidney beans rinsed and drained
- 1 20 oz can fire roasted tomatoes (I used Muir Glen)
- 8ozs frozen corn or canned corn rinsed and drained
- 4ozs green chilis
- 1 & 1/2 cups fat free, low sodium chicken broth
- fat free feta cheese for garnish
- sliced avocado for garnish
Instructions:
- In a shallow pan over medium high heat melt the coconut oil. Add the onions and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring, to soften. Add garlic and stir to cook. Add spices and cook for 1 minute to coat and heat.
- Place the onion mixture and all ingredients above through and including the chicken broth, into the bowl of the slow cooker and stir to combine. Cover and cook on high for 1 hour then low for 4 hours.
- Spoon into bowls and garnish with feta and avocado and serve.
Makes: 12 cups
Serving Size: 1 cup
Reheats and freezes beautifully.
To make vegetarian swap out the chicken broth for vegetable broth.
05 Mar 2014
by sparksfromthekitchen
in Freezer, Main Dish, Slow Cooker, Thaw/Reheat & Serve
Tags: chicken, chili
It seems like this winter just goes on and on and on and on. In the usually average temperature of 40 island I live upon it has been freezing-single digits, tens, teens etc.. and we’ve been introduced to the ‘arctic vortex’ which sounds like some kind of ice cream treat they’d make at Carvel. Sadly it’s not ice cream. So I’ve had the makings of a lot of soups, chilis, stews around all winter and it was time to clear some of them out of the cabinets to make room for (hopefully soon!!!) spring-time stuff! This chili is great for cleaning out the pantry. Adjust to what you have on hand. It’s delicious!!!
Chicken Chili-slow cooker
Ingredients:
- 24ozs boneless skinless chicken breast (about 2 large)
- 1 small can diced green chilies (7oz)
- 1 15oz can sweet corn kernels
- 1 15oz can black beans
- 1 15oz can red kidney beans
- 2 14.5 oz cans diced tomatoes with green chilies (I used Muir Glen organic)
- 1 8oz can tomato sauce (I used Muir Glen organic)
- 1 medium onion, chopped small
- 3 tbsp taco seasoning (or you could use one of the packets)
- 1 tbsp cumin
- 1 tsp ancho chili powder
- Toppings-avocado, grated cheese, sour cream, fresh chopped cilantro etc…
Instructions:
- Place chicken in slow cooker insert. Add everything else, stir to cover chicken and combine.
- Cook on low for 8.5 hours. Shred chicken with forks, check seasoning and add salt and or pepper if needed. Allow to cook for another 30 minutes on low.
- Top with anything you’d like. Eat!!
19 Nov 2013
by sparksfromthekitchen
in Freezer, Lunch, Main Dish, Thaw/Reheat & Serve
If there’s one sauce that I choose more than any other to have with pasta it’s bolognese. During my visits to Italy I enjoyed a nice bowl of pappardelle alla bolognese more times than I can count. The best, in my opinion, were all in Tuscany but the best of those were where they also include wild boar sausage in the sauce. Just delicious. Not to mention the many local Italian restaurants near me that each make their own fabulous version of the sauce.
I had a recipe that I had been making for a while but the last few times I made it I was underwhelmed. Really disappointed even. To the point where I just threw it out. I couldn’t tell if I had over cooked it or if the tomatoes I used had a different taste or what but I knew I didn’t like it. So there has been a pretty long drought for home made bolognese in my house.
And then Carrie from www.carriessweetlife.com posted this beauty oh her blog. Pancetta. Red Wine (chianti-always chianti for me). Parmesan Rind. I new that I would love it. And I did. It’s my new bolognese. So a huge GRAZIE to you Carrie. My freezer is now full of yummy bolongese. I adapted it a bit and it’s just as delicious as it sounds.
My New Bolognese
Ingredients:
- Olive oil
- 5 ozs pancetta, diced
- 2 lbs ground sirloin
- 1 lb sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
- 2 large yellow onions, chopped small
- 1 large carrott, chopped small
- 8 cloves garlic, minced
- Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
- 1 small can tomato paste (or half of one tube)
- 1 cup dry red wine (chianti)
- 1 cup beef stock
- 2 28oz cans Muir Glen Organic crushed tomatoes w/basil
- 2 14.5 oz cans Muir Glen Organic diced tomatoes
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tbsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- Rind from Parmesano Reggiano wedge/wheel
Instructions:
- Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large stock pot. Add the pancetta and cook until it’s cooked crispy. Add the sirloin and sausage and cook, using a wooden spoon to break it apart, until browned. Drain the excess fat from the pan. Add the onions, carrot, garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are softened.
- Stir in the tomato paste until it’s evenly distributed throughout the meat and vegetables. Add the wine and cook, scraping the pan to get the bits off of the bottom, until the wine evaporates. Add the stock, tomatoes, baty leaves, oregano, pepper flakes and Parmesan rind. Bring to a bubble then reduce to medium low to just simmer gently.
- Cover and let it simmer for 5 hours. Taste and season with salt and pepper if needed. Remove the bay leaves and rind before serving or freezing.
- To serve place cooked pasta and desired amount of sauce in a pan over medium heat with some of the pasta water. Stir to coat the pasta with the sauce and serve.
- To freeze let the sauce cool completely then spoon it into quart-sized ziplock bags. Give the bags a few shakes or gentle taps on the counter to get the air to the top. Leaving just a small portion of the zipper open lay the bag flat and gently push the air out. Zip the remainder of the way and lay flat in the freezer. Don’t forget to label the bags!!
So this is how much sauce this recipe makes. Those are quart-sized ziplock bags and smaller 1-3 cup containers.
I have a funny feeling that the different brands of tomatoes that I used before this recipe were the problem. After cooking for a while they tasted bitter and made the sauce yucky. I recalled seeing that America’s Test Kitchen had done one of their comparisons of canned tomatoes recently so I went to their website and they recommended the Muir Glen Organic higher than any other and gave them a stellar review. They were right on! The tomatoes were perfect and tasted just like they should. I hightly recommend using them.
14 Nov 2013
by sparksfromthekitchen
in Freezer, Lunch, Main Dish, Slow Cooker, Thaw/Reheat & Serve
Tags: butternut squash, chili
This vegetarian chili is a delicious mix of flavors and textures. It’s a perfect dish to put in the slow cooker in the morning and then have it be ready when you go home after work. I prepped the onion mixture, washed the beans and peeled and cut the squash up the night before while prepping that dinner, kept them all in the fridge overnight and then just put everything in the cooker before I walked out the door in the morning. So easy. Super delicious.
You could easily add chicken or beef or meatless crumbles or, for a vegan version, use soy cheese.
Butternut Squash Chili with Queso Fresco-slow cooker
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1&1/2 cups yellow onion, chopped small
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1.5 tbsp chili powder
- 1.5 tbsp ancho chili powder
- 3/4 tsp ground cumin
- 4 cups butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes (about 1 lb)
- 2 16oz cans pinto beans, rinsed and drained
- 1&1/2 cups water
- 1 16oz can sweet corn, drained
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 28oz (or 2 14.5oz) cans diced tomatoes (I used Hunts Fire Roasted)
- 1 4.5oz can chopped green chilis (not drained)
- queso fresco
- scallions
Instructions:
- Heat oil over medium heat in a large, non-stick skillet. Add the onion and garlic, cook for a few minutes until tender. Add the chili powders and cumin and cook for 2 more minutes, stirring constantly. Set aside. (If you’re cooking ahead allow to cool completely and place in an airtight container in the fridge.)
- Into the slow cooker put the onion mixture, squash, and remaining ingredients through and including green chilis.
- Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.
- Ladle chili into individual bowls and sprinkle with cheese and scallions.
- To freeze allow the chili to cool completely. Ladle into quart-sized ziplock bags, get all of the air out of the bag, seal and freeze.
Adapted from Cooking Light Slow-Cooker Tonight! cookbook (which is very good)
31 Oct 2013
by sparksfromthekitchen
in Lunch, Main Dish, Slow Cooker, Thaw/Reheat & Serve
Tags: bbq sauce, chicken, onion
Real BBQ people will be rolling their eyes at this name won’t they? It’s not REAL BBQ since 1) I don’t own a smoker (and you really need that for it to be real BBQ right?) and 2) I cooked it in my slow cooker and 3) I used jarred (GASP!!) BBQ sauce.
I will assume though that I will be quickly forgiven for this naming faux pas once those eye-rollers taste this chicken. I didn’t name it what I did because it’s only mediocre. It’s delicious. It’s also so easy to make it nearly makes itself.
I used a BBQ sauce from my local Fairway Market-it’s their own bbq sauce and was in the middle of the line-not sweet, not hot, just smokey with a fair balance of sweet and spice-but nowhere near hot. In fact, it’s called ‘Schmokey’ which I think is cute. So get yourself a great tasting sauce for this and tuck in for a few hours. Look at that beauty!!
Best Tasty Shredded Chicken BBQ
Ingredients:
- 1 large yellow onion, cut in half then sliced to 1/4 inch pieces
- 1/2 lemon, sliced, seeds removed
- 2.5 lbs boneless, skinless, chicken breasts (about 8 breast halves)
- 1 18oz jar BBQ sauce
- 1/2 cup cola (not diet)
- 3 (+/-) tbsp arrowroot
- fresh bread that can hold up to the chicken (I used fresh French bread cut thickly), thinly sliced extra sharp cheddar cheese etc.. to assemble sandwiches.
Instructions:
- Place onion and lemon in the bottom of the slow cooker pot. Place the chicken on top of that and pour the BBQ sauce and cola over it.
- Cover and cook on high for 1 hour and then cook for 4 hours on low or until chicken is cooked through.
- Using a slotted spoon or a spider remove the chicken pieces and put them on a platter to cool slightly. Remove the lemon pieces and discard. Leave the onions and the sauce in the pot and add the arrow-root 1 tbsp at a time, stirring to combine, allowing it to rest for a few minutes and thicken. It might take another tbsp or 2 but be patient-it will thicken eventually.
- While you’re dealing with the sauce resting/thickening shred the chicken. Forget the 2 forks. If it’s cool enough just use your hands and pull it apart.
- When sauce has become thick add the chicken back into it, stir, and let it cook for another few minutes to make sure every little piece has a nice coating of sauce.
As far as serving I made an outstanding, but very simple, sandwich. I also think that this would be great on nachos, baked potatoes or hell just tasty with a fork.
This made 5 sandwiches like you see in the photo and I froze about 4 cups as well.
This was an interesting adaptation. I started off originally with the Chicken Barbecue recipe from the Cooking Light Slow Cooker book. Everything is the same until the chicken is finished cooking. The original recipe instructions were to mix flour and water and then add that to the sauce. Disaster. It rolled up into these disgusting globs as soon as it hit the sauce. I had to pick every one of them out of the sauce. Yuck. I’m glad I was able to salvage the recipe at all-even happier that it came out so amazingly delicious. The original recipe also didn’t shred the chicken or make a sandwich-just served the breast with sauce on it. So I guess this is highly adapted from that recipe.
27 Sep 2013
by sparksfromthekitchen
in Freezer, Lunch, Main Dish, Thaw/Reheat & Serve
Tags: beans, beef, chili, pepper
The fall bug has bitten! I can’t wait to make up all kinds of soups and stews and have a gray afternoon with something simmering on the stove all day.
As I wrote in the post for the cornbread that I served with this chili, Husband and I had a Sunday football day at home instead of heading out to the bar with friends. That cornbread and this chili was our dinner and it was delicious. This chili is meaty, it’s bean-y, it’s got some underlying spice and heat but it’s not spicY or hot. You can always add a squirt of hot sauce if you’d like but I like to keep the heat factor down a bit and go up from there.
The original recipe called for smoking the meat but since we don’t own a grill or a smoker we skipped that step.
Sunday Afternoon Chili
Ingredients:
- 1&1/2 lbs ground sirloin
- 2 cups diced Spanish onion (about 1 large)
- 2 cups diced green pepper (about 2 large)
- 3 garlic cloves, smashed to a pulp
- 1 jalapeno pepper, diced, seeds and spine removed
- 1&1/2 tbsp ground cumin
- 1&1/2 tbsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp ancho chili powder
- 1/2 tsp chipotle chili powder
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1&1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 32 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 1 15 oz can diced tomatoes, not drained
- 2 15 oz cans dark kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 6 ozs beer (we used Belfast Bay Lobster Ale-a red ale)
- toppings of your choice-fat free sour cream, grated cheese, scallions etc..
Instructions:
- Brown the beef until almost cooked through in a heavy bottomed stock pot, drain the excess fat, then add the onion and green pepper, garlic and jalapeno and cook until beef is cooked through.
- Add the rest of the ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, for at least 90 minutes.
- Serve as is or top with a dollop of sour cream, grated cheese, squirt of hot sauce, scallions etc……
Adapted from Brother Jimmy’s BBQ cookbook Smoky BBQ Chili.
09 Sep 2013
by sparksfromthekitchen
in Lunch, Main Dish, Slow Cooker, Thaw/Reheat & Serve
Tags: soup, turkey
I realize that since it’s only September 9th that there are still 2 weeks of summer left. You’d never know that it’s still summer. Everyone apparently times the beginning of fall by when their kids go back to school. Well since my dog doesn’t go to school I go by the real seasonal calendar.
That’s not to say that I won’t embrace everything fall early. I’m looking forward to making soups and apple this and that and pumpkin this and that. And I did have my first Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks yesterday: non-fat, no foam, 140 degrees, half syrup-and it was perfect. It’s the PSL’s 10 year anniversary this year. Happy birthday you delicious wonder!!!
So on that note my first soup of the time surrounding the beginning of fall is here. It’s a delicious concoction of ingredients you probably have all of (or most of)in your pantry.fridge.freezer already. If you read my other slow cooker recipes you know that I became quickly enamored with that little machine. Here’s another recipe to feed that obsession.
It’s hearty but not heavy, it’s well spiced but not hot, it’s not too thick or too thin. In other words-it’s just right. I just served this plain in the bowl but you could always put a dollop of sour cream or green onions or cheese.
Turkey Taco Soup-slow cooker
Ingredients:
- 1 lb lean ground turkey
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped small
- 1 16 oz can kidney beans
- 1 16 oz can pinto beans
- 1 15 oz can sweet corn
- 1 8 oz can tomato sauce
- 2 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
- 1 4 oz can diced green chiles
- 1 package taco seasoning or 2-3 tbsp home-made taco seasoning
Instructions:
- In a pan over medium heat brown the turkey, drain it and set it aside.
- Place the turkey and onions in the slow cooker, pour everything else in and stir.
- Cook on low for 6&1/2 hours.
Adapted from allrecipes.com. The original recipe called for adding 2 cups of water but I didn’t add any and the liquid amount was fine. The original recipe also called for using ground beef but I changed it to turkey to cut calories and fat and to use up some ground turkey that I had in my freezer. I’m sure you could also omit the meat all together and add tofu to make it vegetarian.
25 Jul 2013
by sparksfromthekitchen
in Condiment/Topping, Freezer, Seasoning, Thaw/Reheat & Serve
Tags: basil, pistachio
Years ago I remember seeing Alton Brown make a pistachio pesto and it sounded so delicious! I love pistachios and have always kept that in the back of my mind.
So recently I made some. Wow is it delicious!! You really can taste the pistachios but they don’t over-power the basil or parmesan (and if you’re a regular reader you know how I love my parmesan. Hell, if this is the first time you’re ever reading this let it be known-I love parmesan) I made quite a bit and froze 2 tbsp amounts wrapped in plastic for use whenever I want it. Enjoy!!
(sorry no photo of the plain pesto–I forgot to take one when I made it but this is a photo of it mixed into greek yogurt/cream cheese for a dipping sauce. you get the idea)
Pistachio Pesto
Ingredients:
- 2 cups basil leaves, stems removed, washed, patted dry
- 1 large garlic clove
- 1/3-1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan
- 1/4 cup shelled unsalted pistachios
- 2/3 -1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- pinch of kosher salt
Instructions:
- Place the basil, garlic, parmesan and pistachios into the bowl of a food processor and pulse until chopped and even
- While the machine is running pour in the olive oil
- When desired consistancy is reached add the salt and pulse to combine
- Serve or freeze or refrigerate
25 Feb 2013
by sparksfromthekitchen
in Freezer, Holiday, Lunch, Main Dish, Prep-Ahead, Freeze then Cook, Slow Cooker, Thaw/Reheat & Serve
Tags: burritos, chicken, slow cooker, tacos, tortillas
It’s official. I love my slow cooker. I was looking around online for a new recipe and came across a chicken recipe for the slow cooker. I adapted it a bit and the recipe below was born. Really easy and super tasty. The chicken in this recipe was really nice and moist, easy to shred and the veggies, herbs and spices are just right for a great balance of taste.
I like that this can be made in either 6 hours or 10 hours (great for weeknights after work). I would assume it freezes well but we didn’t have enough left to try.
I made a burrito/taco bar including sliced avocado, sliced tomato, lettuce, sour cream, shredded cheese, salsa and large tortillas. Husband at his like tacos and I made burritos out of mine and put them on the panini press to heat and make the tortilla crunchy. YUM! I had 2. I was a pig. But they’re GOOD! And since it’s pretty low cal and low fat and since I used fat free sour cream and low fat cheddar cheese I didn’t feel so bad.
Santa Fe Chicken for the Slow Cooker
Chicken Ingredients
- 1&1/2 lbs boneless and skinless chicken breast
- 14.4 oz can diced tomatoes with mild green chilies
- 4 oz can green chilies
- 10 oz frozen corn
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 14.4 oz can fat free chicken broth
- 3 scallions, chopped
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper (to taste)
- salt to taste
Toppings:
- Fat free Sour Cream
- Low Fat Cheddar Cheese, freshly grated
- Ripe tomatoes, sliced thin
- Avocado, sliced thin
- Salsa
- Cilantro
Instructions:
- Place everything except the chicken listed in the ‘chicken ingredients’ in the slow cooker. Stir to combine.
- Place the chicken on top of the combined ingredients.
- Cook on low for 10 hours or high for 6 hours. 30 minutes before serving shred the chicken with 2 forks (you don’t need to remove the chicken from the cooker-just stick your forks in and shred). Stir it all back together and let it all come together for the remaining 30 minutes.
- While the chicken is finishing cooking prepare the taco/burrito bar and lay out toppings.
- Serve on tortillas with toppings.
Adapted from skinnytaste.com.
19 Feb 2013
by sparksfromthekitchen
in Freezer, Lunch, Main Dish, Slow Cooker, Thaw/Reheat & Serve
This is a good, thick, hearty, not spicy (but could be), chunky, not soupy chili. You could easily make it spicier by adding some heat or if you have some bell peppers laying around or another can of beans you can put those in as well. Feel free to make it just as it is or to adjust to your taste.
Also please excuse the photo. I forgot to take a photo the night I made it so I had to take one at work with the left overs (which were really good by the way).
Chili Chili Bobili in the Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 1lb lean ground beef
- 4 garlic cloves, diced
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
- 1 28oz can crushed tomatoes
- 1 15oz can tomato sauce
- 1 15oz can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 15 oz can great northern beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped small
- 1 4oz can green chilis (not drained)
- 1 15oz can yellow/white corn just drained
Instructions
- In a large non-stick skillet brown the beef over medium heat. Add the garlic, chili powder and cumin and cook until garlic is fragrant.
- Add everything into the slow cooker along with the meat, mix thoroughly, and cook for 6-6.5 hours on low.
Serve with ideas: rice, egg noodles, tortilla chips, freshly shredded cheese, sliced scallions, hot sauce or cornbread.
Previous Older Entries
Sparks from the Kitchen 