Dustin's Chili

Dustin likes chunky chili. I grew up with the most basic chili EVER! My mom's recipe was hamburger, chili beans, tomato sauce and chili powder. She's gotten crazy in her old age and now adds a can of Rotel. So I had to come up with a new recipe to please the hubs! This is the base I follow every time. It's really never made the same twice - just depends on what I have around!

**this is SPICY** but it doesn't have to be - just leave the hot peppers out!!

Dustin's Chili

2lbs hamburger
2 medium red onions - chopped
1 green bell pepper - chopped
1 red bell pepper - chopped
4 cloves garlic - minced
1 large can crushed tomatoes
1 large can tomato sauce
1 can tomato paste
1 can beer
1/2 bottle red wine (use your favorite, drink the other half)
1/4C honey
1/4C BBQ sauce
1 large can chili beans
2T black pepper
4T basil
2T oregano
6T chili powder
4 jalapenos - chopped

In a large skillet sautee the peppers, onions and garlic in a little olive oil until soft. Brown the hamburger in the same skillet. Add EVERYTHING to a very LARGE crockpot. Cook on low 6-8 hrs, stirring occasionally.

This recipe is so easily adjusted to whatever you like! Don't have a red pepper? Use 2 green, or yellow or orange. Increase the BBQ sauce for a more "tangy" chili. I use Miller Lite but a dark beer would be good too! That's what's great about chili - dump it all in and it'll turn out good! 1

Twix Bars

This is VERY rare...I baked. I hate to bake. I don't like to measure. So if I do bake rest assured it's easy. I got this recipe from my friend Monica. They are rich and gooey and as far away from healthy as you can get! But oooohhhh so worth it!!!

Twix Bars

1 roll sugar cookie dough
14oz caramels
1 stick butter
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1C peanut butter
1 bag chocolate chips (I used milk chocolate)

Pat the cookie dough out in a greased 9x13 pan. Bake at 375* until golden brown (about 15 mins). Cool. While dough is cooling, in a small saucepan, melt together the caramels, butter and milk. Keep the heat low. Pour over cooled dough. Let cool in the fridge. Meanwhile melt together the chocolate chips and peanut butter. Spread over the caramel layer. Refrigerate until chocolate is set (about 3 hours)

A little of this goes a long way so it actually makes quite a bit. I just can't get over how good they are! And if I can make them YOU definitely can! 1

Tuna Noodle Casserole

I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Tuna Noodle Casserole. Is it a 4 Star amazing impressive recipe? Nope! But it is comfort food at it's best! Perfect on a cold day, throws together quick and it's one of the very few foods I'll eat leftovers of. When it's adults only eating it I like to add a couple pinches of crushed red pepper flake to give it a bite!

Tuna Noodle Casserole

2 cans tuna (in water) - drained
3 stalks celery - chopped
8oz Velveeta - cubed
1 can cream of celery soup
1/2C milk
1/2 C mayo
2T lemon pepper
12oz egg noodles - cooked and drained.
1/2C crushed garlic croutons

In a large sauce pan, over medium heat, add the velveeta, soup, milk, mayo and lemon pepper. Stir occasionally until everything is combined and the cheese is melted.
Stir in the tuna, celery, and egg noodles. Mix well.
Pour into a greased casserole dish. Sprinkle croutons on top.
Bake in a pre-heated 325* oven until croutons are golden and dish is heated through, about 20mins. 1

Breakfast Muffins

This was lunch today! I was expirimenting so I kept it pretty basic but next time I'll definetaly beef them up with some peppers, onions and bacon! That's what makes it such a great recipe - it can very easily be adapted to your tastes!

Breakfast Muffins

1lb sausage - browned and crumbled
2C shredded cheddar cheese
2lb cubed frozen hashbrowns
1 dozen eggs
1/2C milk
2T seasoned salt
1T garlic powder

Preheat oven to 375*
In a large bowl mix together the sausage, cheese, hashbrowns, seasoned salt and garlic powder. In a medium bowl whisk together the eggs and milk.
In a greased muffin tin add the sausage mixture. (I used a large ice cream scoop - 1 scoop per muffin) Pour the egg mixture onto the sausage mixture to just the top of the muffin tin.
Bake for 25 minutes or until tops are puffed up and golden brown.
Yields 24 servings 1

Cheese Steak Dip

I LOVE Philly Cheese steaks...grilled meat and peppers and cheese? Yes please! We were going tailgating last weekend and I was craving cheese steaks but didn't want to have to bring a bunch of different containers to make them. And so was born Cheese steak Dip! It was quick, easy and perfect for tailgating - or any potluck for that matter!

Cheese steak Dip

2 rib-eye steaks - thinly sliced
1 red pepper - chopped
1 green pepper - chopped
1 red onion- sliced thin
1 jar pepperonchini's - sliced, reserve juice
1 jar Monterrey jack queso (I used Frito Lay's)
1 can cheddar cheese dip (I used Frito Lay's)

In a large skillet over high heat sautee the steaks, peppers and onions in a little olive oil. It's ok (actually it's best!) for everything to get some char on it...that's flavor! In a large crockpot add the contents of the skillet, the pepperonchini's and the juice, the queso and the cheese dip. Stir to combine and cook on low 3-4 hours or until warmed through.

I served this with toasted pieces of French bread. It's just soooo good! A bit spicy - but not overwhelming. It's definitely a stick to your ribs dip!

Can't seem to get your steak sliced thin? The best way to thinly slice ANY meat is to do it while it's partially frozen. The meat will be easier to handle and will slice up no problem! 1

Bacon Ranch Chicken

This recipe has my favorites in it - chicken, bacon and ranch! Takes 2 seconds to throw every thing in the crockpot and supper is ready when you are! I love these kinds of recipes!!

Bacon Ranch Chicken

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 small container sour cream
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 packet ranch dressing mix
6 slices bacon cooked and crumbled (or use bacon bits!)
egg noodles

Put the chicken in the crockpot. Mix the sour cream, cream of chicken, dressing mix and bacon together in a small bowl. Pour over the chicken. Cook on low for 4 hours. Shred the chicken and return back into the sauce. Serve over cooked egg noodles. Mashed potatoes or rice would work too!! 1

Taco Joes

I'm working tonight so supper has to be already made when I leave and SUPER SIMPLE for Dustin to assemble! No offense to Dustin - he can cook (so I've heard!) This recipe is perfect for that. It was ready to go in 15 minutes! It's not supper time yet but I had to taste it and *yum*! A quick side of baked frozen french fries or a can of green beans and supper is ready!

Taco Joes

1lb ground beef

2T taco seasoning

1 can condensed tomato soup

1C salsa

Brown the beef in a large skillet and drain off fat. Add remaining ingredients. Stir, cover and simmer 10 minutes. Serve on hamburger buns with lettuce and sour cream. And a spoon if you make them extra sloppy!

1

BBQ Lasagna

This is Dustin's ALL TIME favorite meal that I make. I make it on his birthday and whenever I need to tell him "thank you"! He had a little medical procedure done yesterday so I made it tonight as a Get Better Soon Dinner.

You'll read the recipe and say "But Jen! There's 5642321 ingredients!" Yep. But they are ingredients that you should have on hand, and it actually goes pretty quick. HOWEVER there's no need to make your own BBQ sauce - just use a bottle of your favorite store brand!

BBQ Lasagna

1lb ground beef
1C ketchup
1/2C brown sugar
1/4C lemon juice
2T cider vinegar
2T Worcestershire sauce
1T yellow mustard
1 garlic clove - minced
1/8tsp chili powder
1/8tsp lemon pepper
2T liquid smoke
6 lasagna noodles
2C shredded cheddar cheese
2C shredded mozzarella cheese

In a skillet brown the beef and drain off the excess fat.
In a small sauce pan combine the ketchup, brown sugar, lemon juice, vinegar, Worcestershire, mustard, garlic, chili powder, lemon pepper and liquid smoke. Bring to a boil. Simmer, uncovered, for about 10 mins.
Meanwhile bring a large pot of water to a boil. HEAVILY SALT IT. Your pasta water should ALWAYS be like salt water. Cook the lasagna noodles. Drain the noodles.
Mix the bbq sauce with the hamburger.
In a loaf pan spread about 1/4C of the BBQ beef. Layer 2 noodles, 1/3 of the remaining beef, and 1/3 each of the cheeses. Repeat twice, ending with the cheese on top.
Bake uncovered at 350 for 50-60 mins. Let stand AT LEAST 10mins before cutting. This step ensures your lasagna will stay together and you won't have that dreaded anxiety of taking the first slice of lasagna out of the pan!! 1

Crockpot BBQ Chicken Sandwiches with slaw

This recipe was a HOME RUN! It's quick to throw together, cooks on it's own in the crockpot and tastes de-lish! The recipe could also be very easily doubled or tripled to serve a large crowd too. They are perfect with a side of baked beans, mac'n'cheese or potato salad.

Crockpot BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 bottle of BBQ sauce (I used KC Masterpiece Southern Style)
1/2C Italian Dressing
2T Worcestershire sauce
2T chili powder

Place chicken in crockpot. Dump remaining ingredients on top. Cook on low 6hrs or high 4hrs. Remove chicken breasts and shred with a fork. Return chicken to the crockpot. Serve on soft dinner rolls.
6 servings


Quick and Easy Slaw

2C pre-packaged coleslaw mix
1C mayo
1T yellow mustard
2T dill weed
1tsp celery salt

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate at least 1hr before serving. 1

And I'm blogging...

Watch out world - I'm blogging! My goals for this blog - share recipes of what we actually eat for supper! Simple right? I hope so - having 2 kids 2 and under doesn't leave room for complicated!

Here's my thinking - I LOVE to cook. Love it. When it was just me and my husband I would cook elaborate meals with tons of ingredients. That does not happen any more! I still like to cook great meals it's just now it needs to be put together and ready to go by the time Yo Gabba Gabba is over!

I'm always on the search for new recipes and love sharing them! Hopefully you'll be able to use them and enjoy them with your family too!! 1