Not From Texas Chili

Made completely from scratch, and completely delicious chili. Texans will want to kill me because I use beans. Sorry!

Ingredients:
1lb Hamburger Meat
1 Bell Pepper
2 Jalapenos
1 Medium Onion
3 Garlic Clove
1/2 stick butter
30oz Can Tomato Sauce (or 2 15oz)
28oz Can Crushed Tomatoes
2 Cans Bushes Chili Beans (these come in hot, medium, and mild. Choose your taste)
2 Cans Bushes Light Red Kidney Beans (if you prefer dark, fine)
3tsp Paprika
2tsp Cumin
1tsp Chipotle Seasoning
3Tbsp Chili Powder

Optional Ingredients:
1.5lb Eye of Round/Flank Steak
Cayenne Pepper
Cheese for Garnish


1. Grab your onion, garlic, jalapenos, and bell pepper, chop and dice into small pieces (garlic minced)




2. Brown hamburger meat with 1tsp of paprika



3. In large stock pot, melt 1/2 stick of butter, and lightly saute chopped veggies (OK, technically peppers are a fruit, hush)



4. OPTIONAL: Cut steak into small pieces and brown




5. Make sure to drain grease from both meats and add to stock pot, stirring in with saute



6. Mix in 2tsp Paprika, 2tsp Cumin, 1tsp Chipotle, 3Tbsp Chili powder



7. Add all cans of tomato sauce and crushed tomatoes to stock pot, stirring well


8. Drain Kidney Beans, add to stock pot



9. Add in chili bean and the sauce they are in to the stock pot and stir in well



10. OPTIONAL: Add in Cayenne pepper for hot. If you are not sure, I suggest to add in 1/8tsp at a time. I use 1/4tsp for our family, because while I like it hot, they complain


11. Cover with lid and let simmer for 1 hour and 45 minutes



12. Serve with crackers or cornbread

Baked Spaghetti

It's been a long day, and I am tired. My go to meal? Spaghetti. When it's Matt making the meal (the only meal he can make, even if he doesn't spice it up), it's regular seashell spaghetti. Made like regular spaghetti, but with the seashell noodles. We like it better. However, when I make it, I like cheese (this is why I'm fat?). So, I make a baked spaghetti. It looks to be a lot more hassle than it is, and I promise, it's worth it.

Here is the best part. Almost all of the main ingredients are from Aldi. Yes, Aldi! With the exception of the hamburger meat and specialty cheeses (Asiago and Parmesan) which are from Harris Teeter, this is an Aldi meal.

Ingredients:
1 Box of Pasta
1-2 Jars Pasta Sauce
1lb Hamburger Meat
3tsp Pre-minced Garlic or 6 Garlic Cloves, minced
1Tbsp Italian Seasoning
1/2Tbsp Red Pepper Flakes
2.5 Cups Mozzarella/Italian Cheeses
6Tbsp Cream Cheese

Optional:
Asiago Cheese
Parmesan Cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350

2. In a skillet brown hamburger meat with minced garlic, red pepper, and italian seasoning. (here are pictures of the seasonings and the type of pre-minced garlic.)



3. Drain the excess grease


4. Stir the meat in with the pasta sauces. I am out of homemade, so I used my next fave. I prefer my spaghetti to be saucy, so I do two jars. If you prefer less sauce, use one.
(Spaghetti sauce is from Aldi)




5. Cook your pasta, al dente, according the the box, then drain.


6. Place cooked noodles in large bowl


7. Melt your cream cheese, 3Tbsp at a time, mixing with pasta



8. After the cream cheese is well blended, stir in 1 cup of Italian/Mozzarella cheese



9. Add in meat sauce, holding back 1 cup for topping, mix well



9. OPTIONAL mix in 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese



11. Spread evenly into a 9x13 baking dish



12. Cover the noodles with the extra sauce that you held back earlier



13. Spread 1.5cups of Italian/Mozzarella cheese on top, evenly



14. OPTIONAL: Sprinkle lightly with Parmesan and Asiago Cheeses



15. Cook, covered, for 30 minutes



16. Let stand for 15 minutes, to setting. Then serve and enjoy!

Breaded Parmesan Whiting Fillet

We love fish in this family. Thumbelina generally has to be told it's fish sticks for her to eat it however. It can look and taste different than any other fish "stick" she's ever had, but she doesn't care. As long as she is able to say it's fish sticks, she's happy. However, for some reason, tonight, she kept calling this salmon patties (she still ate them, and is begging for it for lunch tomorrow). I promise you, these are not salmon patties, nor fish sticks. :-)

Ingredients:
8 Whiting Fish Fillets
2 Eggs, beaten
1 cup of All Purpose Flour (separated into 1/2 cup increments)
1/3cup Panko Bread Crumbs
1/2cup Shredded Parmesan
Oil for frying
Pepper

1. Preheat the oil for frying to about 325-350 degrees

2. Mix together 1/2 cup of Flour and pepper for taste in a plate


3. In bowl, beat eggs for dipping

4. In another bowl, mix together Panko Bread Crumbs, 1/2cup of flour, and shredded parm.


5. Take whiting and lightly flour with the flour and pepper mixture


6. Dip fillet into egg

7. Place into the Panko mixture, covering the Whiting fillet

9. Drop into heated oil, cooking 20 minutes each side, or until fish flakes easily.



10. When finished cooking, remove from oil and drain on paper towel. Of course, serve hot!

Green Beans and Baby Red Potatoes

I used to live on a farm in Asheville, from the ages 13-15. I left shortly before my 16th birthday, but I never forgot how awesome fresh vegetables tasted in comparison to what you get out of a can. Matt and I were supposed to start our garden this year, but sadly, it didn't quite work out the way we hoped. So, we settled for the farmers market.

Ingredients:
1/2lb Fresh Snap Beans. (Green beans)
8-10 Baby Red Potatoes
1 small onion
3 cups Pork stock/broth
1/2 stick SALTED Butter
3 small cloves of Garlic

Here is a look at the way your green beans, fresh from the market (Baby reds too for that matter)


1. Put pork stock in a medium pot to boil

2. Snap your beans, ends off, then snap in half, then rinse (kids can help!)



3. Slice potatoes in half or quarters


4. Slice onion into circular strips


5. Place onion and green beans in boiling pork stock for 10 minutes, covered.


6. Uncover and place in halved red potatoes.


7. Cover and simmer for an additional 30 minutes, making sure to check potato tenderness.

8. Drain the broth


9. Mince garlic


10. Melt 1/2 stick of salted butter in pot and add minced garlic


11. Toss with veggie mix

12. Spoon into serving dish and enjoy!


RECIPE TIP: If you prefer a crunchier green bean, do not cook them for 10 minutes alone. Just cook the 30 minutes with the potatoes. They will have a nice "snap"

Fettuccine Alfredo

Once you have made your own Alfredo Sauce, you will never, never ever, want to buy it from a jar again!

Ingredients
2Tbsp Cream Cheese
1 Stick of SALTED Butter
1cup Freshly Shredded Parmesan Cheese
1 Pint Heavy Cream
2 Cloves Garlic, minced
1 Box Fettuccine Noodles


1. Melt butter and cream cheese in large skillet on medium heat


2. Mince Fresh Garlic

3. Shred Fresh Parmesan Cheese
4. Once butter and cream cheese are melted, add heavy cream and garlic

5. When the cream is well heated, add in parmesan cheese, in 1/4 increments, stirring in slowly

6. Stir frequently for 15 minutes, until parm. cheese fully melts. This is a long process, but well worth it.

7. Toss with pasta, and serve! (we added grilled chicken)