Well this isnt exactly healthy, but um, baby was craving chili cheese fries yesterday haha, so guess what, we had chili cheese fries:P
The chili: (this version does not have beans in it, if you feel so inclined open up a can of kidney beans, drain them and add them in after everything else but before letting them cook for about an hour) (this is also a kid friendly recipe for those of us with picky eaters, alternatively you can take fresh onion and pure it and mix it in and they probably wont know its there either)
1lb lean ground beef (if you cant get good lean, just drain the fat off it)
1 28oz can tomato sauce
1 8oz can tomato paste
2-3 cloves crushed/minced garlic
1 tbsp dried minced onion
1 tsp black pepper
1 tbsp cumin powder
3 tbsp chili powder (possibly more)
1/4 cup masa flour (this s the secret ingredient)
1/2 cup water
Brown your meat and drain off any extra fat if need be.
Add in the minced garlic and stir, being careful not to burn it.
Add in bot cans of tomato sauce and paste.
Add in all the seasonings and onions and stir well.
Let bubble for a few minutes.
While its bubbling, mix the water and masa together to form a "Slurry".
Add the slurry into the pot and mix well.
This is where you would add the beans.
Set heat on a low low simmer, pop a lid on it and walk away. Come back and stir it every 15 minutes or so for an hour.
this is wonderful on fries, hot dogs, hamburgers, in a bowl by itself with some cornbread on the side, you name it.
I've probably mentioned before i'm cheap, well broke but I like to be nice to myself about it. Anywho, Instead of buying 100 starter pots for my seeds for spring and summer, I make them out of toilet paper tubes. Everyone has toilet paper, you're already buying it, why not make it do double duty.
Take a toilet paper tube and cut it in half.
Take a half of a tube and cut 4 slits in it directly across from on another about 1/3 of the way down the tube.
Fold it like you would fold a packing box.
Put some soil in them and add your seeds.
Water.
Watch seedlings grow.
When the seedlings are ready to be transplanted, you don't even have to take them out of the tube, just open up the bottom and put it directly into the ground.
Simple as can be and FREE. Who doesn't like free
I put my first seeds in a box and a towel underneath to catch any water and a piece of glass under the towel
Look what I scored from a friend, very excited to start the growing season here soon. indoor transplants get started on the first of feb here:)
All im missing is some herbs some more fruits and possibly some potatoes. I got a very late start on garlic this year so I will have a late crop but yay for living in southern california where you can almost grow year round.
Sorry I didnt get this posted last night, was really really tired by around 8...anywho...
Garlic Parmesan bread rolls
Ingredients
1 cup warm water
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon instant yeast
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg
3 tablespoons butter, softened
3 1/2 to 4 cups all purpose flour
4 tablespoons butter, melted
1 tsp garlic powder
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine all ingredients except melted butter in the bowl of your mixer, fitted with dough hook.
Blend dough until it becomes a cohesive mass.
Knead for 5 minutes until soft, smooth and supple.
Remove dough from bowl and oil the bowl and return the dough and turn in the oil to coat.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and/or a towel and allow dough to rise for at least 1 hour or until doubled in size.
Gently deflate dough with hands and remove from bowl.
Divide into 10 equal sized pieces. Roll into tubes.
Place buns on a baking sheet that has been lined with parchment paper.
Spray buns with cooking oil spray and cover with plastic wrap and/or a towel.
Allow to rise for 1 hour longer until doubled in size.
Gently brush risen buns with half of the melted butter garlic mix and sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top.
Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until golden brown and when tapped sound hollow.
Remove from oven and brush with the remaining half of the melted butter. This will help the rolls retain a soft crust.
Allow to cool completely before serving.
I only did a few buns and this monster of a braided roll for the hubs. We made meatballs subs last night
