Crock Pot Turkey Chipotle Chili

Here topped with queso fresco, avocado, and sour cream

I made this chili for a fund raiser at my husband's job not knowing that it was a chili competition and it won 3rd place out of 27 entries.  My favorite thing about this chili is that it has more vegetables and beans than meat, but you'd never know I swear.  The ingredient list looks long but it's a lot of pantry stuff and cooks in the crock pot. 

Ingredients:

1 cup dry red kidney beans  (or substitute canned)

1 lb. ground turkey

1 can/bottle of beer

2 cans diced fire roasted tomatoes

Handful chopped cilantro

¾  cup small diced white mushroom

½  red bell pepper, small diced

½ onion, small diced

2 cloves garlic, finely diced

1 box frozen corn (or about a cup)

3-4 dashes Worcestershire sauce

1-2 chopped chipotles in adobo, plus 1 tsp of the sauce. Remove seeds for less heat.

Bay leaf

½ can tomato paste

1 Tbsp cider vinegar

Ground cumin

Ground coriander

Dried oregano

Garlic powder

Onion powder

Smoked or sweet paprika (not hot)

Cinnamon

Method:

Soak beans overnight covered in water.

Brown turkey with a little olive oil over med-high heat.  While it’s cooking, season it with ½ tsp each coriander, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and ¼ tsp oregano.

Transfer turkey to crock-pot and add all of the other ingredients.  Add 2 tsp each cumin, coriander, and paprika, ½ tsp oregano and 1/2 tsp cinnamon.  Also add salt and pepper to taste.   Add a little water if needed so that ingredients are just covered.  Set crock pot for 8-10 hours on low and go to work/sleep! 

Add another ½ can of the tomato paste to thicken the sauce if needed.  Salt to taste.  Add cider vinegar.

Enjoy!

Crock Pot BBQ Chicken

Living and/or working in Baltimore for the last 14 years, I like bbq with some good ol' ketchup, mustard and molasses.  A few ingredients for freshness but nothing too fancy.  Just sweet, smoky, and yummy. It just doesn't get any easier than this.  You can cook it overnight of while you're at work for dinner when you get home. 

Makes 4-6 servings

Ingredients:

1/4 cup red pepper, diced

1/4 cup green pepper, diced

1 jalapeno, diced

2 garlic cloves, diced

1/4 cup onion, diced

1 tablespoon oil

1/3 cup ketchup

1/3 cup yellow mustard

1/3 cup molasses

1/3 cup brown sugar

2 tablespoons hot sauce

2 tsp. liquid smoke

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 chicken breasts and 1 thigh

       Method:

Mix the bbq sauce ingredients in the crock-pot and then add chicken.  Set the crock-pot to “low” and cook 4-6 hours.  Use two forks to shred the chicken (it will practically fall apart) and you’re done!

Good on a kaiser roll with cole slaw.

Jalapeno Mac n' Cheese

Macaroni and Cheese is just one of those dishes that has to be rich, creamy, and addictive.  So I experimented and this was the result - a hit at pot lucks and tailgate parties, amazing with chili, and fun for a cozy evening in!  If I really want to feel like a kid again, I slice up a hot dog on the side.

I used to bake this but I actually like it best off the stove top - I think it's creamiest this way.   If you plan on putting it in a crock pot,  just make sure you use plenty of milk and cheese, because the pasta will absorb a good amount of it.

This makes enough to fill a crock pot - about 10 servings.

Ingredients:

1.5 lb elbow macaroni

6 Tbsp unsalted butter

3 Tbsp flour

2 Tbsp mustard powder

6 cups whole milk

½ onion, finely diced

2 jalapenos, seeded and finely diced

1-2 bay leaves

1 tsp paprika

12 oz. sharp cheddar cheese

8 oz. pepperjack cheese

1 cup grated parmesan cheese

4 oz. cream cheese

3 tsp salt

Pepper to taste

Method:

Cook pasta for 2 minutes less than al dente, so it’s still nice and firm and a little undercooked.

While the pasta is cooking, melt the butter in a separate large pot.   Add the onion and sauté for a couple of minutes until softened.  Whisk in the flour and mustard and keep it moving for 1-2 minutes.   Stir in the milk, jalapeno, bay leaf, and paprika. Simmer for ten minutes and remove the bay leaf.  Stir the cheese in a handful at a time until melted and smooth.   Fold the macaroni into the mix.

If using a crock pot, spray the inside with cooking spray before pouring in the mac n' cheese.