Paleo Chili Y'all

Who doesn't love a big ole' pot of chili? Especially on a cold snowy day...which is what we've been having here lately in good ole' Arkansas. One day it's spring, the next it's snow. Hey, I'm not complaining though! My husband and I love chili, LOVE. But, we wanted a healthier version...so here we are. This recipe is super easy and super super DELISH.

Here's what you need:

2 tablespoons of Coconut Oil 
2 Yellow Onions (or 1 large)1 bulb of Garlic ( not sure how to peel it? check out this tutorial )
Himalayan Pink Salt (optional - see directions)
1 lb. Bison
1 lb. Ground Beef
1 can of Organic Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes
1 can of Organic Tomato Paste
1 3/4 cup of Chicken Broth

Spices to be added after meat cooks:
1 teaspoon Granulated Garlic
2 tablespoons of Organic Chili Powder 
1 1/2 tablespoons of Organic Cocoa Powder
1/2 + 1/4 teaspoons of Organic Cayenne


Now let's cook:
Chop onion and mince garlic. On medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of coconut oil and then add onion and garlic. Cook for about 5-7 mins, stir to prevent sticking. Next add your meat of choice. You can use any meat of your choice, we love Bison, so we always try to include it!

While meat is cooking you're going to mix your spices. Now, for the 1/2 + 1/4 Cayenne...my hubby loves spicy foods. I can do spicy (with a glass of almond milk nearby....lol) but not super spicy. So we made this batch of chili a few times until we found a happy medium on how much Cayenne to use. Obviously you can use more or less.

Once the meat is cooked, stir seasoning mix in. After you've mixed the seasoning, add tomato paste and stir for about 2 mins. Next, add can of fire roasted tomatoes with their juice and chicken broth. Now, some recipes for chili that I've seen that call for broth, call for beef broth. The first time we made this, all I had was chicken broth so that's what we used. Don't worry...it turns out amazing! 

Bring to a boil and then reduce heat and simmer.
*most recipes I've seen say to simmer for a couple of hours. However, we've not made it early enough to let it simmer that long. Plus, we're too impatient to wait because it's so yummy!

How do you like your chili? In a bowl? Chili dogs? Chili dogs are my favorite and for the longest was the only way I would eat chili. Here are the toppings we use for our chili dogs (minus the mustard for the hubs) and we use GF/DF buns:

My idea of the PERFECT chili dog! :)

Hope y'all enjoy as much as we do! :)

God Bless!

Crock Pot Spicy Chicken Broccoli Slaw

I made this a few days ago and I have more cooking in the crock pot as I type this blog entry. It's cold and snowy outside today, so this is the perfect dish for dinner. Super easy to make, super yummy and who doesn't love a good crock pot recipe?

Ingredients Needed:
2 Cans of Mild Diced Tomatoes & Chilies (do NOT drain your juice)
1 Yellow Onion - Chopped (I did big chunks)
2 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast (I used frozen)
McCormick Mesquite Seasoning
Less Sodium Soy Sauce (amount used is based on preference, I used about 1 tablespoon)
1 Tablespoon Earth Balance Butter
1 12 oz bag of Broccoli Slaw

Ready?

Chop your onion, I did big chunks. Pour 2 cans of tomatoes & chilies (juice included) in crock pot, top with your chopped onion. Place frozen boneless skinless chicken breast on top. I did not use a specific amount of mesquite seasoning, just enough to cover my chicken. The juice from the tomatoes and chilies makes this :almost: soup like. Not quite a soup, but juicy. Ah yummy. (although I'm sure you could add a can of broth to make this soup)

Cook on high for 4 hours, stir occasionally. After 3 hours I used two forks to start shredding my chicken. Once shredded, add your bag of broccoli slaw, tablespoon of butter and tablespoon of soy sauce. Let cook for remaining hour.

Done. I think this would also taste really good with maybe some corn and black beans added to it. So delish! I hope you enjoy as much as I did! :)

Healthy Spicy Chicken Stir-Fry

I've done it again. I came up with a new recipe and I LOVE it! Hope you do too! It's super easy to make and very yummy! 

 Ingredients Needed:

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast - thawed, if using frozen (I used about a pound)

1 12 oz Bag of Broccoli Slaw

1 Package of Sliced Mushrooms (forgot to take a picture, but any kind of mushrooms will work)

2 Yellow Onions - Chopped

1 Clove of Garlic - Minced

Less Sodium Soy Sauce (amount used is based on preference. I used about a tablespoon)

McCormick Mesquite Seasoning (optional if you want spicy stir-fry)

1 Tablespoon of Earth Balance Butter (or whatever butter you would like)

Ready to Cook?

Cut your chicken into bite size pieces and cook on medium heat. While your chicken is cooking, chop your onion and mince your garlic. Here is a helpful tutorial on how to peel garlic, if you aren't sure how. Once your chicken is done cooking, set it aside. Now you are going to saute your mushrooms, onion, garlic and broccoli slaw with your 1 tablespoon of Earth Balance Butter (or whatever butter you use). After about 3 minutes add your soy sauce and mix. Then you are going to add your chicken and McCormick Mesquite Seasoning. I used about a half of package, it really depends on how spicy you would like it! Mix well and let it cook for about 3-5 minutes.

You're ready to eat! 

Yummy Yummy!! This is really good with grape tomatoes on the side!
Hope you enjoy as much as I did! :)

Spicy Broccoli and Cheese Soup

It's starting to get cold out and that's my favorite time of the year. I love fall. I love the cold. And I love being able to make my broccoli and cheese soup.

This is super easy to make and super yummy to eat!

Ingredients Needed:

1 Chopped Yellow Onion
1 Clove of Garlic - Minced
1 Tablespoon of Earth Balance Butter (or whatever butter you would like)
3 Cups of Fat Free, Less Sodium Chicken Broth
1 (16 ounce) Bag of Broccoli Florets
2 1/2 Cups of Milk - I use Soy Milk
1/3 Cup All Purpose Flour
1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper
8 ounces 2% Milk Velveeta Cheese, cubed.
McCormicks Mesquite Seasoning (optional)

Ready to Cook?

Chop your yellow onion and mince your garlic. Heat a large sauce pan on medium-high heat. Add one tablespoon butter in sauce pan with onions and garlic. Saute for about 3 mins or until tender. Stir frequently to prevent sticking. After that, add chicken broth and broccoli, bring to a boil. Reduce to medium heat and cook for 10 mins.

Mix flour and milk in bowl, stirring until well blended. Once your broccoli has finished cooking for the 10 mins., add your milk/flour mixture and cook for another 5 mins or until slightly thick. Stir constantly or it will stick. Stir in your pepper. Add your cubed cheese and stir until melted. If you are using the McCormicks Mesquite Seasoning, add 1/2 - 1 package of seasoning, just depends on how spicy you want it. *This is optional, if you want your soup spicy.

Place one-third of the soup in a blender or food processor, and blend until smooth. Return pureed soup mixture to pan and stir together.

Allow to cool and then you are ready to eat. I hope you enjoy this lovely, yummy fall dish.

Ground Turkey and Rice Casserole

My newest creation, Ground Turkey and Rice Casserole. I usually make Chicken and Rice Casserole, but wanted to change things up. I've mentioned before and probably will mention it many more times....the thing I love about recipes is that you can always change things up and make it your own. The possibilities are endless when it comes to cooking and that's what I love.

Ingredients Needed:
2 Cups of Minute Rice (uncooked)
1 Cup of Water
2 Cans of Broccoli Cheese Condensed Soup
1 Can of Mild Diced Tomatoes and Chilies
1 Small Yellow Onion
1 Jumbo Garlic (optional)
1 lb Ground Turkey
Bacon - Cut into bite size pieces (as many slices as you would like)
1 Package of McCormick Mesquite Seasoning

Let's Get to Cooking:
Preheat over to 350 degrees.

First you're going to cook your bacon, using as many pieces as you want. I used about 8 pieces. While your bacon is cooking, chop your onion, peel and mince your garlic - I use a Food Chopper to mince the garlic. If you aren't sure how to peel your garlic, this is a great tutorial to show you how. Once my bacon was done cooking, I sauteed the onion and garlic in the yumminess the bacon left behind. After a few minutes, add your turkey meat.

While your turkey is cooking, mix together in your casserole dish (I use a glass 14 x 9.5) your 2 Cups of Rice, 1 Cup of Water, 2 Cans of Broccoli and Cheese Condensed Soup, 1 Can of Mild Diced Tomatoes and Chilies, Bite Size Pieces of Bacon and McCormick Mesquite Seasoning. With the seasoning, use as little or as much as you would like. It just depends on how spicy you would like it. Once your turkey/onion/garlic is done cooking, add to the mixture in your casserole dish and mix together.

Bake for 30-45 minutes.

I hope you enjoy this dish as much as I did. The hubs is stationed in Turkey right now, so he'll have to try it on his mid tour! :)

Bowl Full of Yumminess

I honestly can't come up with a name for this dish. So a Bowl Full of Yumminess it shall be. My husband is stationed in Turkey right now and that's the only way I can get away with cooking like this. He's not a fan of mushrooms.

I don't have exact measurements for this dish. I literally just made it up as I went along. I can tell you that I used:

2 skinless, boneless chicken breast.
1 yellow onion.
Sliced Mushrooms - as many as you would like
1 bag of frozen corn - thawed
Cabbage - as much as you would like, cut into smaller pieces
Spinach Leaves - as much as you would like, cut into smaller pieces
Soy Sauce
Mesquite Seasoning - optional
Grape Tomatoes - optional

Cut chicken into bite size pieces and cook in skillet until done.
In a separate skillet, saute your mushrooms and onion in some soy sauce. Amount of soy sauce used is however much you would like. I used maybe 2 tablespoons. Once that is done, add your cabbage, spinach and corn. If you want, add a bit more soy sauce. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring so there is no sticking.
Then add your chicken and sprinkle some mesquite seasoning and mix well. The mesquite seasoning is optional, I like to use it to add a little spice. And you may notice from my other recipes, that's one of my favorite spices! :)

After that, you're done. It's such a simple dish that's easy to add or take away ingredients, you can experiment and make it your own. :)

I added the grape tomatoes on the side, taste great with the Bowl Full of Yumminess!

Hope you enjoy! :)

Grilled Cheeseburger Wraps

Grilled Cheeseburger Wraps have become a favorite for my husband and I. Our friends get tickled at how often we have them. I found the original recipe at Mostly Homemade Mom, although we make them entirely different. Like I mentioned in my Ground Turkey Enchiladas blog post, I love experimenting with recipes and making them my own.

Ingredients Needed:

1 Small Yellow Onion
1 lb of Ground Turkey
8 Slices of Turkey Bacon
1 Package of McCormicks Mesquite Seasoning
Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
Yellow Mustard
1 Package (of 10) of La Banderita Soft Taco Flour Tortillas (We end up using 9 shells)

Let's Cook:

First, you are going to cook your 8 slices of bacon. Once cooked, set aside. Chop your onion. Since I use Turkey Bacon, it's not really greasy in the pan but has some of that yummy flavoring. So once my onion is chopped I cook it on what's left of the bacon remains.

Cook onion for a few minutes until it's nice and caramelized. Then add the Ground Turkey. While you are cooking the ground turkey with the onion, start chopping your 8 slices of bacon into small pieces. Once your turkey meat is completely cooked, add your bacon and mesquite seasoning. Stir very well so that all your seasoning is mixed, sometimes I might add a little bit of olive oil to help with mixing the seasoning.

Once you have the meat mixture complete, it's time to start building your cheeseburger wraps. Microwave your shell for 10 seconds. Add about 2 tablespoons of meat mixture to shell, top with some shredded mozzarella and then mustard.

Once you have made all your cheeseburger wraps, place them on the grill. Grill (flipping once) just long enough to melt the cheese and add a little char. Maybe about 5 mins total.

Once you're done with that, it's time to eat! :) I hope you and your family enjoy these as much as we do!