Chili For A Cold Day

My husband has many food ideas and there are certain foods that he only wants when it is cold and many of those are what most people consider comfort foods. Foods like chili, roast, beef stew, and many soups are generally considered comfort foods and many people eat these year-round, but not in our household. These foods are winter, cold day foods to him. So, with a forecast of snow in the air tonight and the fact that he wants left-overs for tomorrow, as I won’t be home, he wants chili tonight.

Chili can be made many different ways and with many different ingredients. I chose a very simple recipe today and I will share it with you as my cold day chili. I prefer to use deer burger in ours as we have it readily available in our freezer and we like the flavor it adds to the chili. I also like to add home canned tomato juice, if possible, which was not in this case. I intended to use home canned diced tomatoes but was given some store-bought diced chili ready tomatoes so that is what I used for today’s meal.

I am fortunate that we heat with wood most of the winter and so my woodstove can double as my stove this time of the year for foods like this. I enjoy the meals that are cooking while I am busy with other work. It also makes the day feel as though I have accomplished a bit more when dinner is already on cooking by 9 a.m. Many people do not have the luxury in doing that, but that is part of what I truly love about our life here on our small farm in the country.

Here is the recipe for my chili. Please know that you can make many adjustments to what you do with this recipe, but I prefer this one for today.

Cold Day Chili

1 pound of deer burger, fried and drained of any grease

1 small onion, diced

1 8 oz can of tomato sauce

1 8 oz can of chili ready diced tomatoes, although I prefer my own canned ones

2 15 oz cans of chili beans, I prefer to use the mild

2 tsp chili powder

1 tsp cumin

1 cup of water

Mix all ingredients together and let simmer most of the day. I never bring to a boil as I just want the flavors to simmer together and heat all of the ingredients. I cook macaroni separately and we each add what we want to our bowls, as well as crackers. I also always serve with a peanut butter sandwich, as it is the perfect addition to the meal and complements the flavor of the chili quite nicely.

Summer Macaroni Salad Recipe

As summer approaches, we will be hosting several cookouts and attending several as well. One of my daughters’ favorite foods is macaroni salad and this is one of her favorite recipes. I like to try new things and so I am always experimenting with foods. This is one of the experiments that went well and the family really enjoyed.

The secret to this recipe is the extra little addition of red peppers. It adds some color and flavor to the traditional salad. I prefer red peppers or yellow peppers, but you could add green peppers if you chose too.

 

7 ounces shell macaroni, cooked

1 cup mayo

3 tablespoons yellow mustard

1 small onion, diced

1/2 red pepper, diced

4 hard boiled eggs, diced

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup vinegar

 

Mix together and chill before serving.

Snowy Menu

As my husband and I were talking in the car today, I came up with the idea for my post today. We were talking about the snow that we have and how it seems that everyone goes to the store to purchase milk, bread and eggs each time a snow storm is predicted. So I made a comment about how everyone must have French Toast for snow days. As I said it, I realized that the writers block that I have had here has been lifted as I suddenly had a good idea for a post.

French Toast is made by dipping bread into a mixture of egg and milk with possibly some cinnamon to add flavor and then fried on a hot griddle on in a hot skillet until browned on both sides. Then placed on a plate and covered with syrup or butter and syrup.

A great addition to this is to add vanilla to the egg and milk mixture or I have even added some Anise to the mix instead of cinnamon if I am in the mood for extra flavor. I sometimes cover it with fresh fruit instead of syrup also.

The snow day menu could consist of French Toast and some kind of breakfast meat, such as bacon or sausage. A large glass of cold milk to go along with it and you have a perfect snow day dish!

Italian Fried Chicken

A delicious fried chicken recipe is a must have for any farm family, right? Well, I am really not a fan of fried chicken, but I have created a recipe that I think will allow my family to have much more fried chicken. I know it will seem like a twist on fried chicken, but it is delicious and we all like it so my newest creation is being shared with each of my readers.

ITALIAN FRIED CHICKEN

6-8 chicken thighs, breasts, or legs ( I have used leg quarters as well)

2-3 cups of Italian Bread Crumbs (These I purchased at a local grocery store)

3 eggs

salt and pepper to taste

skillet with grease needs to be hot to add chicken

 

Begin my washing your chicken off under cold water. I do this to help prevent the spread of illnesses that we know raw chicken can cause. Lay on a paper towel.

Crack the eggs into a bowl that is large enough to dredge your chicken in. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Place the bread crumbs in a bowl also large enough to dredge the chicken in or put into a plastic freezer bag to shake the chicken in.

Next using tongs, dip your chicken into the egg and then into the bread crumbs and place into a hot skillet, Fry chicken about an hour or until done. Chicken breast will usually not take as long as the chicken legs, leg quarters, or thighs.

 

Tip: When I fry chicken, I place it into my electric skillet and I let it fry for almost 30 minutes before I turn it to the other side, this usually allows both sides to get golden brown and crispy.