Chili Cheese Dip

Looking for the easiest, most delicious appetizer ever? Chili Cheese Dip is it! You have probably seen this before, or some variation of it, but it is so simple and so good. Our family loves it and has made it for parties and family gatherings for years (usually doubling the recipe). It always disappears! The best part is that there are only two ingredients, so not only is it easy, it is inexpensive.

INGREDIENTS

1 can of chili with no beans

1 package of cream cheese

DIRECTIONS

*use a small crock pot for easy preparation

*mix the chili and cream cheese in crock pot

*stir occasionally

*when cream cheese in completely melted and the mixture is heated through, it is ready to eat

*serve with tortilla chips or crackers

Enjoy!

Corn Chip Chili Pie

What is better on a cold fall day than a bowl of chili? Maybe a Corn chip chili pie! Although, a bowl of chili on its own is pretty hard to beat! This authentic chili recipe is incredibly flavorful and will leave you craving more! Don't be scared away by the amount of ingredients. This is an easy chili recipe. Most of the ingredients are things that many people keep on hand in their kitchens. Eat the chili by itself and garnish with fresh cilantro, or turn it into a chili pie for an extra special treat!

INGREDIENTS

1 table spoon vegetable oil

1 medium sized red onion diced
2 lbs Ground beef or chuck
1 table spoon garlic powder
2 table spoons chili powder
2 table spoons paprika (smoked preferred)
2 table spoons cumin
1 teaspoon coarse black pepper
1 teaspoon sea salt (regular salt is ok)
2 teaspoons red pepper flakes (add more for desired heat)

(1) 28 oz can diced tomatoes
(1) 28 oz can tomato sauce
(1) 6 oz can tomato paste
1 cup dry red wine
¾ cup beef stock
1 table spoon fresh basil chopped
1 teaspoon fresh rosemary chopped
2 bay leaves

(1) 16 oz bag corn chips

16 oz of cheddar cheese
(1) 16 oz container sour cream or crème fresh
1 bunch of cilantro

3 roma tomatoes diced
6 limes
DIRECTIONS
*Start by adding vegetable oil to a heavy bottomed large cooking pot over medium high heat. Add approximately 2/3 of the diced red onions to the hot oil, cook onions until translucent. Once onions are see-thru, add ground beef or chuck to the pot.
*Next, season the meat and onion mixture with garlic powder, chili powder, paprika, cumin, black pepper, sea salt and red pepper flakes. Stir in seasonings and brown the meat until medium rare.
*Once meat is semi browned, pour in cans of tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, beef stock and red wine. Allow mixture to simmer for approximately fifteen minutes then add fresh basil and rosemary.
*Stir in fresh herbs, place bay leaves on top of chili, cover and let simmer on low heat for at least one hour, stirring occasionally so chili doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot. Uncover pot and allow chili to simmer on low heat for an extra thirty minutes.

To build your Corn Chip Chili Pie:
*Begin by placing a handful of corn chips in the bottom of a single serving bowl. Next, add approximately one cup of chili to the bowl.
*Afterwards, sprinkle cheddar cheese on top of chili, followed by one table spoon of sour cream or crème fresh.
*Garnish with a pinch of cilantro,diced roma tomatoes and diced red onions. To complete the Chili Corn Chip Pie, squeeze the juice of a fresh lime slice on top.

Banana Bread

Oh the wonderful aroma of banana bread baking in your kitchen! This wonderful smell fills up the whole house and it is easy to make! Most of the ingredients are things usually kept on hand. And what a great way to use up those old bananas! The recipe used here was adapted from Tyler Florence's Banana Bread with Pecans (walnuts were used with this adaptation, as well as a couple of other changes). For the original version, please follow this link: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/banana-bread-with-pecans-recipe/index.html

INGREDIENTS

2 cups of all purpose flour

1 ½ teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

5 bananas (overly ripened)

1 cup sugar

3/4 cup of melted, unsalted butter

2 large eggs

1/2 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon of pure almond extract

1/2 cup of finally chopped walnuts

DIRECTIONS

*Prepare a 9”x5” loaf pan by lightly greasing

*Preheat oven to 350 degrees

*Mix the flour, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl

*Using an electric mixer with a whisk attachment, blend the bananas and sugar until smooth and creamy

*Combine the butter, eggs, vanilla and almond extracts with the banana mixture and continue to blend

*Slowly add in the flour mixture

*Once fully blended, use a wooden spoon or a spatula to gently mix in the walnuts

*Pour mixture into the prepared loaf pan

*Place pan in oven on top rack

*Bake for an hour and 10 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean

*Remove from oven and let stand a few minutes before removing bread from pan

*Let bread finish cooling on wire rack

*Slice and enjoy!

*Excellent alone or try spreading slices with cream cheese

Spinach Balls

Spinach balls are a great appetizer for any occasion. They are easy, delicious and great for holiday parties. Young and old LOVE them! This recipe always pleases and never leaves leftovers. Another great thing about spinach balls is they only require five ingredients. This recipe has been a family favorite for nearly thirty years (it was shared at Congregational Nursery School in Springfield, Illinois).

INGREDIENTS

2 packages of frozen spinach

2 cups of stuffing (used Pepperidge Farm stuffing)

4 large eggs

¾ cup melted butter (salted)

1 cup of Parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS

*preheat oven to 350 degrees

*thaw, drain and squeeze all the liquid from the spinach, set aside

*beat the eggs and add the butter to them

*mix the spinach, stuffing and cheese

*pour the egg mixture over the spinach mixture and mix

*form into one inch balls and place on lightly greased cookie sheet

*bake for 10 minutes (or until spinach balls start turning golden brown)

Serve warm and enjoy!