Tasty Tuesday Tequila Chili

Almost 20 years ago, I wanted to make chili, but didn't have a good recipe. At that time there were no Internet capabilities as we have today. I called my brother. The recipe below is based on what he gave me. The tequila adds a western, camp flavor to the chili. Imagine sitting around a fire after a long day on the trail and enjoying a scoop of warm chili!

 

Why is this called "Tasty Tuesday Tequila Chili?" The first time I prepared this was on a Tuesday. Since I already has two words starting with "T" I applied the "rule of three" and added the third "T" word-"tasty."

 

Almost without fail, we enjoy this chili accompanied by cornbread. For a sweet cornbread, try my cornbread muffin recipe. For nonsweet cornbread, try classic skillet cornbread.

 

 

Prepare

• Mix one batch of Chili Spice Mix #2.

 

Ingredients

• 1lb ground beef or vegetarian substitute
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• Chili Spice Mix #2
• 2 cans (14 oz.) diced tomatoes
• 3 cans (14 oz.) beans (I use pinto, red, and kidney beans.)
• 1/2C tequila
• 2 bay leaves

Directions

• In a large frying pan, saute onions and ground beef until meat is cooked and onions are soft.
• Transfer mixture to a large soup pot.
• Mix in spice mix and tequila.
• Add diced tomatoes and beans.
• Bring chili to a boil and then simmer on medium heat for about an hour.

 

Douglas G Pratt, 2013

Chili Spice Mix #2

This recipe is the same as Chili Spice Mix #1 except that the measurements are different. Additionally, a dash of hot pepper spices up this mix!

 

The proportions below are for my chili recipe.

• 3T chili powder
• 4t cumin
• 1T paprika
• 1T sugar
• 1 1/2t salt
• 2t garlic powder
• 1t onion powder
• 1/4t cayenne pepper, ground

 

 

Douglas G Pratt, 2013

Valentine's Variations

Last year, I posted a recipe for Christmas Sugar Cookies. In my introduction I lamented that we tend to enjoy sugar cookies only at Christmas. Below is a variation that is perfect for Valentine's Day or any romantic occasion. Happy Valentine's Day!

 

 

PREPARE

• Cookie dough recipe
• Light ready-to-spread frosting (butter cream or whipped cream cheese)
• Red food coloring
• Small bottle of red decorating sugar granules

DIRECTIONS

1. Use the recipe from the recipe link above. Instead of using holiday shapes, use a small biscuit cutter (approximately 2-inches in diameter) to cut round cookies. Bake as directed at 375 degrees for 6-8 minutes. Allow cookies to cool.
2. For half of the cookies, punch out a small heart shape in the center. We purchased a heart-themed cookie cutter collection for $6.00.
3. Transfer the frosting to a small bowl and add a few drops of food coloring. Mix well.
4. To assemble, take one cookie without a heart and spread frosting on the underside (side against the baking pan). Be generous with the frosting in the center because this will fill the heart when the two sides are pressed together. Add a cookie with a heart, again with the underside pressed against frosted side.
5. Sprinkle red sugar granules into the heart. Hold the cookie on its side and light tap the edge to shake excess sugar crystals.

 

Douglas G Pratt, 2013

Oat Burgers

One of my first food service jobs was at Shoney's Restaurant. I was hired to bus tables in the evenings. On Saturday nights I was also supposed to mop the floors. Well, I hated mopping the floors. When I was also finished, the assistant manager surveyed the floors, looked at me, and said, "Doug, the floors look like s@#%!"

 

I said, "I don't care because this is my last night." I fully intended to quit and found a job at Burger King. When I returned to Shoney's the next day, the manager and assistant manager sat down to talk with me. Apparently my industriousness had impressed them enough that they were willing work with me on job duties. For the rest of my summer I bussed tables during lunch and helped with food prep in the kitchen.

 

This food prep experience is where I learned to prepare large numbers of burgers, shrimp, baked potatoes, and other foods. To ensure consistency of product, we used a ring to form the burgers. It is possible, but unnecessary, to use a wide-mouth Mason jar ring when forming your oat burger patties.

 

Part of the American tradition is the hamburger. When you desire a vegetarian substitute for your burger needs, this recipe makes the patties you want! The texture of the mixture is easily formable, so your patties can be beautifully round and bun-sized. This recipe makes approximately 15 patties.

PREPARE

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Grease baking sheet.

Chop 3/4C walnuts.

 

INGREDIENTS

• 5C+1/3C water
• 1/3C soy sauce or Bragg's Amino Liquids
• 1/4C oil
• 3/4C chopped walnuts
• 1/4C sunflower seeds
• 1/4C nutritional yeast flakes
• 1T garlic powder
• 1T dried basil
• 2t onion powder
• 1t ground coriander
• 1t rubbed sage
• 5C quick rolled oats

 

DIRECTIONS

1. Combine all ingredients EXCEPT oats in a sauce pan and bring to a boil.
2. Stir in the oats and simmer for 3 minutes. Mixture will be thick.
3. Allow mixture to cool (approximately 30 minutes).
4. Form mixture into patties (approximately 1/2C of mixture per patty).
5. Place on greased baking pan.
6. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Flip patties over and bake an additional 10 minutes.

 

Douglas G Pratt, 2013

Brownies

Recently, while reviewing a list of posts for this blog, I discovered this recipe. I created it as a draft almost two years ago and am happy to share it now. Making this version of brownies is almost as fast as brownies from a box. Enjoy!

 

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13x2 glass baking dish.

 

Ingredients

1C sugar

1C flour

1T ground flax seeds

1/3C unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4t baking powder

1/4t salt

1/4C oil

2/3C water

1/4C chopped pecans (optional)

 

Directions

Combine dry ingredients in a bowl and mix to combine. Stir in oil and water and stir until mixed well. Fold in chopped pecans. Pour mixture into baking dish and spread evenly. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Allow to cool before cutting.

 

Douglas G Pratt, 2013