Awesome Chili

Are you ready for a high protein yet awesomely delicious and filling meal? Chili is a meal that can be served when its sunny or snowy. I love how easy and delicious and healthy it is. My husband is big into working out so having a meal that he loves that will also be good for his goals makes it even better! Plus you can make it all in one pan, making clean up a breeze!

CHILI

1 lb of ground beef (at least 93% lean)
2 - 15oz cans of chili beans (low sodium)
1 - 15oz can of black beans (drained)
1 - 15 oz can of red kidney beans (drained)
6 oz of salsa

salt
onion powder
lawry's seasoned salt

















fritos
cheddar cheese (shredded for topping)

Cook the ground beef in a pot over medium-high heat till cooked. Drain off fat if needed. Combine the cans of beans and salsa all at once. Stir then season with salt, onion powder, and lawry's seasoned salt. I did about 1/4 tsp onion powder and 1/2 tsp of the seasoned salt (also did a sprinkling of regular salt but i figured the seasoned salt would do the job just fine). You should really do it to your own tastes but that is what I did and it turned out delicious!
In a single serving bowl lay down a pile of fritos, then the chili, and then top with cheese. Enjoy!!!

Instead of fritos you could also make some cornbread! Still delicious!!!

Zucchini slices!

Here is a simple and delicious way to cook zucchini. Summer is coming up and all those with gardens know that zucchini can take up your life ;) so here is a fast and healthy way to cook up a great side dish!

Preheat oven to 400°

Take your zucchini and wash them. (About 3 small zucchini per baking sheet.) Don't peel the veggie, lots of the nutrients come from the skin of the zucchini.
Then cut off the ends, about 1/2 an inch. Now slice it, about 1/4 of an inch thick. (Try to do consistent widths so the slices cook evenly)

Take out a baking sheet and spray lightly with canola oil. Lay the cut zucchini down in a single layer. Now spray the zucchini with a little oil. Sprinkle on a little salt. Put in preheated oven for 8 minutes.
Take the sheet out and flip the zucchini over (you dont have to do each one but most of them, remember we are trying to keep it simple ;)
Sprinke a little more salt and then some parmesan cheese (doesn't have to be freshly grated, I used the regular kraft kind) and put back in the oven for 8-10 more minutes depending on if you like it a little more crisp.
Enjoy!

Cheesy Chicken

First let me say I got the original base of this recipe from the back of a Campbell's Cream of Chicken soup can. You can find that here :

http://www.campbellskitchen.com/recipes/cheesy-chicken-rice-casserole-27173

but I made it better! so here you go --->

CHEESY CHICKEN

1 can of cream of chicken soup

fill that can almost up with water

2/4 cup of uncooked quoina

1/4 cup of uncooked rice

(you can substitute all quoina or all rice but I really like the combo mentioned above. You can find quoina anywhere, even in walmart. It cooks just like rice but it has a higher protein content than rice and its a whole grain (white rice is pretty much just starch) so its much better than just rice.)

1/2 tsp. onion powder

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

1-2 cups frozen veggies: like corn. peas, carrots, and whatever else you want

1.5-2 lbs of boneless chicken breasts

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

You mix the first 6 ingredients in a bowl. This allows a good distribution throughout the dish of the rice and quoina so it will cook evenly. 

Then put the chicken on the bottom of the dish. I used a pampered chef deep covered baker but you can also use a regular casserole dish. Like a 11x8 inch dish or 11x7 inch works too. 

Then I put the stuff from the bowl on top

.

I kinda scrape off the stuff from the top of the chicken and then i put the veggies on top of the mixture. then put the lid on (or foil on top of the dish) and cook in the oven at 400degrees for 45 mins. Take it out of the oven, put cheese on top, and let it sit for 10 mins. Then stir it up and enjoy!!!!

If it comes out runny just put it back in for 10 mins :) 

Let's Start at the Beginning

 I've watched my share of food network and all the whoknowswhat that the chefs put in the dishes. And frankly, as fun as it is to watch, I know I will never make any of it. Why? It is just NOT normal!

I'm a stay-at-home mom with some great recipes. Recipes that are easy to follow and easy to fall in love with. They are good for you and the entire family.

So stay tuned because this food blog is out there for all the "normal" cooks.