Butternut Squash Chili

This is so delicious! Yummy Yummy!

1 lb ground beef
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 (14.5 oz) cans Mexican-style stewed tomatoes, chopped
1 (16 oz) can chili beans
1/2 small butternut squash, peeled and cubed (about 1 1/2 c)
1 c beef broth (can use bouillon)
1 1/2 t chili powder
1/2 t cumin (can do 1 1/2 t, but we like less cumin)
salt to taste
1 T or so of sugar (optional)

-Cook beef, pepper, and onion in large pot until meat is done. Stir in the rest of ingredients and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally for 30 minutes or more, until squash is tender.

-Serve with cheese and sour cream. Serves 8.

Plain Old Banana Bread

This is the best plain old banana bread recipe! It's what I grew up with. It isn't the normal cakey, dark bread. This is a light "bready" bread. (if that makes any sense!) It's moist and yummy. The nuts are a must in it!

2 1/2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
3 1/2 t baking powder
1 tsp salt
3 tbsp oil
1 cup mashed bananas (I use 2 large or 3 medium, I like a little more banana)
1/4 cup milk
1 egg
1 cup nuts (toasted almonds are my new favorite)

Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Beat 30 seconds on medium, scraping bowl. Grease and flour pan. Bake 55-65 minutes on 350. Makes 1 big or 2 small loaves.

Cheeseburger Chowder

Here is a nice comforting dish to make for dinner tonight! I love this recipe because it is simple and I usually have these ingredients on hand. It is a child pleaser, and delicious with warm homemade biscuits on the side. Autumn has begun!

1 lb. ground beef
2 medium russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
½ cup chopped celery
¼ cup chopped onion
1 T. instant beef bouillon granules
¼ t. pepper
½ t. salt
1½ cups water
2½ cups milk
3 T. flour
1 cup shredded sharp Cheddar

-In large stock pot, brown beef; drain. Stir in potatoes, celery, onion, bouillon, pepper, salt and water. Cover and cook over medium heat for about 20 minutes. In medium bowl, whisk flour into ½ cup of milk; add to pot along with remaining milk. Cook and stir until thick and bubbly. Add cheese; heat and stir until cheese melts.

-Recipe from Good Things Utah

The Abs Diet Burger

I got this recipe off of Good Things Utah a long time ago. It's great--nice hearty, healthy hamburger patties, and if you're watching your carbs these are excellent by themselves with a little ketchup. I love them because they are very satisfying and always fill me up so I don't fill up on other junk!

1 lb. lean ground beef
1 c fresh spinach, chopped
2 T lowfat mexican blend shredded cheese
1/2 c chopped onions
1/2 c whole oats
1 egg
Steak seasoning to taste
Salt & pepper to taste
Soy sauce

-Fry onions with a little soy sauce then put in a big bowl with all other ingredients. Mix well. Shape into hamburger patties and grill.

Fresh Pear Cake

I found this recipe in a magazine when I was first married and have loved it ever since! It is so quick and easy and soooo good!

About 2 T butter
About 1 1/2 cups flour
3 firm, ripe Bartlett pears, (about 1 1/2 lb total)
2 large eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/8 t salt
Powdered sugar

1. Lightly butter and flour a 9-inch round pan or baking dish; set aside.
2. Peel, core, and slice pears; set aside.
3. With an electric mixer, blend eggs, granulated sugar, milk, and salt. Add 1 1/2 cups flour; continue to mix until well combined. Gently fold half the pears into batter. Spoon into prepared pan; smooth surface flat. Fan remaining pears over top of batter; dot with 2 T butter.
4. Bake in a 350 oven on bottom rack unil cake is golden brown, about 55 minutes. Cool. Sprinkle with powdered sugar, if desired, and serve. Or cover airtight and hold until next day.

The Best Guacamole EVER!

Ryan brought this recipe back from Mexico. He said it's the best he's ever had. I didn't see how it could be so good until I made it and--oh my goodness! This stuff is awesome! It's the real thing.

3 large avocados, mashed
2 tomatoes, chopped (try to squeeze out extra juice and seeds)
1/4 of a white onion, diced finely
1 c cilantro, chopped (I used a little less)
1 jalepeno, seeded and chopped very finely (can leave out & it's still dang good!)
Juice of 1 lime
Salt to taste

-Mix all in a bowl and dig in!!!

Caramelized Onion Dip with Crostini

This is the yummy dip I made for Mom's retirement party. It's great, because you can make the crostini a day or so in advance, just keep in an airtight container. It's also great to get kids involved-Christian loves cooking, and enjoyed "painting" the little crostinis with olive oil.

1 full baguette, cut into 1/4 inch slices
Olive oil, for brushing
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Dip:
1 T unsalted butter
1 small onion, finely chopped
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1/2 c plain yogurt
1/2 c low-fat sour cream
2 T dried onion soup mix
1 T Dijon mustard

-To make crostini, lightly brush both sides of bread slices with olive oil and place on a large cookie sheet. Season tops with salt and pepper. Bake at 350 8-10 minutes until lightly toasted (I had mine in longer).

-To make the dip, melt butter in saucepan and add onion and season with salt and pepper. Cook and stir for 6 minutes (or longer) until the onion is browned and caramelized. Set aside to cool slightly.

-In medium bowl, combine yogurt, sour cream, soup mix, and mustard. Mix well. Stir in cooled onions. Serve atop crostini or use as a dip for crudites.

Monday Morning Cleanse

I call this my monday morning cleanse because Sunday's always seem to be a heavy food day-well the whole weekend can sometimes be that way-so when Monday morning rolls around I want something light and refreshing as I get back to my normal diet and try to be good. So this smoothie is simple, but fills you up and gives you lots of "nutrients" (per Nacho).

1 c frozen strawberries/blueberries/or fruit
8 oz. cold water
2 packets Splenda

-Blend in blender and drink immediately. You can use any kind of frozen fruit, but I prefer berries due to their high content of anti-oxidants and all that good stuff.

Blueberry, Lemon, Banana Bread with Cream Cheese Glaze

This recipe comes from the same friend who gave me the Lime Coconut Banana Bread recipe. This is so good! All the right flavors to spice up ordinary banana bread! So don't throw away those brown bananas! I used frozen blueberries for mine but fresh is always better. I would recommend using a basic cream cheese frosting for this instead of the glaze because it is easier to slice and eat plus it will give you a bigger taste! Just add the lemon juice to it!


Bread:
2 C flour
3/4 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1 C sugar
1/4 C butter, softened
1 C bananas, mashed
2 eggs
1/3 C reduced- fat sour cream
1 t vanilla
1 C blueberries
1 T grated lemon rind


Glaze:
1/4 C softened, light cream cheese
3 T powdered sugar
1 T lemon juice
2 t water

350 1 Hour
Mix butter and sugar, add eggs, vanilla, banana, zest, sour cream. Mix dry ingred. and add to wet. Gently fold in blueberries. Spray bread pan with Pam. After bread is baked, cool then glaze.

Homemade Hot Fudge Sauce

This is another awesome "Our Best Bites" recipe (and picture) that I have absolutely enjoyed making over and over again! I've received a lot of compliments on it and have been asked for the recipe numerous times. This stuff tastes way better than store bought! I've made it in cute little jars like these, set atop a pint size Haagan Daaz or Ben & Jerry's ice cream (they're just the right size) for birthdays or the girls I visit & teach, and they are a hit! (You can get the little squat Ball jars at Walmart or Target, or check your local grocery store.)

1/4 c butter
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (milk are too sweet)

-Mix all over low heat in saucepan until combined. Pour into jars or other container. Store in fridge. This stuff is yummy cold right out of the fridge. I like to just eat it plain!
-I usually double this recipe for us, because it just never seems like enough!