Lightening Fast So-Cal Chili

On weekends I tend to cook meals that are a little more time consuming.  But the day before a holiday, when you have a big bash planned, who wants to spend a lot of time in the kitchen?  Not me.  So that's when I pull out one of my quick weeknight meals.

I'm thinking my Lightening Fast So-Cal Chili sounds perfect.  This chili is a game changer for weeknight meals.  30 minutes is all you need.  Dinner...done.

My dad was a big chili fanatic growing up.  Me not so much.  I do recall my mom making chili often but since I didn't care for it then (finicky eater...) I didn't pay much attention to the type of chili she made.  When I started to appreciate a good chili I set out to find a good beef one.  MGG loves chili, so I had to be on my game to find one (or several) he would enjoy.  Most of my go-to chilis are made with some sort of stew meat or chuck roast.  Those have to be cooked low and slow to become tender. 

So the question was, how do we cook chili on the weeknight and still have a hearty beef chili?  

Use ground sirloin!  The meat still has a 10% fat ratio, and has great flavor.  The plus is that it cooks up quickly!  So by using ground sirloin plus a handful of other ingredients you can have a hearty, slightly spicy, beef and bean chili on the table in 30 minutes.  No joke!

LIGHTENING FAST SO-CAL CHILI

I use California Chili Powder in the recipe, however you can use whatever chili powder you prefer.  I also add in some cayenne pepper for a little heat.  Feel free to adjust it to your liking for a hotter preference or leave it out altogether.  I named this So-Cal Chili as an ode to southern California and all the fresh avocados that are abundant.  So on they go as a topping with a dollop of sour cream which help cool down the spice from the chili.

I hope you enjoy this and try it soon!  Please leave me a comment if you do.  I love to hear from you.

Enjoy!





Lightening Fast So-Cal Chili

1 lb ground sirloin
2 tsp minced garlic
1 large shallot, diced
1 15 oz can chili beans, drained (mild or hot)
1 6 oz can tomato paste
1 1/2 cups water
1 Tbls California chili powder
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
Toppings:  sour cream, avocado (optional)

In a dutch oven add the ground sirloin, garlic, and shallot.  Cook over medium heat, stirring to break up the meat until browned.  Add the chili beans, and tomato paste.  Cook the tomato paste a few minutes then add the water.  Stir until the paste has liquefied and all is well combined.  Add the chili powder and cayenne pepper (if using) and stir until combined.  Cover and reduce heat, simmering for 15 minutes.  Stir occasionally.  Serve with a dollop of sour cream and a slice of avocado.

Drop Cream Biscuits

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Want to learn how to make the easiest biscuits ever?

Well if you can mix together flour and cream then you can have biscuits just like that!  Drop the dough on a baking sheet and bake them until they are golden and tender but slightly crispy. OH Sooooo good! These biscuits are ultra-tender, and the fastest + easiest biscuits you'll ever bake!

Dug out of the depths of my family's recipe box, these biscuits remind you of the ones your momma, or grandma made.  The tenderness can't be beat!  

It's the day before Memorial Day and May 29th is National Biscuit Day! What a better way to honor that with the easiest biscuit ever.  To make the mini-biscuits I used a tablespoon cookie scoop such as this one.  I wanted to have a delicate biscuit to go with our array of breakfast items.  Plus they would double as a side dish for some So-Cal Chili I was making later in the day.

If you would like regular sized biscuits use a spoon and form them to your liking but you may need to adjust the baking time a little so they fully cook.  A simple baking sheet is all that is needed to bake them on.  You should either leave the sheet ungreased, or use parchment paper. (These work really well as they come pre-cut and already sized for your baking sheet)   Both ways work really well.

So if you have a love of biscuits like our family does, be sure to make these really soon.  They really are The. Easiest. Biscuits. EVER!

Enjoy!

Drop Cream Biscuits

makes 12 mini biscuits

1 1/2 cups Self-Rising Flour
3/4 cup heavy or whipping cream

*If the dough doesn't come together readily, dribble in an additional 1 to 2 tablespoons cream, to make it totally cohesive


Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.

In a bowl mix the flour and cream until well combined and forms a dough.

Using a tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop balls of dough onto an ungreased baking sheet. Leave an inch or so between biscuits.  Brush the tops of the biscuits with cream.

Bake for 10 minutes, or until they're light golden brown on top. Remove from the oven.  Serve warm, or at room temperature. Any leftover may be stored in an air tight bag for several days, or frozen.




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Outrageous Oven Fries

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Have you got your Memorial Day bash main dish picked yet?  If not, take a look at these Attention-Grabbing Jalapeno Mushroom Sliders or Baja Chicken Sliders they are easy to make and both make outstanding entrees.  

And what better side dish to go with some yummy sliders than fries. 

OUTRAGEOUS OVEN FRIES

These fries are healthier since they are not fried in oil but baked in the oven.  It's the only way we do fries now.  They come out perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. 

I jazz up our fries with a spice mixture of paprika and garlic powder.  The combination is a winning formula and it's become our basic recipe.

Who doesn't love fires with their burgers or hot dogs?  And ones with a bit of spice just make them irresistible and additive.  Don't say I didn't warn you....as I can neither confirm or deny sneaking 1 or 5 from the baking sheet, hot from the oven.  Shhh! don't tell anyone! They really are outrageously good!

Enjoy!!





Outrageous Oven Fries

serves 8

4 large russet potatoes, washed and peeled
2 Tbls olive oil
3 tsp paprika
1 1/2 tsp garlic powder

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Cut each potato into planks and then cut the planks into sticks.  Place them in a large bowl and drizzle with oil, tossing to coat.  Sprinkle on paprika and garlic powder.  Toss to coat.

Place potatoes on a baking sheet, making sure they are level.  Bake 30 minutes or until golden brown, turning over once half way through the cooking time.  Serve warm.