Easy Crockpot Chili w/Dried Beans

I recently read a recipe in Midwest Living Magazine that talked about using dried red kidney beans in chili. Whiles they liked the flavor they didn't care for all the presoaking and precooking. My thought was well soaking isn't a problem, but pre-cooking? Really I had just made a batch of chili using dried beans instead of canned beans the other day, and I didn't precook. I have made this recipe twice this winter and both times it turned out just fine. Sorry I didn't get a photo, it was chili and I was hungry!

This fits in a medium sized crock pot. Its the only size I have so I have no idea what it holds.

This is important, the night before you have to soak your beans. However, I put most of my it together the night before.

Night Before:

Soak 1-1.5 cups of dried beans, in water (follow bag instructions)

Heat 1 T oil in large skillet, coarsely chop 1/2 med onion, 1/2 of med green bell pepper, and mince 1 T of garlic, saute in skillet add:

Brown 1lb of Hamburger or Ground Turkey (if you use Turkey up the chili flakes)

As it browns add the following seasoning mix (adjust as you like)

2 T of Chili Powder

2 t of Cumin

1 t of Garlic Powder

1/2 t of Chili Flakes

1/8 t of Cinnamon or Coco Powder (which ever you prefer)

1/4 t or to taste of Kosher salt

Black Pepper to taste

Add to your meat and pepper mix in skillet, once browned add to crock pot.

There is a new product from Rotel called Rotel Sauce. It comes in a small can and I found it with the tomato sauces at the store. Add 1 Can.

1 Can of Crushed Fire Roasted Tomatoes

Stir in with meat, cover and place in fridge. Leave beans in water, cover, and leave on counter.

Before I leave for work in the morning I just do a few more steps:

Drain soaked beans and rinse, and add to crock pot.

Stir to incorporate everything, add 1.5-2 Cups of V-8 Spicy Hot Low Sodium Vegetable Juice, to lightly cover everything and fill crock.

I also put a few frozen cinnamon rolls in a pan in the oven to rise. When I come home I pull out and warm up oven, and the bake according to package directions.

Cook chili covered on low for 8-9 hours. If you happen to be home for lunch stir, if not, don't worry it should be fine. Stir and taste before serving make sure beans are done, if by chance they are not turn on high, and they should be done in a hour.

Trying something new... Canning!

Trying something new... Canning!, a photo by KS Girl on Flickr.

Earlier this fall I was thinking about making and freezing chicken stock. I usually make a batch in January and freeze it to use throughout the year, but as I thawed some out to use this fall I noticed it getting watery. As I was contemplating this problem, Thanksgiving approached and I needed a container to put some turkey stock in that I had made I reached for a quart ball canning container. It all clicked for me as I looked at the jar sitting on the counter. After Thanksgiving I began to research the process of canning stock, and discovered I would need a pressure canner. I did some online research and some shopping around town and realized that this would be quite an investment for something I wasn't even sure I wanted to do.
Over the next week I looked at several recipes for canning stock, googled canning, and watched several videos before deciding that this would be a good investment. One evening I was discussing my new idea with my Dad and he asked if I would like a pressure canner for Christmas, I told him I would have to think on it. He was kind of excited and thought this could be fun and different.
Mom on the other hand quickly remembered her days of being forced into canning the entire garden with her mother. She informed me of how hot and miserable it was, and that it takes all day. Any fantasy I had that it would be quick and easy she made sure to shoot down quickly.
After giving it some thought and discussing it with Dad I said that it could be a nice Christmas present. I woke up Christmas morning to find that Santa had a box special for me, and indeed it was a pressure canner. A nice big one too!
This last Saturday afternoon we all got together in my parents nice big kitchen and made 16 pints of chicken stock, with more ideas of items to come. A new hobby for me and my family.