Barbara's kitchen open for business again!

The title refers to the fact that we moved recently, still in the Portland area though. And yesterday was the first time I had unpacked enough to be able to really cook.

Today I was getting food ready for work tomorrow. I still have to make smashed potatoes. But I did make an awesome veggie chili and a black bean, corn and red pepper salad.

For the salad, I used one can of black beans, rinsed, 1/4 of a huge red pepper, chopped and about 3/4 cup of frozen corn. Before I did that, I put in some red wine vinegar, and some dijon mustard from Trader Joe. Whisked that together with some dried thyme, salt and pepper. Whisked in just a little bit of olive oil. Put the veggies in, added a little more salt and pepper and some garlic and onion powder. Tastes great and it should be even better tomorrow.

The veggie chili was white and red kidney beans, crushed tomatoes, corn, onions, garlic, fresh cilantro. Put in some cumin and chili powder. Can't find my smoky paprika yet or would have used it. Put in a dash of cayenne, a little sugar, and some pepper. Made up some water with masa flour and put that in after letting it cook down for about a half hour. Thickened it up nicely. Very tasty as well. Going to put that over my smashed potatoes.

I've got steel cut oats cooking in the rice cooker and the dishwasher running. I'm in good shape for tomorrow.

Barbara

Little bit chili

I got the idea for this chili from Frugal Guy. I love his blog. He talks about making chili by just tossing in some of this and some of that. In other words, a 'little bit' of this and that chile! So I gave it a try.

Fried up some ground beef with spices (celery seed, onion and garlic powder, some dill weed, salt, pepper and a few shakes of some others). Put in some chopped green pepper and minced garlic. Then a can of turkey chili with beans from Trader Joes. Then a can of black beans. A little bit of V8, pace picante, lots of chili powder, some cumin and cayenne, some water and the reminder of my spanish rice. Smells and tastes good.

Barbara