What's For Dinner? - Quick and Easy Spicy Chili

It's cold and overcast here in Kansas City, perfect for a quick and easy chili that's sure to warm up your insides!  I was not in the mood to tackle the grocery store today, which is odd since cold and overcast days are perfect for grocery store adventures.  But being lazy also has its perks! You get to improvise with whatever you may have in the fridge and pantry!  I found that combining all of these basic ingredients together creates a KILLER concoction!  I plopped a couple of spoonfuls into the food processor and chopped it just a tad more for Piper, and mellowed down the spiciness by adding a splash of milk. She enjoyed it as well!  Keep a sippy cup of milk nearby though, just in case your little one has a 5-alarm freak out!

~Ingredients~

1 lb. 90% lean ground beef
1 cup chopped white onion
1 clove minced garlic
1 Tbsp. cumin
1 Tbsp. ancho chile powder
4 tsp. finely chopped jalapeno peppers
1, 10 oz. can diced tomatoes with green chiles
1, 15 oz. can tomato sauce
1, 15 oz. can red beans, undrained
apple cider vinegar to taste

~Directions~

1.  Add the ground beef and onion to the skillet and cook over medium heat until beef is no longer pink, about 8 minutes.  Do not drain the grease.

 2.  Add the ancho chile powder, cumin, garlic, jalapenos, tomatoes/chiles, tomatoes, and beans.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat and continue rapidly simmering on medium heat for 20-30 minutes.

 3.  The dinner is ready for the adults!

4.   If you'd like your little one to try some spicy goodness, plop a couple of spoonfuls into a food processor with a splash of milk to counter some of the jalapeno heat and let them try it.  Don't worry, at first Pip was a little startled with the spiciness as well....

"Hey, wait a minute. My mouth is all warm ...."

...but then promptly let me continue shoving it in her face hole. Spice is healthy! It keeps the adrenaline pumping and the sinuses clear!  ENJOY!

"Warm = yummy"

Read More...

Hide Full Post...

Foodie Baby: Cajun Red Beans & Rice with Chicken

This is one of Pip's all-time faves!  She polished off an entire jar each and every time without fail. I also scoured my entire computer and somehow deleted all of the how-to pictures! But I have something better.  I have a VIDEO. Apparently Cajun food makes babies SPICYYYYY!!! I hope your little one enjoys this healthy, zesty, and a-tad-spicy baby food as much as mine does!

~Ingredients~

1 bag of Boil-In-A-Bag brown rice
1 can red beans, drained
1 Tbsp. butter
drizzle of olive oil
2 small chicken breasts, cooked ,seasoned with salt and pepper, and chopped into chunks
1 tsp. Zatarain's Creole Seasoning
1/2 cup (about 2 stalks) celery, chopped
8 cherry tomatoes
1/4 cup white onion, diced
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 and 1/4 cup water

~Directions~

1.  Cover bottom of large skillet with olive oil and butter and cook on medium heat until butter melts.
2.  Add the white onion, cherry tomatoes, cayenne pepper, celery, and Creole Seasoning
3.  While  vegetables are cooking, prepare brown rice as directed on box.
4.  When rice is done cooking, add it to the vegetables in skillet.
5.  Add the can of drained red beans.
6.  Add cooked chicken breast.
7.  Cook together on medium heat for 10-15 minutes.
8.  Transfer mixture to blender.
9.  Add the 1 and 1/4 cups of water and stir.
10.  Blend until you reach the desired texture.

LEISSEZ LES BONS TEMPS!!!!

~~~ CORRECTION~~~

I did find the pictures! They were just all jumbled around. Not that they are absolutely crucial, but here they are anyway. 

1.  This is the brown rice I use. Super fast and easy, and still super healthy!

 2.  Here are the ingredients you need.

 3.  Yields approximately 9 jars of baby food.

 4.  Tasting.....

 5.  AND VERDICT!

Read More...

Hide Full Post...