Chili

This is a recipe I developed on my own over the last few years.  Often I put more of the seasoning in my chili than what I've listed below, but my son and I like our chili a little more flavorful than most.  So for the sake of my readers, I've toned the recipe down to accommodate the more sensitive palate.

1 lb hamburger
1 lb ground sausage
1 large red onion, diced
1 large green pepper, diced
1 (27 oz) can Bush’s Chili Beans in mild sauce
1 (28 oz) can diced tomatoes
1 tablespoon garlic powder or substitute minced garlic to taste (I usually use minced garlic)
3 tablespoons chili powder
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
3 teaspoons ground cumin

Put onion, green pepper, hamburger and sausage in large skillet and cook until meat is done and onion and green pepper are soft. Onions will be translucent. While you are cooking the meat, combine the rest of the ingredients in a Dutch oven or similarly large pot and warm over medium-low heat. When meat has finished cooking, drain well and then add to Dutch oven. Turn heat to medium-high and heat until bubbly. Turn heat back to low and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.  If you are in a hurry you can skip the simmering step and simply serve immediately, but you won't have the same flavor as when you let it simmer.

I usually serve this chili with sour cream, shredded cheese and warm cornbread.

Serves 6-8

Harvest Leg of Lamb

Autumn is here! Well, not so much in Florida, but my calendar says it should be autumn and I'm craving autumn food. Here is one of our favorite autumn meals. I love to serve this on the weekends when I have people over for football. Especially if it's a cold, wet day.

1 5 to7 lb whole lamb leg roast (bone in)
6 cloves garlic, cut into thin slices (about half a bulb)
2 to 3 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons snipped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning or dried oregano, crushed
1 teaspoon pepper

1. Trim fat from meat. With the tip of a knife, cut ½” wide slits into roast at 1” intervals (approximately 36 holes) inserting a thin slice of garlic in each. Brush meat surface with lemon juice. Stir together parsley, oil, Italian seasoning or oregano, and pepper. Pat parsley mixture into meat. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap; refrigerate overnight.

2. Place meat, fat side up, on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Insert a meat thermometer into center of meat, without touching bone. Roast in 325 oven until thermometer registers 140 for medium rare (1 ¾ to 2 ¼ hours) or 155 for medium (2 to 2 ½ hours). Transfer meat to serving platter. Cover meat with foil and let stand for 15 minutes before carving.

Serves 12 to 16

Calories: 187
Fat: 8 grams
Saturated fat: 3 grams
Sodium: 68 mg
Carbs: 2 grams