Chili Mac n Cheese

We’ve had a bunch of family helping out since Baby R was born. It’s been incredibly helpful. My mom helped me put together this crockpot dish in preparation for my husband’s parents coming into town. It was easy and a great way to have dinner ready when they arrived. Time to dust off your slow cooker!

You will need:

• 1 T olive oil
• 1 lb hamburger
• 1 large onion, minced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 T chili powder
• 2 T cumin
• 1 t garlic powder
• 1 t cayenne pepper (optional)
• 4 c stock (use your favorite: beef, chicken, vegetable)
• 1 bottle beer (optional)
• 1 can (28 oz) fire roasted diced tomatoes
• 1 can (14.5 oz) white beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can (14.5 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 10 oz uncooked elbows pasta
• 1 1/2 c shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Then you will:

1. In a large nonstick skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
2. Add the hamburger and begin to brown, stirring occasionally.
3. Add the onion, garlic, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder and cayenne. Cook another 5 minutes or so, until the hamburger is browned and the onion slightly softened.
4. Transfer the mixture to your crockpot.
5. Add the stock, beer, tomatoes, and beans to the crockpot.
6. Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours.
7. Stir in the pasta 30 minutes before you want to serve the meal.
8. Stir after 15 minutes elapse. If it looks like there is very little liquid left, add up to 1 cup of additional hot water.
9. Just prior to serving, stir in the shredded cheddar cheese and allow to melt.

German Apple Pancake

D and I just had a lovely baby boy! It’s been a bit hectic in our house since his arrival, so I haven’t had much time to cook. This is the first meal I prepared from scratch, and it was perfect for a quiet Sunday morning.

You will need:

• 4 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 c flour
• 1/2 t baking powder
• 1 T + 1/4 c sugar, divided
• 1 t ground nutmeg, divided
• 1 t ground cinnamon, divided
• 1 t vanilla extract
• 1/2 c milk
• 2 T + 1/4 c unsalted butter, divided and melted
• 1 large apple, peeled, cored and cut into 1/4-inch slices (I used a honeycrisp)

Then you will…

1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs with the flour, baking powder, a tablespoon of the sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon each of nutmeg and cinnamon.
2. Whisk in the vanilla extract, milk and 2 tablespoons of melted butter. Set aside.
3. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil and place a 9-inch pie plate on the lined sheet.
4. In a small mixing bowl, combine the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar with the remaining cinnamon and nutmeg.
5. Pour the remaining 1/4 cup of melted butter in the pie plate and brush some butter up the sides.
6. Sprinkle 1/2 of the spiced sugar mixture on the melted butter.
7. Top with the apple slices and sprinkle with the remaining spiced sugar mixture.
8. Bake 10 minutes, or until the mixture is bubbly.
9. Gently pour the batter on top of the apples and return the dish to the oven. Bake for 15 minutes.
10. Reduce the heat to 375 degrees. Bake for another 10 minutes.
11. Serve hot with a little powdered sugar or maple syrup.

Rosemary Roasted Potato Salad

We really enjoy warm potato salad…perhaps it is the German side of me? This one includes roasted potatoes for extra crispiness and sour cream for the tang. It is a great side dish to most pork, chicken and beef entrees.

You will need:

• 2 lb small red-skinned potatoes, quartered into bite-sized pieces
• 3 T olive oil, divided
• 2 sprigs fresh rosemary, chopped
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1/3 c shallot, sliced thin
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 c sour cream
• 1 1/2 t Dijon mustard
• 1 1/2 t red wine vinegar

Then you will…

1. Soak your potatoes for 15 minutes in cold water. Strain and shake off as much water as possible.
2. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
3. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the potatoes with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, the rosemary, and salt and pepper to taste.
4. Spread into a single layer on a baking sheet and roast for 30-40 minutes, stirring every 20 minutes. They should be browned and cooked through.
5. Remove from the oven and allow to cool at least 10 minutes.
6. Meanwhile, heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil over medium in a nonstick skillet.
7. Add the shallots and saute until they to begin to caramelize, about 5-8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
8. Add the garlic and saute another 2 minutes, or until fragrant.
9. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat.
10. In a large mixing bowl, combine the sour cream with the mustard and vinegar.
11. Add the roasted potatoes and the shallot-garlic mixture.
12. Stir until well combined; the potatoes should be evenly coated with the dressing.
13. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Pork Chops with Rosemary-Mushroom Sauce

We felt in the mood for some pork chops and had some friends coming over for dinner. We decided to pair the pork with a sauce that mixed one of our favorite vegetables (mushrooms) with two of my other favorite ingredients (rosemary and Dijon mustard). Our friend’s daughter found the pork to be yummier and more interesting than playing with the cats. Hope you like it too!

You will need:

• 4 pork chops, roughly 1/2 inch thick
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 T olive oil
• 1/2 c shallot, minced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 8 oz baby bella mushrooms, washed and sliced
• 2 sprigs fresh rosemary, chopped
• 1/4 c unsalted chicken stock
• 2 T Dijon mustard
• 2/3 c heavy cream

Then you will…

1. Pat the pork chops dry and season with salt and pepper on both sides.
2. In a large nonstick skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
3. Sear the pork chops till golden on each side, no more than 2 minutes per side.
4. Place the pork chops onto a plate and set aside.
5. Add the shallot to the pan and saute for 2-4 minutes, or until starting to soften.
6. Add the mushrooms and rosemary, and saute until the mushrooms give off their juices and they cook off.
7. Stir in the stock, mustard and cream. Mix until well combined and heated through.
8. Season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste.
9. Return the pork chops to the pan and allow to simmer another 2-4, until the pork is cooked to your liking.
10. Serve the pork chops with the mushroom sauce on top. Goes great with potatoes!