Refried Bean Chili

I love chili but I have to be careful how I make it because my picky hubby only eats certain things. However I am always on the lookout fir a new chili recipe. This recipe caught my eye because it uses refried beans. I never saw a recipe using these type of beans but oh my goodness I have to say I love this recipe. I also have a litte bit leftover for my lunch tomorrow. This recipe can be found on page 121 of the Better Homes and Garde Biggest Book of Slow Cooker Recipes.

Refried Bean Chili- all my changes will be in quotes
2 pounds ground beef - "1/2 pound hamburger, 1/2 pound ground turkey"
1 cup chopped onion- "did not use"
2 15oz chili beans with chili gravy- " 1 can black beans drained"
1 16 oz jar salsa- " i used 1/4 cup salsa and added diced tomatoes"
1 16 oz can refried beans
1 12 oz can beer or 1 can beef broth
2 tbsp chili powder
1 tbsp ground cumin
2 tbsp lime juice "did not use"

In a large skillet cook beef and onion until meet is brown . Drain off fat.

In a 5-6 qt crockpot place the beef mixture, beans, salsa, refried beans, beer/broth, chili powder and cumin. Cover cook on low 6-8 hour or on high for 3- 4 hours

To serve ladle chili into bowls

Nutrition
Serve 8-10 1 cup servings- Orignal recipe no my modified

Caloires- 482
fat -22
cholesterol-86
sodium-960
carbs-36
fiber- 10
protein-30

Zucchini Pizza Bite

So I have a confession, I don't like pizza, the only time I really want to eat it is when I am craving pizza. However I saw this recipe on one of the many blogs that I visit( not sure which one. These caught my eye becasue I love zucchini and I have some tomato sauce in my refirgartor. These recipes would be could serve as a appietezer. Plus thye are low calorie but high in protein which I always have a hard time eating. SO without further ado here is the simple but yummy recipe.

Zucchini Pizza Bite
4 slices large zucchini 1/4 inch thick
2 tbsp pizza bite
1/4 cup mozzarella

Cut zucchini about 1/4 inch thich. Spry both sides with cookign spray,and season with salt and pepper. Broil or grill about 2 minutes on each side. I would say do it about 3 minutes. Top with sauce and chesse and cook for an addiitonal minute. I have to say that I broiled it for about 3 minutes I think next time I will cook for about 5 minutes to make the cheese a little bit crunchy.

Serving Size- 4 slices
Calories 124.8
Fat-5.7
protein-8.2

Egg Drop Soup

So in my family I am the only one who eats chinese food which means I don't eat it alot. I was craving some egg drop soup so I went on the search for a yummy recipe. I found this recipe at all recipe. It is so yummy and easy and takes less than 30 minutes. Plus it makes enough for me for 2 meals.

Egg Drop Soup

4 cups chicken broth, divided1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 eggs
1 egg yolk


1.Reserve 3/4 cup of chicken broth, and pour the rest into a large saucepan. Stir the salt, ginger and chives into the saucepan, and bring to a rolling boil. In a cup or small bowl, stir together the remaining broth and cornstarch until smooth. Set aside.
2.In a small bowl, whisk the eggs and egg yolk together using a fork. Drizzle egg a little at a time from the fork into the boiling broth mixture. Egg should cook immediately. Once the eggs have been dropped, stir in the cornstarch mixture gradually until the soup is the desired consistency

Crockpot Pumpkin Chili

So the rage all over the blogs this year is pumpkin chili. At frist this was a turn off for me but after reading several reviews I decided to try it one night when my hubby was at work. This recipe is fantastic. You really don't taste the pumpkin and it make the chili so thick and creamy. My kids had 2 big bowls of it and loved it. I did tell them what was in afterwards and they were like it is yummy. Enjoy


Slow Cooked Pumpkin Chili


1 onion, chopped
3 cloves of garlic, minced
2 cups chicken broth
2 cans of black beans, drained and rinsed
1 lb of ground beef
1 – 15 ounce can of pumpkin
2- 14 ounce cans of diced tomatoes
1 teaspoon of dried parsley
2 teaspoons of chili powder ( add more if you like things spicier)
1 teaspoon of oregano
1 1/2 teaspoon of cumin


Cook onion and ground beef until onion is tender and the beef is done.
Add garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
Place meat, onion, garlic mixture into a crockpot.
Add remaining ingredients.
Cook on low for 5-6 hours.
Serve and enjoy.

Grandma's Corn Chowder

Now that fall has offically arrived in Texas I am making more soups and stews. I usually use my crockpot to make soup/stews but lately I have been so tired that it just ain't happening.

I have been cravign corn chowder for the last few weeks. This is recipe is a modifed recipe but oh my god it is so yummy.

Corn Chowder

Ingredients
1/2 cup diced bacon
4 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cups water
2 cups frozen corn
2 teaspoons salt
ground black pepper to taste
2 cups half-and-half

Place the bacon in a large pot over medium-high heat, and cook until crisp. Drain and crumble, reserving about 2 tablespoons drippings in the pot.
Mix potatoes and onion into the pot with the crumbled bacon and reserved drippings. Cook and stir 5 minutes. Pour in the water, and stir in corn. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and cover pot. Simmer 20 minutes, stirring frequently, until potatoes are tender.
Warm the half-and-half in a small saucepan until it bubbles. Remove from heat before it boils, and mix into the chowder just before serving.

Egg Salad- Weight Watchers - 1 point value

So I love Egg salad and I figure that since I have tired to cut out as much fat as possible I wanted a recipe that would be low in caloires but still high in taste. I made this today and the only thing I would do different is not add so much mustard.
Here is my recpies and the nutiriotion information

Egg Salad
6 Egg White
3 Medium Celery stalks, chopped small.
2 tbsp Kraft mayo with olive oil
1 2 tbsp dijon mustard
.5 tsp pepper
.5 tsp salt.

Cook eggs for 15 minutes while the water is boiling. Remove eggs from the water. When cooled remove the shell and throw away the yolk( you can use the yolk if you want but modify the point) Chopp the whites into small peices. Combine the eggs and remaining ingredients until well blended. Put in the refrigertaor over night.

Nutrition
Caloires- 56
fat 2.2
sodium 506
Fiber-.6
Protein- 7.8

Serving - 4
Serving size- 1/2 cup
points- 1

Asian Chicken Lettuce Wrap

This is another weight watchers meal. I made this just for myself since my kids do not like spicy and my husband does not eat veggies. I did modify that amount of chili garlic sauce I used because I an only handle so much spice. The lettuce does cut down the spice but this was so good plus I have more for other lunches.

Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps
1 pound chicken tenders cut into 1 inch pieces
1 bag shredded carrots
1/3 cup chili garlic sauce. - I used 2 tbsp
1 bunch scallions
8 large botson lettuce leaves- aka butter lettuce
8 lime wedges

to make the filing spray a large non stick skillet with non stick spray and set over medium high heat. Add the chicken and carrots, cook, stirring accasionaliy until the chicken is cooked about 5-6 minutes. Stir in the chili sauce and scallions, cook stirring frequebtly for abou 1 minute. Remove frim heat. Place 2 lettuce leaves in each plates. Place 1/2 filing on each leave squeeze the juice from the lime. roll up and serve.

Per Serving- 2 wraps
Caloires-213
Fat 4
cholesterol-64
sodium-421
carbs- 16
fiber- 5
protien- 84