Cincinnati Chili

This is my very, very favorite meal. It seems a little intimidating because of all the ingredients but it's actually pretty easy. My dad makes this and it's super yummy. I seriously could eat it every day!

1 ½ lbs. ground beef
2 vegetable oil
2 medium onions, finely chopped
2 medium garlic cloves, minced or pressed through a garlic press
2 Tbsp. chili powder
2 tsp. oregano
2 tsp. cocoa
1 ½ tsp. ground cinnamon
½ tsp. cayenne pepper
½ tsp. ground allspice
¼ tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. salt
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
2 cups water
2 Tbsp. cider vinegar
2 tsp. brown sugar
2 c. tomato sauce
1 lb. spaghetti, cooked and drained with a small amount of oil or butter mixed in

Toppings:

Shredded cheddar or Colby jack cheese
Red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
Onion, chopped
Fresh tomato, chopped
Cilantro, chopped
Green onion, chopped
Avocado
Sour cream

Brown ground beef (you can also boil it) and drain. Set a large pan over medium heat and add the oil. When the oil is warm, add the onions and cook, stirring frequently, until the onions are soft and browned around the edges (about 8 min.). Add the garlic and cook until fragrant (about 1 min.). Stir in the chili powder, oregano, cocoa, cinnamon, cayenne, allspice, black pepper and salt. Cook, stirring constantly until the spices are fragrant (about 30 seconds). Stir in the broth, water, vinegar, sugar and tomato sauce. Allow to cook until thickened (will not get very thick), scraping the bottom of the pan to remove any browned bits. Add the ground beef and increase the heat to high. As soon as the liquid boils, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the chili is deep red and has thickened slightly (about 1 hour).
Serve sauce over spaghetti and add toppings.

Easy Peasy Mac & Cheesy

This is a throw together, usually have everything on hand kind of meal. You'll love this.

2 cups penne pasta, boiled and drained
1/2 tsp kosher salt
3-4 tbsp butter
2 cups shredded colby jack cheese
3/4 - 1 cup milk

Spray a small baking dish with Pam & preheat oven to 375. In the baking dish, make a layer of half the noodles, sprinkle on half the salt and top with pats of butter and 1 cup cheese. Repeat to make another layer of noodles, butter, salt and cheese. Pour in milk until the dish is about 1/3 full of milk. Bake at 375 for 30 mins, uncovered.

Recipe found here

Honey-Dijon Roasted Fingerlings

I was at Harmons (my favorite grocery store) searching for food to serve for Sunday dinner. In the produce section, I noticed the fingerling potatoes, which I've always wanted to try, and right above them was a recipe. I figured it was worth a shot, but I didn't expect it to be nearly the hit it was. They were so easy and amazingly delish.

2 lbs assorted fingerling potatoes
4 Tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 tsp sea salt
1 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
2 Tbsp honey
2 tbsp chives, freshly chopped

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Wash fingerling potatoes in cool water, pat dry and set aside. In a large mixing bowl toss together olive oil, salt, pepper, mustard and honey. Add fingerlings to mixture and coat each potato well. Transfer fingerlings to a 9x13 pan. Place in the center of oven and bake fingerling potatoes uncovered for 25 minutes or until easily pierced with a fork. Rotate frequently to cook evenly. Garnish with chopped chives and serve while hot.

Black Bean + Grilled Corn Salad

I'm taking over this week with the summery food posts, sorry!

Dressing:

2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 tsp cumin
zest and juice of 2 limes
salt + pepper
1/3 cup olive oil

Whisk it all together and set aside

Salad:
2 ears grilled corn, cut off the cob
2 cans rinsed and drained black beans
1 red pepper, diced
1 mango, diced

Toss everything in the dressing. Delicious served alongside a quesadilla or grilled chicken breast. If you half it like I did, it's perfect for two.

Peach Mango Salsa

This is so, so good on grilled chicken (prepared with a little lime juice, salt and pepper) or tilapia and just screams summer

Ingredients:
1 ripe mango, diced
2 ripe peaches, diced
2 plum tomatoes, seeded and diced
3 green onions, sliced
1 jalepeno pepper, seeded and diced
2 tbsps chopped cilantro
Juice of 1 lime
pinch salt

Combine everything in a bowl and let it sit in the fridge while you grill the meat. Spoon over meat, or chips, or whatever.

Josh's Mint Lemonade

This is the most delicious lemonade concoction ever

Freshly squeezed juice of 6-8 lemons
1 liter club soda
1/2 cup sugar (more or less if needed)

Mix these all together and pour into glasses with ice and 2-3 crushed mint leaves (crushing the mint releases the flavor)

Finish with 1 Dole Whole Fruit Juice Bar (raspberry, strawberry, blackberry, whatever you want) and stir to melt popsicle and swirl in flavor.

My favorite has 4 mint leaves and a strawberry-kiwi popsicle. Yum.