Crock Pot 3 Bean Buffalo Chili

Dinner Tonight: Crock Pot 3 Bean Buffalo Chili

Another hot, humid, and hazy day out there but they say Fall like weather for the weekend, I hope their right! We did get a brief shower but it just made it that much more humid. Reorganized the junk room, if that's possible! Did throw away a lot of stuff that I don't need. Starting on the Pantry tomorrow. For dinner one of my favorites, if not my top favorite, Crock Pot 3 Bean Buffalo Chili! I love Chili and I love Buffalo so what's not to like! When I first started making the 3 Bean Chili I used Lean Ground Turkey. Now I use Wild Idea Ground Buffalo. Either way is delicious and healthy.






Besides the Ground Buffalo I use 3 different types of Beans; 1 (15 oz.) Can of Joan of Arc Spicy Chili Beans, 1 Can Bush's (15 oz.) Kidney Beans (rinsed), and 1 Can Bush's (15 oz.) Great Northern Beans (rinsed). For spices I start with 1 Packet McCormick's Original Chili Mix, 1 White Onion (medium), Chopped or Minced, 1 Jalapeno Pepper, Unseeded and Chopped, 3 Cloves Minced Garlic, 1 Tbs Ground Cocoa Chili Blend (McCormick), 1/2 Tsp Ground Chipotle Chili Pepper (McCormick), 1 Tbs. Ground Roasted Cumin, 2 Tsps Ground Cinnamon, 1 Tbs of Cilantro Leaves, and 5 Dashes of Frank’s Hot Sauce or to taste. For extra kick and flavor I added 1 White Onion (medium), Chopped or Minced, 1 Jalapeno Pepper, Unseeded and Chopped, 3 Cloves Minced Garlic, 2 Cans (6 oz.) Hunt’s Tomato Paste, and 5 Dashes of Frank’s Hot Sauce or to taste. Nothing but good!






To prepare it just brown 2 (1 lb.) packages of Wild idea Buffalo Ground Buffalo in large saucepan on medium-high heat 10 min. or until no longer pink, stirring occasionally. Add all remaining spices and ingredients except 1 can of the tomato paste and the cheese and crackers. Add to slow cooker and add in the remaining 1 can of tomato paste and 1/2 cup water. Cover with lid. Cook on HIGH 3 to 4 hours (or on LOW 5 to 6 hours). I usually cook it on low. Serve in bowl or mug with cheese and the oyster crackers, A Tablespoon of fat-free sour cream, or serve with some home made cornbread and ENJOY! For dessert later I tried a new one, Sans Sucre Mousse Cheesecake Dessert Cup. Something a little different and turned out real good! I left a another post on this and how to make it. Only 80 calories and 7 carbs per serving.





Crock Pot 3 Bean Buffalo Chili

Ingredients
2 lb. Ground Wild Idea Ground Buffalo
2 Cans (6 oz.) Hunt’s Tomato Paste
1 Can (15 oz.) Chili Beans
1 Can (15 oz.) Kidney Beans, rinsed
1 Can (15 oz.) Great Northern Beans, rinsed
1/2 Cup of Water
1 Packet McCormick Chili Mix
1 White Onion (medium), Chopped or Minced
1 Jalapeno Pepper, Unseeded and Chopped
3 Cloves Minced Garlic
1 Tbs Ground Cocoa Chili Blend (McCormick)
1/2 Tsp Ground Chipotle Chili Pepper (McCormick)
1 Tbs. Ground Roasted Cumin
2 Tsps Ground Cinnamon
1 Tbs of Cilantro Leaves
5 Dashes of Frank’s Hot Sauce or to taste.
Shredded Cheese, I used Grated Dutch Gouda (Topping)
Oyster Crackers


Directions:
*Brown Buffalo in large saucepan on medium-high heat 10 min. or until no longer pink, stirring occasionally. Add all remaining spices and ingredients except 1 can of the tomato paste and the cheese and crackers.
*ADD to slow cooker and add in the remaining 1 can of tomato paste.
*COVER with lid. Cook on HIGH 3 to 4 hours (or on LOW 5 to 6 hours).

*Serve in bowl or mug with cheese and the oyster crackers, A Tablespoon of fat-free sour cream, or serve with some home made cornbread.

Low Country Seafood Boil w/ Baked Sour Dough Bread

Dinner Tonight: Low Country Seafood Boil w/ Baked Sour Dough Bread

Dinner is served!

Well I always wanted to make a Low Country Seafood Boil and today was that day! I hit the Kroger Seafood Department early this morning and purchased my ingredients which included Jumbo Shrimp, Alaskan Crab Legs, Little Neck Clams, and a loaf of Sour Dough Bread. I already had the Potatoes, Seasoning, and Corn on the Cob. I had purchased a Big kettle a few weeks back at Meijer. Dinner tonight, Low Country Seafood Boil w/ Baked Sour Dough Bread.




I love trying new recipes and really excited to prepare this! I started by soaking my Littleneck Clams in water and scrubbing them down to remove any excess grit. Then I filled a large pot with enough water to cover all of the ingredients. Added the crab boil and old Bay Seasoning and bring to a boil. Adjust the Old Bay Seasoning to suit your taste. When the water boils, add the potatoes and sausage. Cook on medium heat for 30 minutes. Add corn, lemon slices, crab legs, and clams and cook for an additional 10 minutes. Add shrimp and cook for no more than 3 minutes. Drain and serve with the Bread of your choice. I baked a Loaf of Sour Dough Bread. I left the full recipe at the end of the post. And what a meal it turned out to be! The Clams were incredible and the Crab Legs sweet as can be. The Potatoes, Shrimp, Corn on the Cob, and Turkey Smoked Sausage just a perfect mix! I'll have to purchase some more of the Ekrich Smoked Turkey Sausage, best I ever had. Then the Sour Dough Bread to mop everything up with. For dessert later a Dole Mini Banana.

Simmering Away!

Low Country Seafood Boil

A few of the Ingredients

Ingredients:


Water
1 Lemon cut in half
1 Spice bag of McCormick Shrimp and Crab Boil
2 Tbs of Old Bay Seasoning
12 red new potatoes
6 (4-inch) Smoked Turkey Sausage Link
6 Green Giant Extra Sweet Mini Ears of Corn
2 pounds Jumbo Peeled Shrimp
4 Clusters of Alaskan Crab Legs
6 Littleneck Clams, cleaned



Directions:
Fill a large pot with enough water to cover all of the ingredients. Add the crab boil and old Bay Seasoning and bring to a boil. Adjust the amount of Old Bay Seasoning to suit your taste. When the water boils, add the potatoes and sausage. Cook on medium heat for 30 minutes. Add corn, lemon slices, crab legs, and clams and cook for an additional 10 minutes. Add shrimp and cook for no more than 3 minutes. Drain and serve with warm fresh baked Sour Dough Bread.

Copper River Salmon Fillet w/ Tortellini and...

Dinner Tonight: Copper River Salmon Fillet w/ Three Cheese Tortellini and Boiled Sliced Carrots.


Broke out another of the Copper River Salmon Fillets I have frozen. I seasoned it with McCormick Grinder Sea Salt and Black Peppercorn then put a light coat of Italian Style Bread Crumbs. Lightly fried in Extra Virgin Olive Oil. I fried the skin side about 1 1/2 longer to get the skin crispy. It was a delicious and large fillet with enough left over for tomorrow's lunch. As sides I had Barilla Three Cheese Tortellini that I seasoned with the Sea Salt and Pepper. I only had a 1/2 serving of the Tortellini it's a little high in calories and carbs. I also had sides of boiled sliced Carrots. For dessert/ snack later tonight I'm going to have some Peanut Butter, Jiff Reduced, and Crackers (Townhouse Reduced) with a cold glass of 2% White Milk. As far as our weather still hot, humid, and miserable!
 

Sloppy Chicken Joes w/ Baked Steak Fries

Dinner Tonight: Sloppy Chicken Joes w/ Baked Steak Fries           


Made another batch of the Sloppy Chicken Joes! Love these and plenty leftovers for another dinner or several lunches. I used Tyson Lean ground Chicken for the Joes. The recipe and instructions are at the end of the post. As a side I baked some Ore - Ida Steak Fries. A new dessert later and I can't wait to try it, Blue Bunny No Sugar reduced Fat Butter Pecan Ice Cream. 120 calories and 16 carbs per serving. The local Walmart finally started carrying the Blue Bunny Brand Ice Cream. It looks like Blue Bunny has several flavors of the No Sugar Reduced Fat Ice Cream.

Sloppy Chicken Joes

Ingredients

1 pkg. McCormick Sloppy Joe Seasoning Mix
1 lb. Lean Ground Chicken
1 can (6 oz.) Tomato Paste *
1¼ cups Water
Healthy Life Whole Grain Sandwich Buns

Directions:

Brown Chicken in large skillet on medium-high heat. Drain fat.
STIR in Seasoning Mix, tomato paste and water.
BRING to boil. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Serve on buns.

* Substitution: Use 1 can (15 oz.) tomato sauce in place of tomato paste and water.

Sloppy Chicken Joes w/ Mashed Potato Skins

Dinner Tonight: Sloppy Chicken Joes w/ Mashed Potato Skins

It was sort of like having Chicken Wings and Potato Skins except with a lot less calories and carbs! I made some Sloppy Chicken Joes along with Mashed Potato Skins. I used Perdue Lean Ground Chicken and McCormick Sloppy Joe Seasoning Mix. I also used Healthy Life Whole Grain Sandwich Buns and Crumbled Bleu Cheese to top the Chicken with. The recipe for the Sloppy Chicken Joes and Mashed Potato Skins are at the end of the post. I saw the Mashed Skin's on an Rachael Ray Show and they looked delicious, and they were!


Mashed Potato Skins
Directions
These potatoes taste like skins with the works and sour cream but they are boiled, not fried. The bacon is baked on a slotted broiler pan so the fat falls away. The sour cream is replaced with buttermilk, which is tangy but made from skimmed milk. I use whole milk Cheddar but it is super sharp so a little goes a long way!

Ingredients

    * 6 slices Turkey Bacon
    * 2 pounds small Yukon Gold Potatoes, halved
    * 1 cup Buttermilk
    * Sea Salt and freshly Ground Black Pepper
    * 1/4 cup fresh Chives, chopped
    * 1/2 cup Extra-Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Yellow or White ( I used White )

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Arrange the bacon on a sheet pan and bake for 12 to15 minutes until crisp. Cool and chop.

Put potatoes in a medium sauce pot and cover with cold water. Bring the water to a boil and season with salt. Cook until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain and mash potatoes with buttermilk and season with salt and pepper. Stir in the chives, Cheddar and fold in bacon.


Sloppy Chicken Joes

Ingredients

1 pkg. McCormick Sloppy Joe Seasoning Mix
1 lb. Lean Ground Chicken
1 can (6 oz.) Tomato Paste *
1¼ cups Water
Crumbled Bleu Cheese for topping
Healthy Life Whole Grain Sandwich Buns

Directions:

Brown Chicken in large skillet on medium-high heat. Drain fat.
Stir in Seasoning Mix, tomato paste and water.
Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
 Serve on buns top Chicken with Crumbled Bleu Cheese.

* Substitution: Use 1 can (15 oz.) tomato sauce in place of tomato paste and water.

Ground Bison Sirloin Burger w/ Potato Straws

Dinner Tonight: Ground Bison Sirloin Burger w/ BBQ Potato Straws


Wasn't real hungry tonight so it a light and simple for dinner. i had a Ground Bison Sirloin Burger seasoned with McCormick Grinder Steakhouse seasoning on a Healthy Life Sandwich Bun along with a half a serving of Sensible Portions Sweet BBQ Potato Straws. There are 38 of the Potato Straws per serving so a half serving is plenty. these are starting to be our favorite snack around the house, 38 per serving and only 130 calories and only 15 carbs. Maybe a 100 calorie bag of Jolly Time Popcorn later.

Cincinnati Style Chili Spaghetti 4 Way w/ Hearth Whole Grain Bread

Dinner Tonight: Cincinnati Style Chili Spaghetti 4 Way w/ Hearth Whole Grain Bread


Nothing like a Chili Spaghetti 4 Way especially when I can make it lower in calories and carbs. I used the Dixie Carb Counter Skinni Spaghetti, at 143 calories and 14 carbs. I used Hormel Turkey Chili w/ Beans and a half a serving of Kraft 2% Shredded Cheese. I seasoned everything with McCormick Grinder Italian Seasoning and McCormick Perfect Pinch Parmesan Herb Seasoning. I also had a slice of Aunt Millie's Hearth Whole Grain Bread. For dessert a bit later I'll have a bowl of Breyers Carb Smart Ice Cream and it's only 90 calories and 13 carbs