Are You Looking for a Breathtaking Chili?

Chili cooks always want to discover that award-winning chili recipe that will be breathtaking for their family and friends and maybe even impress a few chili contest judges. Wouldn't it be exciting to UNLEASH your chili and rock your family and friends' worlds, save money and have a great time preparing it?

In my interviews with outstanding chili cooks, I have developed some breathtaking chili recipes that are easy, time and money saving and make your body tingle from the first taste right down to your toes.

The secret ingredient is the key to this breathtaking recipe. This secret "sauce" sets this chili apart from the rest. Actually, it is so sensational that it makes this easy and timesaving chili unbelievably flavorful.

Finding a recipe that uses your local grocery store ingredients is another time and money saving benefit of this chili. There are no fancy ingredients that you have to go to a specialty shop to buy. So, you can get the ingredients during one of your weekly food shopping trips.

This recipe produces a sultry chili that your family and friends will think came from a high-class restaurant.

Ingredients

• 4-5 lbs. ground beef of your choice
• ¼ cup of olive oil if needed to brown meat
• 64 ozs. V8 Juice for 4-5 lbs.
• 1 onion for each pound of meat
• 1/4 cup of brown sugar or honey
• 1 bell pepper for each lb. of meat
• 2-3 cloves garlic for each lb. of meat
• 3 jalapenos or 1 habanera
• 2 tablespoons cumin
• ½ cup finely chopped parsley or cilantro
• 2 tablespoons of chili powder (your favorite)
• 1 teaspoon of celery seed
• 1 bay leaf for each pound of meat
• 1 - 16 oz. can dark kidney beans for each lb. of meat
• salt and pepper to taste
• 10 mushrooms per pound of meat
• 1 tablespoon of the SECRET INGREDIENT

Ground beef or ground round should be at least 80% lean. Brown ground beef with olive oil.

Salt and Pepper-to taste throughout the recipe.

After meat is browned, add onions, bell peppers, bay leaves and garlic.

Add secret ingredient.

Add chopped mushrooms.

Add celery seed.

Add brown sugar or honey.

V8 juice is added next.

Cook down for about 10 minutes at a simmer.

Add beans last and cook them until they are done to your taste.

Cook this entire batch of chili until you get it comin' up. Bubbling a little. Do not boil. Turn it off and let it sit, let it sit, and let it sit. You can even let it sit so long that it gets cold.

Then, reheat it.

Siphon off the grease when it cools - the whitish looking stuff on the top.

To discover the "Secret Ingredient" that makes this chili breathtaking plus 9 SECRET TIPS for "unleashing" your chili, email breathtakingchili@chiliunleashed.com

©2003 permission granted to reprint this article in print or on your website so long as the paragraph above is included and the contact information is included to pmccoach@mchsi.com

About The Author

Coach and Paula McCoach are the owners of Coach's Coffee Company, Inc. They have created special blends of coffee for coffee connoisseurs who like a caffeine kick. Coach's Coffee started by serving America's Civil War reenactors in 1997. Cups of their coffee are made by using Open-Pot Brewin,'ä a coffee brewing technique created by Coach and Paula to get the best brew from their high-altitude beans. Paula McCoach is now publishing her gourmet recipes, which are another of her culinary creations. For more information on Open-Pot Brewin,' send an email to coach@coachscoffee.net

How to Make a Seductive Chili

Dedicated Chili cooks always seem to be looking for an amazing recipe for a blow-you-out-of-the-water chili. Wouldn't it be exciting to UNLEASH your chili and rock your family and friends’ worlds, save money and have a great time preparing it?

Searching the Internet, I found so many of you looking for new chili recipes. My husband, Coach, is a gourmet cook who has developed chili recipes that are easy, time and money saving and make your body tingle from the first taste right down to your toes.

Slow cooking is the key to this dynamic recipe. Due to this cooking process, less expensive cuts of meat can be used. Actually, they are more flavorful and tender using this process. We have found a sultry and seductive chili is produced using a slow cooking technique.

Finding a recipe that uses your local grocery store ingredients is a time and money saving benefit of this chili. There are no fancy ingredients that you have to go to a specialty shop to buy. So, you can get the ingredients during one of your weekly food shopping trips. This recipe is time and money saving and produces a sultry chili that your family and friends will think came from a high-class restaurant.

Try this recipe and send us your comments and suggestions.

Dynamic Chuck/Pork Roast Chili

One Pot Chili that Cooks Itself

Ingredients

3-5 lb. pork roast

salt and pepper to taste

1 onion

1 red, green or yellow bell pepper

½ cup finely chopped parsley or cilantro

4 cloves of garlic

2-3 chopped jalapenos with seeds

1 teaspoon of salt

2 tablespoons of cumin

1 tablespoon of chili powder

(A local grocery store brand is fine.)

3 16 oz. can of black beans

Use one 16 oz. can of beans for every pound of meat.

To discover the "Secret Ingredient" that makes this chili seductive plus 11 SECRET TIPS for "unleashing" your chili, email coach@chiliunleashed.com

Trim fat down to you dietary requirement or remove after cooking. Leave the bone in to cook - it adds more flavor.

Put chuck roast or pork roast in roasting pan with a lid. Add 64 ozs. of liquid in with the meat. Salt and pepper the meat. Put the fat side up. Roast the meat only on 350 degrees for 2 hours. Leave the bone in the meat.

After roasting the meat for 2 hours, put in all of the remaining chili ingredients. Putting the vegetables in for the last hour will not only cook them through, but the vegetables will maintain their color and consistency. This cooking technique will not allow them to be absorbed into the broth.

Add onion of your choice, green, red, or yellow bell pepper. Add chopped cilantro, chopped garlic, and finely chopped jalapenos. If you want more heat, put the seeds in from the hot pepper. Otherwise discard the seeds.

For spices, add salt, cumin, and your favorite chili powder.

At the end of the 2-hour cooking time, add the vegetables and seasonings to the meat broth. Remove the meat and let stand. Be sure the meat is tender enough - it should be almost falling off the bone. Stir the vegetables into the meat broth. Roast the vegetables and V8 broth for one hour at 350 degrees.

Check the vegetable mixture after an hour, and if vegetables are cooked through, remove the pan from the oven. Stir in 3 cans of beans. Cover and let sit about 30 minutes until beans heat through.

Pull the meat apart into shreds. Discard fat and bone. Add the meat into the bean and broth mixture.

Serve with sour cream and shredded cheddar cheese. Makes 17 servings for $$$24. That’s $1.41 per serving.

© 2003 permission granted to reprint this article in print or on your website so long as the paragraph above is included and the contact information is included to pmccoach@mchsi.com

About The Author

Coach and Paula McCoach are the owners of Coach’s Coffee Company, Inc. They have created special blends of coffee for coffee connoisseurs who like a caffeine kick. Coach’s Coffee started by serving America’s Civil War reenactors in 1997. Cups of their coffee are made by using Open-Pot Brewin,’ä a coffee brewing technique created by Coach and Paula to get the best brew from their high-altitude beans. Paula McCoach is now publishing her gourmet recipes, which are another of her culinary creations. For more information on Open-Pot Brewin,’ send an email to pmccoach@mchsi.com

How to Make a Tantalizing White Lightening Chili

Chili cooks always want to discover that award-winning chili recipe that will be tantalizing for their family and friends and maybe even impress a few chili contest judges. Wouldn't it be exciting to UNLEASH your chili and rock your family and friends’ worlds, save money and have a great time preparing it?

In my interviews with outstanding chili cooks, I have developed some tantalizing chili recipes that are easy, time and money saving and make your body tingle from the first taste right down to your toes.

The secret ingredient is the key to this tantalizing recipe. This secret ingredient sets this chili apart from the rest. Actually, it is so sensational that it makes this easy and timesaving chili unbelievably flavorful.

Finding a recipe that uses your local grocery store ingredients is another time and money saving benefit of this chili. There are no fancy ingredients that you have to go to a specialty shop to buy. So, you can get the ingredients during one of your weekly food shopping trips.

This recipe produces a sultry chili that your family and friends will think came from a high-class restaurant.

Try this recipe and send us your comments and suggestions.

Ingredients

3 lbs. of pork, chicken or turkey

2-4 cloves of garlic to taste

1 large chopped onion

1-2 tablespoons of cumin

1 large bell pepper - green, yellow or red

4-6 16 oz. cans of your favorite white bean

1-3 finely chopped jalapeno peppers

If using pork, use a pork shoulder and cook about 2 ½ - 3 hours until you can pull it. With chicken or turkey, cook it for about 1½ hours in an inch of water at 350 degrees in a large covered roasting pan with a good lid to hold in the steam.

Use chicken or turkey breasts with the skin and bone for the extra flavor. Not necessary to use boneless breasts because more flavor is available with the skin and bone and it is more economical too.

If the chicken does not pull apart at 1½ hours, cook an additional 15 minutes until it does pull apart. With chicken or turkey, before you add the following ingredients, pull out the bones and unwanted gristle, etc. Only the meat is used in the chili.

The last half hour of the cooking process, add the following ingredients.

Cook chili mixture an additional ½ hour. Add 4-6 16 oz. cans of your favorite white bean.

Stir in the beans and leave it in the oven until the beans are warm and let it cool for 20-30 minutes. Reheat to serve.

To discover the "Secret Ingredient" that makes this chili tantalizing plus 5 SECRET TIPS for "unleashing" your chili, email pmccoach@mchsi.com

© 2003 permission granted to reprint this article in print or on your website so long as the paragraph above is included and the contact information is included to pmccoach@mchsi.com

About The Author

Coach and Paula McCoach are the owners of Coach’s Coffee Company, Inc. They have created special blends of coffee for coffee connoisseurs who like a caffeine kick. Coach’s Coffee started by serving America’s Civil War reenactors in 1997. Cups of their coffee are made by using Open-Pot Brewin,’ä a coffee brewing technique created by Coach and Paula to get the best brew from their high-altitude beans. Paula McCoach is now publishing her gourmet recipes, which are another of her culinary creations. For more information on Open-Pot Brewin,’ send an email to pmccoach@mchsi.com

How to Make Beer

Making beer is easy, inexpensive, and most of all, fun. With the rise in popularity of homebrewing, there are a wide variety of top quality ingredients available.

You can literally make hundreds of styles of beer that will taste great and impress your friends. Getting started making beer will only cost you a small amount of money, depending on your level of interest. Most beer making kits range from only $60 to $200 and make great, unique gifts.

How to Make Beer

Making Beer is just like cooking. Each recipe requires different ingredients and techniques. This page is an attempt to go over the basics of homebrewing in order to give you an understanding of how beer is made.

First of all, beer is made from 4 basic ingredients: water, malt (malted barley), hops, and yeast.

Water

Water is the most abundant ingredient in any style of beer. When making beer at home try to use filtered water instead of plain tap water. If your water doesn't taste good from the tap, you probably won't like it in your beer either. Do not use distilled water because it has been depleted of its oxygen.

Malt

Malted barley is barley grain that has been carefully soaked in water until it sprouts and then dried. This malting process develops the necessary sugars and soluble starches needed for fermentation.

The malt is then taken through a process called mashing which extracts the sugars and starches from the grain. Although advanced homebrewers can accomplish this step at home, most will buy the malted barley already mashed in a product called malt extract.

Hops

Hops are green flowers that grow on a vine and look similar to pine cones. They perform several roles in the beer making process. Most notably are the taste and aroma they impart on a beer.

Since not all of the sugars will ferment, the malt will cause the beer to be really sweet. Hops will balance out the sweetness by adding a degree of bitterness. Hops will also add a distinctive aroma to the finished brew.

Yeast

Yeast is the catalyst that makes it all happen. In short, yeast is a living organism that feeds off of the sugars in the malt. The yeast will convert the sugars to alcohol and carbon dioxide in a process called fermentation.

There are many strains of yeasts (even in the air we breathe). In order to get the results needed for making beer, a specially cultured beer yeast is required. The yeast will also impart taste and mouthfeel qualities to the beer.

The Beer Making Process

To summarize, the malt, hops, and water are boiled for a period of time. This mixture is called wort (pronounced wert). Then the wort is poured into fermenter and allowed to cool.

Next, the prepared yeast is pitched into the fermenter and an airlock is placed over the opening. Now it's the yeast's job to do its thing.

The yeast will multiply like crazy as it consumes the sugars in the brew. After a period of time, usually within 7 to 10 days, the yeast will have consumed all that it can and fall to the bottom of the fermenter.

Finally, the beer is bottled and set aside for a couple of weeks to mature and carbonate.

Making beer at home really is a fantastic hobby and can be a great social activity. Have some friends over and let them try your new brew. Better yet, get them involved and see who can make the best batches. Have blind taste tests with your buddies. Most of all, have fun!

About The Author

Jason Ditto

Author of the www.2BASNOB.com website about the enjoyment of coffee, tea, wine and beer.

Frugal and Easy Thanksgiving Recipes

Here it is - that time of year when everyone's thoughts turn to food! I'm thankful that at our house, we have plenty of food, but sometimes I am not so grateful that I am the one who usually gets to cook it!

So I am always on the lookout for simple, tasty recipes that are also easy on the budget. Here are a few of my family's favorites:

Corn-Rice Casserole

• 1 1/2 cups minute rice (uncooked)
• 2 cans cream-style corn
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 medium green pepper, chopped
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine
• 8 oz. jar Cheez Whiz

Melt butter in large saucepan and add onion and green pepper. Cook until tender. Add other ingredients and cook on low for about 5 minutes, stirring often.

Pour into greased 2-quart baking dish and bake at 350 degrees until bubbly.

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Sweet Potato Casserole

• 2 16-oz. cans sweet potatoes
• 1/4 cup butter
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 tsp. vanilla

Topping:

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup butter
• 2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/4 cup flour

Drain sweet potatoes and mash. Add other ingredients and mix well. Pour into ungreased 9" square baking pan. Mix all topping ingredients till crumbly. Spread on yams then bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.

Tip: You can make this the day before. Just refrigerate till you are ready to bake.

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This one is perfect for supper the night before Thanksgiving.

Harvest Time Soup

• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 cup cubed potatoes
• 1/2 cup chopped carrots
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 3/4 lb. process cheese spread, cubed
• 1 cup ham, cubed

Bring water, potatoes, carrots and celery to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer till vegetables are tender.

Add cheese and ham; cook, stirring till cheese is melted.

This makes about 4 servings, but it could easily be cut in half or doubled.

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Samuel Adams, father of the American Revolution:

"It is therefore recommended ... to set apart Thursday the eighteenth day of December next, for solemn thanksgiving and praise, that with one heart and one voice the good people may express the grateful feelings of their hearts and consecrate themselves to the service of their divine benefactor ..."—November 1, 1777

(adopted by the 13 states as the first official Thanksgiving Proclamation)

About The Author

Cyndi Roberts is the editor of the "1 Frugal Friend 2 Another" bi-weekly newsletter and founder of the website of the same name.

Visit http://www.cynroberts.com to find creative tips, articles, and a free e-cooking book. Subscribe to the newsletter and receive the free e-course "Taming the Monster Grocery Bill".

Tantalizing Turkey

You too can make a spectacular turkey dinner!

TT has what you need to help you at every step. You even get carving directions with graphics, guidance about the best way to thaw, stuff and roast your turkey, recipes and more. See what's inside.

Get answers to your most pressing turkey questions about how leftover turkey can be stored properly and what do you need to do to a turkey just before roasting it. Pick up invaluable Turkey Tips about Thermometer Placement and even how do you will know when the turkey is done. Learn about thawing your turkey using both the refrigerator and the cold water methods.

Not sure how to "Get Stuffed" the right way? Never fear, follow the Tantalizing Turkey's simple guidelines and you are on your way! You even get complete details (with approximate cooking times) for the Open Pan Method of roasting your turkey.

Once your turkey is roasted to perfection, don't mess up the meal with poor carving, follow the easy to understand carving instructions (complete with diagrams).

The turkey however is only one part of the presentation. Don't miss out on the mouth watering Turkey Apple Stuffing recipe and complete details on how to make Turkey Gravy with drippings or without. The recipes continue with ideas for dealing with the leftovers (the best part). Lots of ideas for you to use up the remains of your bird and enjoy dessert with this recipe for Handy Turkey Cookies (which doesn't actually contain turkey but who cares it tastes great)!

Handy Turkey Cookies

(NAPSA) - A Thanksgiving feast is not complete without dessert. And such a sweet ending can be a terrific way for youngsters to join in the preparation. Decorating these simple, "handy" cookies can be a light, tasty way to top a scrumptious meal-with some help from the little ones.

Makes about 2 1/2 dozen cookies

For the dough:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon cream of tartar

For the decorations:

• 1 cup prepared vanilla frosting (from a 16 oz. can)
• Assorted colored sugars
• Mini chocolate chips
• Candy corn
• Red fruit leather

Special aids:

• Hand-shaped template or cookie cutter
• Small resealable plastic bag
• Scissors

Making the cookies:

In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer set on medium speed, beat butter and sugar until fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add egg and beat for 1 minute longer. Beat in vanilla just until incorporated.

In a large bowl, whisk flour, baking soda and cream of tartar. Using a wooden spoon, stir butter mixture, one-third at a time, into flour mixture until blended. (The mixture will be crumbly.)

Gather dough into a ball; flatten into a disk and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly spray 2 baking sheets with vegetable cooking spray. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to a 1/4-inch thickness. Using a template made by cutting out a tracing of your hand or a hand-shaped cookie cutter, cut out cookies.

Transfer cutouts, 2 inches apart, to the prepared baking sheets. Reroll scraps for additional cookies. Bake until lightly browned around the edges, 8-10 minutes; transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Decorating the cookies:

Spoon frosting into a resealable plastic bag; snip off 1 corner. Pipe a feather design onto each finger.

Sprinkle "feathers" with colored sugar. Pipe a dot for the "eye" on each thumb. Place a mini chocolate chip on each frosting "eye." Cut a candy corn for each nose and attach to thumb with a little frosting.

Using scissors, cut the fruit leather on its backing paper into 2-inch pieces; cut out "wattles."

Remove paper from fruit leather. Using a dab of frosting, attach "wattles" to thumbs. Let stand until frosting is set, about 1 hour.

About The Author

Chris Sadler is Owner and WebAdmin of The 1001Recipes2Send.com Recipes Database. Become a member to recieve the weekly newsletter alert and download FREE eBooks at: http://www.1001Recipes2Send.com/Free.

The Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie Experience

Just about everyone loves freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. Many of us have fond memories from our childhoods of the aroma of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies filling up the house. Our eager little eyes anxiously awaiting their arrival from oven to countertop.

Chocolate chip cookies are the ultimate comfort food. There’s just something about them that makes us feel warm and fuzzy. The chocolate chip cookie has evolved over the years into a mouth-watering variety of textures and flavors.

If you’re a fruit lover you’ll enjoy banana chocolate chip cookies or cherry chocolate chip cookies. Chocolate lovers will delight over chocolate chocolate chip cookies, double chocolate chip cookies and white chocolate chip cookies.

Another popular variation is the oatmeal chocolate chip cookie. Who knew that oatmeal would taste so good with chocolate?

If you want to spice up your favorite chocolate chip cookies even more, you can add tasty morsels like mint chips, craisins, candy bars, espresso beans, m&ms, candy cane, walnuts, peanuts, macadamia nuts, dark chocolate or big chunks of milk chocolate.

Some folks love eating gourmet chocolate chip cookie bars and even chocolate chip cookie pie!

If you have special dietary needs, you can still enjoy home baked chocolate chip cookies. There are special recipes online for low fat chocolate chip cookies, vegan chocolate chip cookies, wheat free and egg free chocolate chip cookies, and whole wheat chocolate chip cookies.

Now that you know about the many ways you can enjoy the world’s most famous cookie, I hope you will try many of the delicious recipes so you too can enjoy the ultimate chocolate chip cookie experience.

About The Author

Copyright 2004

Donna Monday is a contributing author at: http://www.best-cookie-jar-recipes.com.