A Halloween Feast Weekend Round-Up

Cook's Notes: An early Halloween feast was had by all. A few neighbors came for dinner. Cool crisp nights at the lake are an open invitation to indulge in a steaming bowl of comfort food. This chili dish has a little bit of a kick. Pair it with a slice of cornbread, decadent Black Magic Cake, and a winter fruit salad. Now you'll definitely have a meal of pure bliss.

Chipotle Beef and Butternut Squash and Bean Chili

Cook’s notes: A real chili winner with the addition of butternut squash and two surprise ingredients; chocolate and beer. I highly recommend making this chili a day ahead to maximize the flavors. The chili has a bit of a kick with the addition of chipotle pepper. It's a one-pot meal that serves 6-8. Serve the chili with grated cheddar cheese, diced green onions, and cornbread or breadsticks.
As a timesaver buy prepacked butternut squash (produce)

Recipe adapted from People Magazine March 23, 2015

Ingredients:

• 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1-1/2 lbs. lean ground beef or 2 lb. beef stew meat, cut into small cubes
• ½ cup each green pepper and red pepper, diced
• 1 cup sweet onions, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• ¼ teaspoon cumin
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• Optional 1 tablespoon chopped chipotle pepper

• 2 (14.5 oz.) cans of Mexican-style stewed or chunky tomatoes
• 2 cups butternut squash, cut into small pieces
• 2 cups of low-sodium beef or chicken broth
• 1 cup black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can (15 oz.) garbanzo or kidney beans
• 1 can (15 oz.) chili beans
• 1/2 bottle of lager beer (6 oz.)
• 2 oz. dark chocolate chips
• 1/3 cup chili sauce
• 1 cup frozen corn kernels, no need to thaw

Directions:

• Cook ground beef, crumble, drain, and set aside. If using beef stew meat sear the cubes first in hot oil and set aside. In the same soup pot sauté peppers, onions, and garlic for about 3 minutes. Add in cumin and chili powder, and cook 1 minute longer.
• Add to the pot, chipotle pepper if using, stewed or chunky tomatoes, squash, broth, black beans, garbanzo beans, chili beans, beer, chocolate chips, and chili sauce. Bring mixture to a slow boil over medium-high heat.
• Cover and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer for about 50 minutes or until the squash is tender. Stir in corn last 15 minutes of cooking time.

Black Magic Cake

Cook's Notes: Since I posted this recipe in 2019  I have found many uses for the batter. It's perfect for cupcakes, in a bundt pan, and a layer cake using 2- 8-inch round pans. It's a moist cake and can be made the day before. So good😊 

I added a few drops of green dye to the coconut to create a pumpkin patch. 

https://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2019/10/black-magic-cake.html

WINTER FRUIT SALAD

Cook's Notes: The recipe serves 4 and is a versatile salad by changing up the fruits.  

Ingredients:

• 2 sweet apples, chopped like Honeycrisp or Fuji
• 2 pears, chopped
• 3 kiwis peeled, sliced, and quartered
• 2 bananas, sliced
• 1-15 oz. can mandarin oranges in water, drained or 3 mandarin oranges/peeled, separated
• pomegranate arils from 1 pomegranate
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries

HONEY LIME POPPY SEED VINAIGRETTE

• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon olive oil 
• 1 1/2 teaspoons poppy seeds

Directions: 

Add all of the salad ingredients to a large bowl.
In a separate small bowl, whisk together all of the vinaigrette ingredients.
Pour vinaigrette over salad ingredients and gently toss to coat. Serve immediately.

    LET THE ADVENTURES BEGIN-STAY TUNED