Pinto Bean Chili
Pinto bean chili is one of the simplest dishes that will feed a crowd. It will keep and keep! That just reminded me of cook on the movie Atlantis where he goes on about the beans and everyone thinks UGH because they are tired of them. He literally says “They will keep and keep!” We used to watch that movie all the time when my kids were younger. I need to obtain that movie on Blu ray. *Runs off to search and check food in oven*
I’m back! Does not look like they have it for Blu ray with a quick search. Might have to do a extended search to see what I can find and add Hotel Transylvania to the check out too! Anyway, back to the pinto bean chili! Does that cornbread just look delish!
Love how this comes together as just slow cooked beans and you can have them completely vegetarian or with bacon or ground beef. I am not a huge fan of ground beef so I always go to my favorite meat which is bacon. It adds a smokey flavor. It is also easy to add carrots, celery, or even stewed tomatoes. If you want to add vegetables then it is best to do them at the beginning when sauteing the onion, peppers, and garlic. If you want to add stewed tomatoes it is best to stir them in about 30 minutes before serving. My recipe is the basic recipe that allows you to add whatever you would like to it along with controlling the heat. If you want it hotter add more peppers and if you want it cooler then add less peppers. Mine is a tad spicy for the little ones but great for the teens and adults without setting mouths ablaze.
Ingredients
Instructions
In a large pot, add minced onion, garlic, and jalapeno peppers. Saute on medium heat for about three minutes. Add in cumin, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper; stir well. Add rinsed beans and stir to mix the beans with vegetables. Add container of stock and bacon halves to pot. Fill the rest of the pot to the top with water. Turn heat up to high and bring to a boil. Once at a boil lower to a medium heat. Cook for about 5 hours until the beans are soft and liquid has thickened; stir often. Serve with cornbread or topped with cheese, sour cream, and cilantro.
http://mooshujenne.com/pinto-bean-chili/Today, Food Network and a group of bloggers are featuring Chili (for #Superbowl) for this week’s Comfort Food Feast event. Please stop by and see what everyone made:
Jeanette’s Healthy Living: Crock Pot Cincinnati Chicken Chili
The Heritage Cook: Gluten-Free Green Chile and Chicken Taco Bowls
The Cultural Dish: Crock-Pot Chili
Big Girls, Small Kitchen: Healthy Chicken Chili With Barley
What’s Gaby Cooking: Smoky Chipotle Chicken Chili
Feed Me Phoebe: Chicken and White Bean Chili
Dishin & Dishes: Lean Mean Game-Day Chili
The Lemon Bowl: Beef Chili With Black Beans
Devour: 4 Twists on Chili for the Super Bowl
Thursday Night Dinner: 3 Most Favorite Chili Recipes
FN Dish: 7 Chili Recipes for the Big Game
Fried Chicken Jalapeno Bacon Fettuccine Alfredo
Fried chicken jalapeno bacon fettuccine alfredo recipe is below but first a little story. Yesterday we went to see the final edition to the Twilight Saga Breaking Dawn Part II. I was not so sure how well it would match the book prior to watching the movie. The movie literally hit the nail on the head in comparison to the book. There was plenty rumors that movie is not as good as it’s predecessors. To be honest, it was one of my two favorites, the other being New Moon. If your a vampire or wolf fan let me know what you thought of the movie in the comments. No spoilers! No whining about sparkling vampires either 
On to the food! Below the food is the giveaway for Devo’s Jalapeno Fettuccine!
Big thank you to Devo Olive Oil for sending out a package of jalapeno fettuccine. It was absolutely delicious! The fettuccine is a perfect pair with my bacon alfredo sauce. I still cannot wait to try the pumpkin fettuccine and chocolate fettuccine. These are perfect for customized culinary gift baskets.
The jalapeno fettuccine has just enough kick to add the right spice to this meal. There is no burn for me although I can eat pretty spicy food. It was more like a tickle and I think that is just perfect for a pasta dish. The pasta would pair well with Cajun dishes featuring shrimp, crab, or crawfish.
Ingredients
Instructions
In large frying pan, heat oil to medium-high heat. Preheat oven to 200 degrees F.
In a small bowl, add eggs and beat. In a medium bowl add breadcrumbs. Dip chicken filet in egg and then toss in breadcrumbs covering the entire filet. Set aside on dish. Repeat with the remainder of the chicken.
Fry chicken for 2 to 3 minutes each side until cooked. Set cooked chicken in a casserole dish in the oven when done frying to keep warm. While chicken is frying you may start the sauce.
In a sauce pan or deep saute pan, add in bacon and cook on medium heat until it is crisp but not fully cooked. Add in onions and garlic and cook until onions are caramelized. Melt butter over bacon, onions, and garlic. Add in heavy whipping cream and cook on medium low heat for about 15 minutes until heavy whipping cream begins to thicken and coats the back of a spoon; stirring frequently. Salt and pepper the sauce.
Meanwhile, in a large pot, bring water with one tablespoon olive oil to a boil. Salt the water.
The chicken should be finished frying and the pasta should be boiling. Go back to the sauce and add in Parmesan cheese little by little, stirring frequently, until all cheese is added. Turn sauce down to low.
Remove the noodles and drain. Plate noodles with one piece of fried chicken and top with alfredo sauce.
http://mooshujenne.com/fried-chicken-jalapeno-bacon-fettuccine-alfredo/Devo Olive Oil was please to offer one of my readers a chance to win and test out the jalapeno fettuccine I used in this recipe!
To enter the giveaway fill out the rafflecopter below.
*Disclosure: Devo Olive Oil is providing one package of jalapeno fettuccine. I was not reimbursed for writing this post and all opinions expressed are my own.
Honey Bacon Potato Pops
Today is our gathering of the communal table for Thanksgiving for the FN Dish on Food Network. Please take a moment when you are done reading this post to visit the other links below and enjoy other dishes at our communal table. To follow along on Twitter please use the hashtag #PullUpAChair. You may also join in by having a look at our communal table on Pinterest. My recipe for Honey Bacon Potato Pops is below.
Thanksgiving is a time of togetherness, family, and the season that prepares us for Christmas. Fall is my favorite season of the year! The trees change colors, everyone is cooking or baking, and the air is busy with cheer. The pumpkin, which is a super squash, decorates yards with a multitude of colors and scarecrows dance in the wind! Most of all, I love the Macy’s Day Parade! I love picking out my favorites and feeling like a kid again with my teenagers. It is very important to always have a bit of kid left in you.
I hope you will all #PullUpAChair and enjoy my appetizer recipe for Honey Bacon Potato Pops. These are perfect to munch on while waiting on the turkey. Please feel free to leave me a link in the comments to your favorite Thanksgiving dish.
Ingredients
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Soak bacon in honey and wrap over potatoes. Secure bacon with toothpicks.
Bake until potatoes are tender and bacon is cooked. Pull them from the oven and remove toothpick; add lollipop stick. Careful not to break potato. Drizzle potatoes with honey and serve warm.
http://mooshujenne.com/honey-bacon-potato-pops/
Cocktails, Appetizers, Salads and Breads:
- Haute Apple Pie: Apple Jack
- Cooking With Books: Spiced Couscous and Walnut Salad
- Mooshu Jenne: Honey Bacon Potato Pops (pictured above)
- Food For My Family: Roasted Beet and Lacinato Kale Salad With Lemon Vinaigrette
- Big Girls, Small Kitchen: Super Seeded Cornbread
Main:
Sides:
- Feed Me Phoebe: Cornbread and Wild Rice Stuffing With Hazelnuts and Cranberries
- Napa Farmhouse 1885: Chorizo, Cornbread and Tortilla Dressing
- Sweet Life: Apple Chorizo Cornbread Stuffing
- And Love It, Too: Paleo Green Bean Casserole
- Jeanette’s Healthy Living: Sweet Spiced Winter Squash Casserole
- Red or Green?: Corn, Peppers and Onion Saute
- Simple Bites: Honey Pomegranate Glazed Brussels Sprouts
- Virtually Homemade: Fresh Orange and Cranberry Sauce With Toasted Walnuts
- What’s Gaby Cooking: Sweet Potato Gratin
- The Heritage Cook: Cauliflower Gratin
- Creative Culinary: Creamy Mushroom Bake With Parmesan and Panko
- Bacon and Souffle: Spicy Carnival Squash
Desserts:
- I Am Baker: Pumpkin Bars in a Jar
- Add a Pinch: Caramel Pie
- Chez Us: Pumpkin Cheesecake With Chocolate Swirls
Baked Potato Soup
I have two favorite soups. Minestrone and baked potato soup! Just love all the toppings you can add to baked potato soup 
One week till the last Twilight Saga film Breaking Dawn Part II. How many of you plan to go see it? I’m definitely NOT doing the midnight showing. Might be a Saturday morning flick. It’s the start of Thanksgiving vacation and I am just counting the days till that week gets here.
I thought this might help warm up those that are freezing on the East coast. I feel for you all.
Next week I have a Fall festival to attend and I plan to bring 48 cupcakes and 2- 3 dozen cookies. Any suggestions?
Ingredients
Instructions
Peel all potatoes and dice them into 1/2 inch cubes. Add them to a large pot and cover with water. Salt and pepper the water. Cook on medium/high heat to bring to a boil. Once boiling, lower to a simmer, and let cook for about 10 to 15 minutes until potatoes are tender. After potatoes are tender drain off water and reserve a small amount to add thickness to your soup.
Replace pot on stove and add 1 tablespoon of flour. Stir in flour and add two cups of chicken broth. On a low heat, mash potatoes, and add more chicken broth as the potatoes are being mashed. The soup should be a thick consistency. Add one large container of heavy whipping cream and bring to a boil. Lower to a simmer and cook for about ten to twenty minutes until soup thickens.
Once the soup has thickened it is ready to serve. Top with crumbled bacon, sharp cheddar cheese, and spring onions. Side with garlic bread.
http://mooshujenne.com/baked-potato-soup/Halloween Countdown – Day Four
Last weekend we had our Halloween party and I though I would share with you guys and gals as my Halloween countdown. Not very many people came out though we still had tons of fun. We had sinister cider with voodoo heads, buttered corn (popcorn), eyeball punch, caramel apples, and petrified pizza. Maybe a few late night tacos from Jack in the Crack (ie: Jack in the Box) for the drinkers; at least we had the sober driver go and get them
Today, I want to share with you a DIY project on how to make wood grave stones and a recipe for the classic caramel apples with bacon or with nuts. But first I want to scare the crap out of you
This would be my brother whom scared the piss out of the my teens and their friends at our Halloween party. He came through the house in the pitch dark while the movie was on and stood behind them. It’s was a class A scare!
This year I decided to go with a literary/science Halloween theme.The gravestones I crafted feature Poe, Tesla, and Shakespeare. What I seriously love about wood stones is they do NOT blow away in the wind. Just take a long piece of plywood and cut into three. Lowe’s will do this for you for free if you ask and don’t have a saw at home. Stencils are great for the lettering. I used spray paint in black, one to each slat, and acrylic white paint for the lettering. Used wood fencing pieces and adhered them to the back with screws and a drill to insert the stones in the ground to stand upright. These stones are better on the environment as you can use them year to year and they don’t blow away in the wind like the Styrofoam stones you can buy at the store.
Halloween can’t be without a treat! These were requested by the other half.
We chopped up our own nuts and added bacon to a few. I used Fuji apples.
Ingredients
Instructions
In a medium pot, heat caramels with two tablespoons of water on low heat.
Meanwhile, push lollipop sticks through the apples. It's fine if they pop out the bottom a little just slide them back up through.
Once the caramel is melted dip the apples and set on parchment paper. Drizzle chopped peanuts or cooked chopped bacon on the apples. Freeze for about 30 minutes to an hour.
Tip: I keep the apples frozen and pull them about an hour before they want to eat them as they last longer in the freeze!
http://mooshujenne.com/halloween-countdown-day-four/Four days until Halloween! What do you have planned?
Avocado Alfredo
Fridays are generally the one day of the week that I do not want to cook. There is a little Italian joint in town, named Italian Villa, that I always end up at having a spaghetti and meatballs; on rare occasions a Philly cheese steak. It is safe to say that I love pasta. To curve that craving, do it healthy, and have something that screams “Spring” for this Friday I had fun being uber creative with this Avocado Alfredo. Avocado is the super fruit! The super fruit is fun to use in many dishes. Do not let people fool you into thinking that it can not be warmed. It does not get bitter if you heat it slow. In this dish it is not heated. The pasta warms the avocado and many other flavors of this dish. The family gave me a few strange looks when I set this on the table but ended up enjoying it. Plus, it is perfect for Easter weekend with its colors!
Ingredients
Instructions
Fill large pot of water and set on stove to boil.
Meanwhile, in the food processor add in garlic and parsley and pulse for 30 seconds. Add in avocado and lemon juice; pulse for 1 minute till avocado is smooth. Add in heavy whipping cream and pulse for 30 seconds till well blended. Add Parmesan and pulse till well blended.
Fry bacon and set aside. Save bacon grease.
Cook pasta for 8 to 10 minutes until done. Strain and add it to a large bowl. Pour avocado sauce into the large bowl. Wash out processor, add your bacon, and pulse till you have homemade bacon bits. Add bacon bits to the bowl and add about two tablespoons of the bacon grease. Toss pasta till well covered and serve.
http://mooshujenne.com/avocado-alfredo/
Check out another great recipe for a Friday.
Classic Minestrone Soup
We had a short dip in weather last week. It brought on my passion for creating soups. Minestrone soup is one of my favorite soups full of flavor and scrumptious vegetables. I’ll have to admit that my Italian side really shows through when it comes to noodles. It was an epic event to get the noodles for this soup. Ditalini noodles are perfect for minestrone. Many would use orzo’s but I believe orzo’s are great in chicken soup but get to mushy in a minestrone. What I love most about this soup is that I can hide the tender quarters of Italian zucchini in it and my family will eat it!
Ingredients
Instructions
In a large pot add in olive oil and pancetta or bacon. Fry till bacon is almost browned. Add in onions, carrots, celery, and garlic and lightly salt. Stir fry for about 3 to 5 minutes till onions are sweated but not caramelized.
In another pot boil water to cook you Ditalini pasta. Cook pasta 6 to 8 minutes as directed on package.
Add in the tomatoes, rosemary, thyme, broth, zucchini, and beans (if your adding beans) and top with water. Bring to a boil then simmer for 10 minutes. Add in pasta and salt and pepper to taste.
Minestrone is best served with croutons.
http://mooshujenne.com/classic-minestrone-soup/Come join SoupaPalooza at TidyMom and Dine and Dish sponsored by KitchenAid, Red Star Yeast and Le Creuset
Sun Burst Tomato Pasta
My son, Chance, told me he was tired of the same old food. With the next Summer Fest for the FN Dish coming up; I thought why not come up with something different! While looking for inspiration, I came across these little bad boys, Sunburst Tomatoes. I just love the color! Color in a dish means so much! Those colors scream Fall is coming, but Summer is yet still here. Some days your just looking for quick and easy meal, without the overload of ingredients, this dish is it! Creamy Parmesan sauce with bursting tomatoes and spunky aromatic spring onions; it is a super food dish! Oh, did I mention the left over ham? Yes, just keep your left over ham from any occasion and toss right in. You can always substitute the ham for bacon if you would like. Not sure if my son ended up liking the dish but I know my grandmother fell in love with it! (she’s picky).
Ingredients
Instructions
Fill a large pot with water, olive oil, and salt; bring to a boil. While you are waiting for the water to boil; slice the sun burst tomatoes in halves. Chop the spring onions. Use both the chives and whites. Add them to a large bowl.
In a large sauce pot add in two cups of heavy whipping cream and bring to a low boil. Then add in Parmesan (or romano) cheese to the cream. Stir till slightly melted, add in ham till warmed, salt and pepper to taste, and remove from heat.
Remove, strain, and rinse pasta. Add it to the large bowl and top with sauce. Toss lightly in bowl and serve.
http://mooshujenne.com/sun-burst-tomato-pasta/
This post is part of Food Network’s Summer Fest! Check out the other great tomato dishes below.
Summer Fest is a season long, bi-weekly event where Food Network editors team up with blogs to share tips and recipes about what’s available at the market.
Big Girls Small Kitchen: Seared Chicken with Cherry Tomato Pan Sauce
Haute Apple Pie: Heirloom Tomato & Three Cheese Tart
What’s Gaby Cooking: Zebra Tomato and Burrata Crostini
Zaika Zabardast: Balsamic Roasted Tomato-Basil Ice
And Love It Too: Healthy Lunchbox – Garlic Tomato Basil Pesto Bruchetta
Chez Us: Roasted Tomato Sauce
Daily*Dishin: Refreshing and Rustic – Tuscan Bread Salad
Glory Foods: Fresh Tomato Salsa
Dishin and Dishes: Tomato Tart Tatin
The Purple Cook: Eggplant Parmesan Caprese Salad
I Am Mommy: Tomato Crudite
Cooking With My Kid: Gluten-Free White Bean Chive Cakes with Heirloom Tomatoes
FN Dish: Easy Tomato Appetizers
Add a Pinch: Simple Caprese Salad Skewers
Sweet Life Bake: Salsa Cruda
Virtually Homemade: Farfalle with Roasted Tomato Sauce, Bacon and Shaved Romano
Dixie Chik Cooks: Tomato, Basil and Olive Bruschetta
The Sensitive Epicure: Yemista – Greek Stuffed Tomatoes & Peppers with Potatoes
Mooshu Jenne: Sun Burst Tomato Pasta
Napa Farmhouse 1885: Book Club, Tomatoes and a Recipe for Chicken Provençal?
Cooking With Elise: Tomato Parmesan Biscuits
From My Corner of Saratoga: Cooking from the Garden – Bruschetta Pizza
Fritos and Foie Gras: Tomato Terrine
Creative Culinary: Fresh and Savory Tomato Pie
Big Apple Nosh: Caprese Salad/Tomato Carnage
Spices and Aroma: Quick and Easy Paneer Curry
Zaika Zabardast: Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Breakfast Rolls
Boeuf Bourguignon
In honor of Bastille day, I thought it would be best to post you my son’s favorite French recipe. Boeuf Bourguignon also known as Beef Burgundy. It is a beef stew braised in wine. My son and I just love the fresh ingredients that go into this recipe. The fresh basil and thyme keeps the dish so rustic! My version of this dish is cooked in a dutch oven pot on stove top. If you don’t have a dutch oven you can use a larger sauce pot. If you would like the recipe of how to cook this in a oven or over camp fire in a dutch oven just leave me a comment and I will send you the recipe.
Ingredients
Instructions
In large pot start out by frying your bacon a little till crisp reserving the oil. With bacon grease still in pot, drop in your garlic, pearl onions, carrots, mushrooms, and olive oil. Saute for about 5 minutes just till carrots have tenderized a bit on the outsides. Add in your beef, salt, pepper, and cook till browned on the outside. Add in the flour stirring quickly to help the thicken the juices. Add in your potatoes and pour in wine to cover all ingredients. Add in 4 cups beef broth. Drop in your thyme, parsley, and bay leaves. Cover and bring to a boil. Once it is boiling you can bring down to a low simmer and cook for about 2 hours till the meat is tender.
You can cook your potatoes on the side if you prefer. Sometimes I cook them in with the rest and other days I will cook them in the oven in dill and butter. I really do suggest fingerling or small petite red potatoes so the skin keeps the starches from ruining the sauce.
http://mooshujenne.com/boeuf-bourguignon/BLTA
This is one of my favorite simple sandwiches. I can’t have just a BLT, it has to be a BLTA! Avocado is a fruit just in case you were wondering. It is also a aphrodisiac! The Mayans and the Aztecs ate them to enhance sexual desirability. They have many vitamins and are extremely healthy for your body and heart. So why not add a little bacon to make it unhealthy?! Here is how I put together my BLTA. Let me know how you make your BLTA or BLT.
Ingredients
Instructions
Toast the sourdough bread on a griddle or in a toaster. After toasting the bread, add mayo to the bread slices. Skip this step if you are using vinaigrette. Add lettuce, tomato, bacon, cheese, onions and avocados to the slices of bread. If using vinaigrette dressing add to sandwich before cutting. Cut in half and serve.
http://mooshujenne.com/blta/
