Autumn Chili 4 College Cooking

PMy travels to Europe and South Africa have finally ended, and returning to Chicago found me bedridden with illness after 22 hours of steadfast flying--but, I also came home with a great recipe for low-budget college cooking after meeting up with friends in Germany who made this simple supper (a variation on Chile Con Carne) while we reminisced about high school and the good 'ol days!

This is an easy one-pot meal for the cold fall and winter days ahead. Packed full of vegetables, nutrition, protein and flavor; and, this is yet another option to limit your meat consumption and stretch your grocery dollars--for an apartment of college students this will satisfy any hunger with leftovers to spare. 

(Not a chili or stew fan? Try these alternatives to make winter's chill bearable: Lemony Chicken Orzo Soup, Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup, Corn Bacon Chowder with Shrimp, or Loaded Baked Potato Soup.)

Another benefit to any chili-stew recipe is that if you only have black beans instead kidney beans...use them...or add some corn...or not! Don't like green peppers...skip them...exchanges are easy...wanna go vegetarian or save on grocery dollars...omit the meat altogether!

Don't sweat the small stuff with one-pot meals!

Add a simple salad, like a simple Arugula Salad with olive oil, lemon, salt and pepper, and some Cheesy Toasts for a meal worth sitting down for. Make time to connect (and re-connect) with the folks that matter in your life no matter where you are...never eat alone! Share a meal! Invite a friend and find out what's going on in their life! 

(Courtesy recipe from Dorothee Reiniger-Pointer--thanks for a wonderful evening and welcome back to Germany!)

Autumn Chili 4 College Cooking

Equipment:
5qt-sauce pan with lid
Can opener
Wooden spoons

Ingredients:
1 lb ground hamburger
2 onions, coarsely diced
4 carrots, peeled and sliced 1/4" thick rounds
3 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
3 peppers (red, yellow, green--or as available, cheapest), cored & coarsely chopped
3 (15oz) crushed tomatoes
1 (15oz) light red kidney beans
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp sambal oelek (optional if you like it spicy, or substitute 1/8 cayenne pepper)
Sour Cream or Creme Fraiche

Add-Ons:
Baguette with cheese, cold cuts, or plain ol' butter
Salad

Instructions:
1. Wash your hands and produce.
2. Prep all of your ingredients before starting the skillet.

3. Brown hamburger meat, garlic and onions in a large non-stick 5 qt-saucepan

4. Add carrots and cook 5-6 minutes.

5. Add peppers.

6. Add tomatoes and season with salt, pepper, and sambal oelek.
7. Simmer on low-heat x one hour.

8. Add kidney beans (or black beans or corn) and simmer another 15 minutes.
9. Prep your add-ons, i.e. cheesy toasts for the broiler and/or salad.

10. Call some friends over for supper tonight! 

Never Eat Alone: Beef Goulash

I'm always hesitant to post recipes for which most people would say "What college student is going to make that?" But, part of this blog's intention is not only to provide my college son with the recipes he's craving from home, but also, to highlight the benefits of cooking other than the food itself, i.e. community, conversation, sharing a meal as well as saving money, learning independence, and improving the shear satisfaction of eating good food. But really good food sometimes requires effort, and when it does...don't hoard it, savor it with friends!

I finished Keith Ferrazzi's book Never Eat Alone several months ago which focuses on building better networking skills, more meaningful relationships, and deeper connections to the people you interact with at any given time...not only to benefit you, but primarily for you to give and provide value to their lives as well. There is a lot to the title alone that is worth pondering, and I would argue that taking the time to make a one-pot, comfort food dish in the middle of November is the perfect excuse to invite your roommates to the table, and do just that.

My son loves great food, family gatherings, and people getting together; thus, a post on a less-than-trendy college recipe.  I agree, not your typical college fare, but get outside your comfort zone and make a bigger splash the next time you have dinner.  Forewarning--he is also requesting Butternut Risotto and my Swedish Meatballs, so prepare to question my blog's usefulness on a regular basis these upcoming months! That said,  I would challenge you to see why these meals are so important!

This is the perfect recipe to create community, friendship and conversation over a fantastic meal. 

This recipe does not require any special skills. Just prep work, a dutch oven, effort, and time--sound familiar--the same qualities you need for meaningful relationships...including the dutch oven! 

Beef Goulash

Equipment:
Large skillet
Dutch Oven with ovenproof lid
5-qt Saucepan
Large ziplock bag or brown paper bag

Ingredients:
2-3 lbs chuck roast, 1" cubes
4 Tbls paprika
1 Tbls  salt
1 Tbls  pepper
9 Tbls flour
3 Tbls vegetable oil

4 large onions, chopped or sliced
2 Tbls tomato paste
3 cups of beef broth
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbls red wine vinegar
1 (15 oz) can Diced Tomatoes
1 bay leaf

Egg Noodles

Instructions:
1. Wash your hands.
2. Preheat oven to 325F degrees.
3. Prep all of the ingredients:
    --combine flour, paprika, salt, pepper in ziplock bag
    --cut your chuck roast into 1" cubes
    --chop your onions
    --mince your garlic

4. Shake cubes of roast in flour mixture ziplock bag.

5. In a large skillet, heat your vegetable oil over MEDIUM-HIGH heat. I browned some of the meat in the dutch oven itself and some in a large skillet.

6. Brown the meat on all sides. If you only have one skillet, you may have to do multiple batches.  When one batch is done, transfer browned meat to your large dutch oven.

7. Add the onions and cook x 5 minutes.

8. Add the tomato paste, beef broth, garlic, vinegar, tomatoes, and bay leaf.

9. Cook over MEDIUM heat x 5-10 minutes until combined.
10. Cover and bake in the oven at 325F degrees for 2 hours.  Meat should be tender. Sauce will be creamy and rich.

11. Salt & pepper to taste.
12. Prep your egg noodles and invite your roommates.

Guarantee: You'll Never Eat Alone with this meal.
A step-up in challenge, no doubt, but totally worth the friendships you'll make.