No Tomato Chili

For those looking to avoid night shades to avoid any inflammation they made contribute to....

No, it's not "the same" as "real chili"... but it sure is nice and yummy on a cold winter night!

No Tomato Chili

1 lb of ground meat (lean turkey, beef, chicken)
2 cans of beans (light/dark red kidney beans or mix one can of black with one can kidneys)
1 small onion (if tolerated)
1 Tbsp garlic
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp cilantro
salt (to taste)
black pepper (to taste) 
1 15 ounce can of pumpkin (or carrots)
1 15 ounce can of beets
1 small can mushrooms (optional, if tolerated)
Extra water

1) In an adequate sized pot, brown ground meat, onion, and garlic in a skillet on med/high heat.
2) While meat is browning, place canned pumpkin and beets in a food processor and puree'.
3) Add seasonings into pot with the browned meat mixture.
4) Finally, mix in pumpkin mixture and simmer on low heat until seasonings blend through.

Helpful Hints:
*For those unable to use canned ingredients or those just wanting to save $$$, dried beans can be soaked and cooked ahead to add to this recipe. Also, fresh pumpkin/carrots/beets can be steamed and pureed for the  sauce.

*We like our chili rather "stew-ish."  You may prefer a chili with more liquid (hence the "Extra Water" in the ingredient list). Do what works for your pallet! 

*You will note that there is no chili seasoning in this chili. That is because of the nightshades in the red pepper  in the seasonings. If you can tolerate night-shades, by all means add in chili seasoning! It adds to the flavor immensely.

Que rico!!!

Well, I would have had a picture to post tonight... except... well, it is best to take pictures of the food BEFORE your kids and hubby come in all hungry as bears ready to eat! 

Note to self: start dinner sooner and take pictures fast!

I had planned this yummy Soft Taco dish tonight. The beans were a simmering this morning in the crock, the beef was happy in the frig.  Then life happened.  So about 30 minutes before we needed to eat (and in the middle of a completely non-food related project) I realized dinner must be served!

So I ran to the kitchen, threw that package of ground beef in the micro, pulled out paper plates and bagged salad, and looked for an alternative to nicely pan browned corn tortillas. Fritos it was!  (not the healthiest thing in the world to eat, but all corn... no soy, no wheat, no potatoes, no... well, you get the picture)

So as the hungry bears walked into the house looking for their porridge (oops, different story) dinner, the ground beef and been browned, the pintos smashed in to the beef with the seasonings and a bowl of fritos and salad were ready to rock the sides. 

Here's a yummy recipe that you can feel free to alter to the tastes ( and time constraints) of your hungry bears at your house.

Burrito/Soft Taco Filling:

1 lb. ground meat (beef, turkey, chicken)
onion
garlic

Brown these together in a frying pan, then add in the following:

2 cans pinto beans smooshed (or some cooked in your crock pot that morning)
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. cilantro
1 tsp. oregano (or italian seasonings)
1 tsp. salt
[you can just add in a taco seasoning mix and can of tomatoes if you aren't dealing with night shade food issues; read those labels for "msg" though! ]


Add this yummy filling into a hard taco shell, or your favorite soft shell (burritos or corn tacos) or just serve them over corn chips if you in a hurry! :o)

Throw a big green salad on the side to make life healthier and your hungry bears will shout.... "DELICIOSO!!!"