Tag Archives: easy

September 27, 2016

Vegan Cupboard Chili

It’s that time again! Time for soups, stews and chili. Emphasis on the chili! This home cook had a craving for chili. What I’m about to share is nothing fancy, but it hit the spot!

And of course I needed it to be vegetarian. Well, this recipe is actually vegan. And it all came to be because I found this lovely package of plant-based zesty spiced protein crumbles! I just had to give them a try!

Ingredients
Olive oil
1 onion – diced
2 tsp chopped garlic (from a jar)
2 TBS chopped Jalepeno peppers (also from a jar)
4 cans of dark kidney beans
2 15-oz cans of tomato sauce
2 15-oz cans of chopped tomatoes (I used a zest mix of tomato, green pepper & onion)
2 pkgs if McCormick Chili seasoning (one regular/1 hot)
And one package of Beyond Beef Feisty Crumble

You can see by my list that this is one of those home style cupboard recipes. Like the kind I grew up with. The pre-made ingredients make it perfect for a work night when you don’t have a lot of time!

I started by sweating the onions, garlic and Jalepenos in a few tablespoons of olive oil. Then I added the protein crumbles (frozen) and tossed until thawed. Next up were the beans, stewed tomatoes and tomato sauce. And last but not least, the spice packets. I gave it a good stir and let simmer about 30 minutes stirring occasionally to keep from sticking. Ta dah!!! That’s all there was to it!

I don’t have a fancy plated version but you can always gussy it up by adding cheese (vegan if you prefer) or sour cream or alternative, crushed tortilla chips or a side of cornbread! Tonight I added a bit of mozzarella on top!

It was so good! Made a big pot full. Enough for dinner for two, a nice sampling for the neighbor who is always bringing over yummies for me to try, AND still enough for three days of lunch (since I pack my lunch everyday I’m set for the week!)

The reason I’m sharing this easy peasy, not at all fancy recipe is so I remember it, because I am definitely making this again! And also to encourage other homebodies that they too can do it! Yes you can!

Until next time, happy cooking! 🙂

Leave a comment | tags: chili, cupboard ingredients, easy, recipe, vegan | posted in Essays, Random Thoughts and Musings, Stone Soup and Other Delicacies

August 10, 2015

Kat’s Famous Beer Bread

By Kat Myrman

This is my favorite “when company is coming over” recipe. Not only is it super easy, it also fills the kitchen with the most amazing aroma. And it’s a nice complement to any meal.

Ingredients
3 Cups of SELF-RISING Flour
3 TBS of Sugar
1 Bottle or Can of Room Temperature Beer (Lighter beer will give your bread a milder flavor, darker, more robust flavor and apple or fruit infused beer will accordingly give your bread a fruitier flavor- experimenting to find your favorite is part of the fun! You can also add optional ingredients such as shredded cheese, garlic, herbs, etc.)
1/2 to 1 Full Stick of Butter

1 loaf pan
Aluminum Foil
Non-Stick Spray

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour and sugar. Add beer and stir until all dry ingredients are moistened forming a wet dough. Turn the dough into a loaf pan that has been prepared with non-stick spray or oiled and dusted.

Bake for about 1 hour or until the top is lightly browned and produces a hollow sound if tapped. (Time will vary depending on your oven.) Remove from the oven and immediately coat the entire top with butter (it’s okay if it runs down the sides too).