Food @ GregsHead.net » Seasonal:Fall

Greg’s Famous (Spicy!) Chili

Greg — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:52:44 +0000

Another fall favorite is a big pot of chili simmering on the stove, then filling your belly! Served with mild cheddar cheese, a dollop of sour cream, and/or crackers (plus your favorite hot sauce, of course!) and you can’t go wrong!

Ingredients
3 lbs ground beef
1 large onion (coarsely chopped)
2 tsps (or two cloves) of garlic (more to taste)
3-4 cans of diced tomatoes
1 6oz can of tomato paste
3 Cups water
5-6 Tbps Chili Powder
1 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp ground cumin
1 1/2 Tbsp salt
3/4 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp white pepper (if available)
1/2 cup corn starch (approximate, diluted in water with salad dressing shaker)
(other ingredients to taste…)

Brown beef (along with half of the onion and all of the garlic) and then drain the excess fat/grease. Add tomatoes, water, and spices (but not corn starch) and continue to cook on medium-high temperature. (Feel free to add more of any or all of the peppers, depending on your tolerance for spicy foods!)

Stir frequently, until all comes to a boil. Reduce heat to low, and allow to simmer for a couple hours. (Stirring occasionally.)

Once it’s almost time to serve, add the corn starch to thicken slightly. (Add a little at a time to desired thickness.) If you are adventurous, other ingredients you can add include: brown sugar, worcestershire sauce, bay leaves, any sort of peppers (including sweet peppers), and whatever else you think might taste good. I frequently add a “secret ingredient” … almost every time I make it! :-)

Serve as above, and enjoy! (Goes great with homemade bread!)

Spiced (Mulled) Hot Cider

Greg — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:26:48 +0000

A favorite beverage this time of year is spiced hot cider. (I think it’s the same as “mulled” cider? Google it…) It’s been a hit at a few gatherings recently, so I thought I’d share it here at food.gregshead.net!

Ingredients
1 Gallon sweet apple cider
1 Cup sugar
1 Orange
8 sticks of cinnamon
a couple dozen whole cloves

I like to heat the cider (and keep it warm) in a crock pot. Pour the cider into your crock pot, mix the sugar into the cider, stirring well. Slice up the orange in quarters and stick the cloves into the orange (this keeps them from floating into your cup!). Drop in the cinnamon sticks and let it come to a slow, simmering boil. (Can use the high setting to heat more quickly, but low will work fine if you have the time.)

Ladle out and enjoy!

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Pumpkin Cookies

Greg — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 03:56:49 +0000

Cream the following ingredients:

3/4 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1 cup pumpkin

1 tsp vanilla

Mix in:

2 cups flour

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp soda

1/8 tsp cloves

Drop on greased cookie sheet using a teaspoon. Makes about 3 dozen cookies. Bake at 350˚ for 12-15 minutes.

FROSTING:

1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar

3 Tbps butter

1/2 tsp cinnamon

enough cream (milk) for spreading consistantly.

Its best if you frost while cookies are warm.

Enjoy!