Hungry Man Chili

Here is another Ruby original! I made this and didn't tell hubby I tried a different recipe than the usual chili recipe I use. I wanted to see if he would notice. Boy did he! He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but this is his new favorite chili. My children don't seem to think it's too spicy. If you want more spice then add more red pepper flakes or chili powder. The corn bread recipe is coming soon!

In a large pot cook up the following until beef is brown:

1 lb ground beef (or left over pot roast, cut up)
1 onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped

Drain the grease. Now add:

1 quart bottled tomatoes (or large can)
small can tomato sauce
1 cup pinto beans
1 cup black beans
1 cup frozen corn
3 T chili powder
1 tsp basil
1 T Red Wine Vinegar
1 tsp salt
1 T brown sugar
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

simmer on stove top for an hour...or more if you aren't ready for dinner. ;)

Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Scones

These scones marry the best of chocolate chip cookies and hot biscuits. These are really yummy! I found the recipe at thepioneerwoman. I used my mixer for this recipe. My mixer has a lid. I wouldn't recommend it if yours doesn't have a lid. You could also use your hands and a pastry cutter.

In mixer dump:

1, 3/4 cup flour
1, 3/4 cut wheat flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 TBL flax seed, milled
4 T oats

Add and using cookie paddles mix on high for one minute:

6 TBL cold butter, cut into 6 pieces


Now add to the mixer and mix on high for only 5 to 10 seconds:

1 egg
*1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup chocolate chips

Now dump the dough onto floured counter and mix a couple times by hand until all incorporated. Make a ball and cut in half like so



Now make a circle out of each half. Cut each circle into 6 pie shapes. Like so

Place pieces onto greased cookie sheat. Bake at 375 for 20-22 minutes. Next time I make these I think 1 tsp cinnamon would be a nice touch!

*I didn't have buttermilk. I poured 1 TBL lemon juice in my cup and then filled it to the 1 cup line with milk from the fridge.

Multi-Grain Cran Muffins

In a large bowl mix the following:

1 cup milk
1/3 cup oil
1 egg

Now dump this into the bowl as well and whisk until combined:

1 cup white flour
1/2 cup wheat
1/2 cup oat flour
1/2 cup sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Now fold the following into the batter:

1, 1/2 cup chopped cranberries, frozen. (I buy several bags at Christmas time and throw them into the freezer. From the grocery bag straight to my freezer. You can just throw the frozen berries into your food processor when you are ready to bake.)

bake at 400 for 15-18 minutes

German Pancake

In a cast iron skillet melt 1/4 cup butter

Now mix in a bowl:

6 eggs
1 cup milk
1, 1/4 tsp vanilla
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 cup flour

Pour the pancake mixture into the hot skillet

Bake the skillet pancake at 375 for 20 minutes

Serve with powdered sugar and fruit

Red Beans and Rice

Red Beans and Rice

I love this pantry staple! It is super cheap and healthy and delicious! You can make it two different ways - with a pressure cooker or on the stove top. I will include both!

Stove top Red Beans and Rice
step one- dump 1 cup of red beans in 8 cups of cold in a large pot before you go to bed.

step two- drain the water (I do this at about 3 in the afternoon) and fill with 7 cups chicken broth. Bring to a simmer for one and a half hours (90 minutes). Check every now and then to be sure there is enough water. You don't want to burn the beans on the bottom of a dry pan.

step three- Add:

1 onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1, 1/2 cups celery, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tsp salt
step four- simmer another 30 minutes.

step five- serve over hot rice. Top with grated cheddar cheese.


Electric Pressure Cooker Red Beans and Rice
step one- dump:

1 cup red beans, (no need to soak the beans overnight)

4 cups chicken broth,

2 garlic cloves chopped,

1 onion chopped into the pressure cooker.

step two- Set pressure cooker to high pressure for 35 minutes.

step three- when pressure cooker is done, take lid off and add:
1 green pepper chopped
1, 1/2 cups celery chopped

step four- Put lid back onto pressure cooker. Set pressure to low for 5 minutes

step five- serve over hot rice. Top with cheddar cheese!

Mulit-Grain School Cookie

This cookie has more nutritional value than a piece of white bread. Oat flour is still waiting to be discovered. It is super easy to make! Just fill your food processor half full of oats. Then blend until powdery. It won't get as light and fluffy as white flour. It will be a gritty consistency. But whatever recipe you throw it into turns super chewy!

Oaty Doodles

cream the following for 2 minutes:

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup shortening

1, 1/2 cup sugar

add the following one at a time:

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

add the following and blend on high for a few seconds:

2 cups oat flour

1, 1/2 cup white flour

1/2 cup whole wheat

4 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cream of tartar

shape in balls. Bake at 375 for 8 minutes. Feed your hungry 1st grader!

Chocolate Chip Cookie

This is the cookie of my childhood. Mother made these cookies whenever we had a hankerin' for something sweet! This was also the recipe I grew up practicing. I never could quite get it right. Dad would taste test and report, "It's better when your mother makes it."...hmm...could this be my hidden motivation behind finding and testing the best recipes?

Cream for 1 minute:

1 cup *shortening
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar

now add and mix:

2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla or almond extract

now add and mix:

1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2, 1/4 cup flour

now add:

chocolate chips. We add a LOT

Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes

*I have substituted 1 cup pureed white beans for shortening and have been super pleased with the results. No one could tell!