Steph's Chili

Ingredients:
2 lbs ground beef
1 large can crushed tomatoes
1 (29 oz) can kidney beans (withOUT liquid, rinsed)
1 (29 oz) can pinto beans (withOUT liquid, rinsed)
1 c diced onion
1 small can green chilies
1 large can diced tomatoes
2-3 tsp cumin powder
1 pkg Williams chili powder (at Kroger) (can use 2 pkg if using more meat or for a richer flavor -- it has no salt)
1 1/2 tsp black pepper (ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY - do not omit!)
Salt, to taste


Preparation:
1. Brown the ground beef and onions in a skillet over meduim heat. Drain fat.

2. In a large pot, combine cooked beef with all the remaining ingredients, and bring to a simmer over low heat.

3. Cook, stirring every 15 minutes, for 2-3 hours (or put in crock pot on low).

NOTE: For meatier chili, add 1 lb ground beef and omit beans, as desired.

Best Queso Dip

Ingredients:
1/2 pound of white american cheese
1/4 cup of milk (more if you want it thinner)
1 tablespoon of butter
1 (4 oz) can of green chiles
teaspoon of cumin
teaspoon of garlic salt
cayenne pepper - a pinch

Preparation:
1. Place cheese, milk and butter in a sauce pan over low heat.
2. Heat until melted, stirring frequently.
3. Stir in green chiles, cumin, garlic salt and pepper.
4. Add more milk if you want it thinner.

Bloomin' Baked Apples

Ingredients:
2 Honeycrisp apples (or other crisp apples)
2 tbsp butter
3 tbsp brown sugar, packed
1 tbsp flour
1 tsp cinnamon
4 caramels
Optional toppings: vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce and cinnamon

Preparation:
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
2. Slice off the top ¼ to ⅓ of the apples and scoop out the core.
3. Use a thin knife to make two, deep circular cuts around the center of the apple.
4. Turn the apple over and make narrow cuts all the way around the apple.
5. Place the apples in an oven safe dish and put two caramels into the center of each apple.
6. Heat butter and brown sugar in the microwave for 30 seconds, stir and continue heating for an additional 30 seconds.
7. Remove from the microwave, and stir in flour and cinnamon.
8. Divide the mixture over the top of the two sliced apples.
9. Bake at 375 for 25-30 minutes. Check apples after 25 minutes, and continue cooking until tender. Some apples can take 45 minutes to 1 hour to soften.
10. Remove from the oven and use a large spoon to move the apples into bowls.
11. Top with a scoop of ice cream, drizzle with caramel and sprinkle with cinnamon. The ice cream will cause the caramel in the center to harden so eat quickly or put the ice cream scoop on the side.

White chicken chili

Ingredients:
4-5 chicken breasts, boiled & shredded
3-4 cups broth (either from the can or saved from boiled chicken)
Bag of frozen seasoning blend - celery, onion, bell pepper
1 can cream of chicken soup
16 oz velveeta
1 can mild rotel
8 oz sour cream
1 can green chiles, chopped
1 packet McCormick white chicken chili mix
2 cans great northern beans
2 cans white shoe peg corn

Preparation:
Mix everything together on low in crockpot over several hours or on stove, making sure to stir often so cheese doesn't stick and burn.