For as long as I can remember, my mom would always make chili on the first cool day of the year. That is probably one of the reasons that I look so forward to Fall. It has become a tradition that I have now carried over into our family as well. I was so excited that this past Monday brought cool enough weather to warrant me carrying out our tradition.
I recently wrote about receiving three knives from Chicago Cutlery. I have to tell you guys that preparing meals has become so much nicer since I have started using a good knife. I mentioned in my first post that I was still using the same knives we received as a wedding gift. (8 years ago) It had gotten to the point where cutting anything had become so tedious.
As I prepared to make our first pot of chili for the year, I pulled out the Chicago Cutlery DesignPro Partoku knife to tackle the onion. Since Chicago Cutlery makes their knives with ultra sharp, Japanese steel blades, I figured their knives could handle the job.
Onion Cutting Tip:
Cutting onions is one of my least favorite things to do. My hands always smell like them for days after the fact. BLAH! Because of this, I usually purchase a couple of onions at a time and cut them all at once. I use whatever I need for the recipe and then freeze the rest for future meals.
It is amazing how this knife cut through the onion. It brought tears to my eyes, no wait, that was probably the onion. Either way, it was incredible how much different it was using the Chicago Cutlery knife vs. our old knives. At this point, I have been on a chopping frenzy. I have used the new knives to cut onions, bell peppers, squash, zucchini, cabbage, flour tortillas and our dogs raw food. It has went through all of these foods like they were nonexistent.
I am really looking forward to my next post where I can show you guys all my new mad chopping skills. Let’s hope I won’t be needing to edit any of the video for inaccurate chopping. Luckily for me, with the Chicago Cutlery DesignPro innovative handles, they are much easier to grip than my previous knives.
In the meantime, here is the recipe for my favorite chili. It is very simple, as well as quick to make.
Quick and Easy Chili:
1 lb of pork sausage
1 lb of ground beef 90/10
1 small onion diced (use more or less as you like)
3 Tbs of chili powder
1 can of ranch-style beans with jalapenos
1 can of chili beans
1 large can of whole tomatoes
2 small cans of tomato sauce
2 cans of water (use the tomato sauce cans)
salt and pepper to taste
Worcestershire sauce (I never measure, just splash some in)
Brown your sausage, beef and onions together with salt,pepper and Worcestershire sauce. Drain your meat. I always run water over my meat to get rid of the most grease. I have read it cuts down on the calories.
Place your meat back into the pot and put in your chili powder. Stir to coat the meat with the chili powder. Next, add your whole tomatoes. Make sure to tear them apart and leave out the ends. Use the juice from the tomatoes as well.
Now place your two cans of tomato sauce, adding one can of water per tomato sauce. Stir to combine ingredients.
Let simmer for about 10 minutes and then add the two cans of beans. Use the entire cans, do not drain.
That’s it! Like I said, it is simple and quick. You can spice it up by adding jalapenos or Rotel tomatoes.
I hope you will enjoy it.
“I wrote this review while participating in a Brand Ambassador Campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Chicago Cutlery and received products to facilitate my post and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.”
I love making all kinds of Mexican food! Enchiladas, tacos, etc.
kids love to help make any of our Stir Fry dishes, fun times in the kitchen.
Homemade pizza, but I also love lasagna and peanut lime noodles and veggies
grilled chicken and sauteed zucchini and squash
I love to cook roast dinners
Good blog post, Laurie. I recently saw in one of the kitchen stores a long-pronged fork-like thing that is used to push into an onion to hold it while slicing, an effort to get your fingers farther away from the knife blade — and your knife looks plenty sharp! I did not buy the tool but have been using an ordinary table fork to do the same thing. Result: fingers are out of the way and they don’t smell like onions.
Keep up the good work of informing homemakers with good information!
I love to make Chicken n Dumplings!
That is one of my favorites as well. It is getting to be that time of year.
My standby recipe is gnocchi in a brown butter sauce with burnt sage.
I like to make a Beef Tortilla soup
That sounds delicious. I may have to hit you up for the recipe.
I like making roast chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy and homemade rolls.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com
I love making any kind of appetizers!
I wish I knew how to make more appetizers. I am not very good at them. What are some of your favorites?
I like to make Cornish game hens with long grain/wild rice and sausage.
Pizza for sure:)
lasanga debbie jackson
djackson1958 at hotmail dot com
My favorite meals to cook are pot roast (in the crock pot), meatloaf (yummy, this is my favorite meal to eat too), and chili (i cook mine in the crock pot). We actually had some cool enough days this week that I cooked chili too.
love the fall because I get to break out the crock pot and cook some really delicious meals that don’t take too much effort and make my whole house smell really yummy.
I just made a roast in the crock pot yesterday. I am like you, I love anything that is easy to make and delicious:)
I love making stir fry’s, and anything involving chicken
thanks!
Roast chicken
I make really good chicken curry, yum! Thanks for the great giveaway!
You are very welcome Jason. I would love to know how to make a chicken curry. Sounds delicious.
gumbo
I love to cook hamburgers!
I love making soup on a cold day.
I love making spaghetti
potpie
Potpies are one of my favorite foods, especially during the winter months.
I love to make home made lasagna!
I love to make stir fry shimp and rice.
NY strip steak with mushrooms
Thanks for the giveaway!
I love a good steak with mushrooms as well. You are very welcome for the giveaway. Thanks for entering!
Hmmm my favorite meal to cook would be my meatloaf, mashed potatoes, corn, biscuits and salad. My meatloaf is yummy. I do enjoy a good pot of chili too!
A simple dish called Spaghetti with onions
I love to cook tacos.
meat loaf and mashed potatoes with brocolli thanks
chicken fried steak
Confederate Pot Roast!
Terri P
pr4gatheringroses AT gmail DOT com
I like making lasagna…it’s easy & yummy!
I like making shrimp stir fry. trixpixel[at]gmail.com
I enjoy cooking fajitas during the warmer months.
My favorite meal to cook is vegetable lasagna