Meaty Black Bean Chili

Meaty Black Bean Chili
Print Recipe
    Servings Prep Time
    9 cups 30 minutes
    Cook Time
    60 minutes
    Servings Prep Time
    9 cups 30 minutes
    Cook Time
    60 minutes
    Meaty Black Bean Chili
    Print Recipe
      Servings Prep Time
      9 cups 30 minutes
      Cook Time
      60 minutes
      Servings Prep Time
      9 cups 30 minutes
      Cook Time
      60 minutes
      Ingredients
      Servings: cups
      Instructions
      1. Heat oil in a large pot or dutch oven over medium heat. Add ground beef and pork and cook until no longer pink and starting to brown, breaking up any large pieces. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring often.
      2. Scrape out seeds from the chipotle peppers and finely mince, use about two chili peppers with sauce to equal 2 tbsp or more depending how hot you want it. Add peppers to the pot along with beef broth, tomato sauce, canned tomatoes, green pepper, onion, spices, salt, and sugar. Stir well to combine.
      3. Reduce heat to a gentle simmer, cover and cook for about 50 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove lid and adjust consistency to your liking by adding more beef broth or simmering uncovered for a few minutes to evaporate some liquid. The chili will thicken slightly as it sits and cools.
      4. Stir in black beans and cook for 1-2 minutes to warm. Stir in cilantro just before serving and ladle into serving bowls. Garnish with cheddar cheese, green onion and additional cilantro.
      Recipe Notes

      -I found 1 cup of beef broth just about right for consistency.  Adjust to your liking.

      -This chili is even better when served the next day as the flavours have longer to meld.

      -Makes about 9 cups of chili and freezes very well.

      Grilled Lamb Koftas


      Grilled Lamb Koftas
      Print Recipe
        Servings Prep Time
        6-8 servings 30 minutes
        Cook Time
        12 minutes
        Servings Prep Time
        6-8 servings 30 minutes
        Cook Time
        12 minutes
        Grilled Lamb Koftas
        Print Recipe
          Servings Prep Time
          6-8 servings 30 minutes
          Cook Time
          12 minutes
          Servings Prep Time
          6-8 servings 30 minutes
          Cook Time
          12 minutes
          Ingredients
          Minted Yogurt Sauce
          Lamb Koftas
          Servings: servings
          Instructions
          Minted Yogurt Sauce
          1. Stir together all ingredients and chill until ready to use.
          Lamb Koftas
          1. Add all ingredients to a large bowl and gently mix with your hands until well combined but not overworked. Cover and chill for up to one day in advance. Shape approximately 2 1/2 ounces of meat mixture into a 3" long log, making 13-15 in total. Thread onto skewers and chill until ready to grill.
          2. Preheat heat grill to medium and grill lamb skewers for approximately 12 minutes turning to brown all sides. Meat should no longer be pink and the internal temperature should reach a minimum 160℉. Split pitas and fill with 2 koftas. Top with Minted Yogurt Sauce and desired toppings such as lettuce, sprouts, and onions.
          Recipe Notes

          Recipe makes approximately 35 ounces of mixture and can be made into burger patties as well.   I used metal skewers, however if using wooden skewers be sure to soak in water according to directions prior to use.

          Pork Chops with Hard Cider Sauce

          Pork Chops with Hard Cider Sauce on a metal serving tray garnished with fresh parsley.
          Pork Chops with Hard Cider Sauce
          Print Recipe
          Juicy spiced pork chops adorned with a creamy hard cider pan sauce.
            Servings Prep Time
            4 people 10 minutes
            Cook Time
            20 minutes
            Servings Prep Time
            4 people 10 minutes
            Cook Time
            20 minutes
            Pork Chops with Hard Cider Sauce on a metal serving tray garnished with fresh parsley.
            Pork Chops with Hard Cider Sauce
            Print Recipe
            Juicy spiced pork chops adorned with a creamy hard cider pan sauce.
              Servings Prep Time
              4 people 10 minutes
              Cook Time
              20 minutes
              Servings Prep Time
              4 people 10 minutes
              Cook Time
              20 minutes
              Ingredients
              Pork Chops
              Hard Cider Sauce
              Servings: people
              Instructions
              Pork Chops
              1. In a small bowl stir together all ingredients except pork chops. Pat pork chops dry with a paper towel. Rub pork chops with spice mixture, covering all sides. Add oil to a large stainless steel pan over medium heat. When oil is hot add pork chops and cook until golden, approximately 6 minutes per side or an internal temperature of 145℉ is reached. Remove from pan and tent with foil.
              Hard Cider Sauce
              1. Dab out excess oil from the same pan. Over medium heat, add hard cider scraping up any browned bits from the pan. Bring hard cider to a boil and reduce for 5 minutes. Whisk in Worcestershire sauce, mustard, sirracha, and tomato paste. Stir in heavy cream, allow to return to a simmer and reduce for 2-3 minutes or until sauce coats the back of a spoon. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve immediately over pork chops.
              Recipe Notes

              -Medium heat is recommended so the spice rub doesn't burn or get too dark. The trick for a good sear with medium heat is to not move the pork chops while they cook, allowing a good crust to form.

              -The time needed to cook the pork chops will vary depending on their thickness.  The 6 minutes per side is based on an approximate 1" thick pork chop.  If your chops are thinner, adjust accordingly and use a thermometer if needed.

              Crispy Chicken Fingers with Apricot Dipping Sauce


              Tender chicken surrounded by a thick and crispy coating. Super crunchy and addictive.
              Crispy Chicken Fingers with Apricot Dipping Sauce
              Print Recipe
              Crispy Chicken Fingers with Apricot Dipping Sauce have an amazing thick and crispy coating. Super crunchy, very addictive and perfect for sharing.
                Servings Prep Time
                4 people 15 minutes
                Cook Time
                20 minutes
                Servings Prep Time
                4 people 15 minutes
                Cook Time
                20 minutes
                Tender chicken surrounded by a thick and crispy coating. Super crunchy and addictive.
                Crispy Chicken Fingers with Apricot Dipping Sauce
                Print Recipe
                Crispy Chicken Fingers with Apricot Dipping Sauce have an amazing thick and crispy coating. Super crunchy, very addictive and perfect for sharing.
                  Servings Prep Time
                  4 people 15 minutes
                  Cook Time
                  20 minutes
                  Servings Prep Time
                  4 people 15 minutes
                  Cook Time
                  20 minutes
                  Ingredients
                  Spice Rub
                  Chicken
                  Apricot Dipping Sauce
                  Servings: people
                  Instructions
                  Spice Rub
                  1. Whisk all ingredients together until fully combined. Reserve 1 tbsp to add to flour mixture.
                  Chicken
                  1. If using chicken breasts, place between 2 sheets of plastic wrap and pound with a meat mallet to an even thickness of 1/4"-1/2" thick. Cut into approximate 1 1/2" strips. If using chicken tenders, use as is.
                  2. Whisk together eggs and milk and set aside.
                  3. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, milk powder, salt and 1 tbsp of spice mixture. Set aside.
                  4. Rub remaining spice rub onto chicken pieces, coating all sides.
                  5. Add 4 tbsp of egg wash to flour mixture and using fingers rub egg wash into flour, creating scraggly bits.
                  6. Arrange breading station with chicken pieces, egg wash and flour. Dip each piece of chicken into egg wash and then flour coating. Place prepared chicken pieces onto wire rack until ready to fry.
                  7. In a large skillet add enough oil to cover bottom 1/4". Heat over medium heat until oil spatters when a drop of water is added. Pan fry chicken pieces approximately 2-3 minutes per side, making sure not to crowd the pan. Remove and drain on paper towel. Repeat with remaining chicken pieces. Keep warm in 200℉ oven.
                  Dipping Sauce
                  1. Combine all ingredients in a small sauce pan and warm over low heat until jam is melted. Serve with chicken fingers.
                  Recipe Notes

                  Chicken fingers can be deep fried using a deep fryer or 1 1/2 - 2 litres of peanut oil maintained at 350℉.