Sweet Potato Beef Chili and Savory Corn Cakes

Hearty Sweet Potato Beef Chili

With our gazillionith snow storm, my slow-cooker has been working overtime lately.  Here's another easy and hearty winter meal.

Ingredients

• 1 small onion, diced
• 2 small sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped 
• handful of mushrooms, quartered
• 1 28 ounce can diced tomatoes or whole tomatoes (chop if whole)
• 1 pound ground beef (85% is what I used)- or ground turkey
• 1 tbls chili powder
• 1 tea cumin
• 1 tea garlic
• 1 tbls paprika
• 1/2 tea cayenne/red pepper
• 1/2 tea garlic powder
• 1 tea salt
• 1 tbls cinnamon
• 1 tbls unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 15 ounce can white canellini beans, rinsed (or another favorite)

Directions

1. Add all ingredients to crock, except for beans.

2. Cook on LOW for 6 hours

3. Add beans, cook for 1 additional hour. (If mixture is too liquidy, cook for last hour with top off.)

4. Serve with Savory Corn Cakes (see below) or corn muffins/bread.

Savory Corn Cakes

A much easier version adapted from this Epicurious Recipe

Makes about 6 medium corn cakes

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
• 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/3 teaspoon ground pepper
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
• 1 egg white
• 1/2 cup buttermilk (I used whole milk with a few drops of lemon juice to curdle)
• 3/4 cup corn kernels (frozen or canned would also work)
• 3/4 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese
• 1/3 cup sour cream (for serving, optional)

Directions

1. In a large bowl combine all ingredients.

2. Using a non-stick flat pan sprayed with PAM, drop the batter onto the skillet 1/4 cup at a time (or however big you want your cakes).

3. Cook 2-3 minutes on each side or until the cakes are golden brown. Add more cooking spray between batches, if needed.

4. Transfer finished cakes to a warm toaster oven and continue cooking the rest of the cakes.

5. Serve warm, with sour cream if desired.

NOTE: Original recipe called for scallions and jalapenos to be added.  If you use them, be sure to pre-cook in frying pan before adding to mixture.  Cooked bacon can also be added.

Snow Day Turkey Chili

Snow Day Turkey Chili

I posted a similar recipe in January of 2011 http://andialacarte.blogspot.com/2011/01/game-day-turkey-chili.html, but here's the latest version I made.  I really liked using the baked beans for a good layered flavor.  Happy snow day!!

There's tons of varieties so play around with it a little if you're missing some stuff.  It always comes out good when it's along these lines....

1 package ground turkey (or chicken or beef) *about 1- 1.5 lbs

1 medium onion chopped

1 can baked beans (I've used kidney, red, black, or whatever I have in the house) *rinse all but baked beans

1/2 large can crushed tomatoes (or fire roasted, or chopped- again, whatever you have handy)

1 tablespoon garlic powder

1 tablespoon paprika

1 tablespoon cumin

1 teaspoon cayenne/red pepper (adjust to heat preferences)

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar (again, white or red wine would be fine too)

1 teaspoon salt

Mix everything in crock and cook on low for 7 or so hours.

Enjoy!