TASTE: Spicy Sausage Chili

Chili Time.

Oh, the weather is beyond cold these days. It got down to 28 degrees last night and the wind was howling. With all this icy weather, I admit that I just want to burrow into blankets and eat warm comfort food. Last week I shared my Turkey-Kale Chili recipe, but I also want to pass this delicious option along. It's spicier, a bit heartier and definitely man-approved. One of Stevie's co-workers came over for dinner at ate 5 bowls of this - I'm just saying! It's pretty tasty. This is a great recipe to whip together for all the upcoming family gatherings - it's always nice to have something warm on hand for entertaining.

Ingredients:

- 1 lb. lean ground beef

- 2-3 large spicy Italian sausage links, diced

- 1 medium onion, diced

- 1 green pepper, chopped

- 1.5 tbsp. cumin

-  A dash of red pepper seasoning

- 2 tsp. Italian Seasoning

- 2 tsp. salt

- 2 tsp. pepper

- 1 can tomato Paste

- 2 14.5-oz. cans diced tomatoes

- 1 can black beans

- 1 can kidney beans

- 1 bag frozen corn kernels (I used fire-roasted, available at Trader Joes)

- 2 cups chicken broth

Method:

1. Head your stock pot over medium and coat the bottom with olive oil. Combine the ground beef, diced sausage, chopped onion, chopped green pepper and garlic in the pot. Cook it all together until the mean browns, about 7 minutes. Throw in the salt and pepper. It's flavor confetti.

2. Add the Italian seasoning, cumin & red pepper seasoning to the meat mixture. Make sure to mix it up well.

3. Add the tomato paste and diced tomatoes to the mixture. Stir well.

4. Add the chicken broth, kidney beans (drained), black beans (drained) and corn to the mixture. Stir well. Cover the mixture and lower the heat to medium-low. Cook for about 20-30 minutes.

Enjoy those autumn flavors! Happy Friday to you.

TASTE: Turkey Kale Chili

Chilly? Try Chili!

The weather has officially cooled off to a steady chill here in the city. The wind is whipping around building corners and I have to make sure to don my hat and gloves before I leave the coziness of my apartment. It's officially... November. I've decided to kick off a few of my favorite cold-weather recipes. It's time for soups, chilis and stews! This is a really healthy spin on a hearty autumn favorite. I adapted this recipe from TheKitchn and served it at an impromptu party here at the apartment - it was a crowd-pleaser!

Turkey-Kale Chili Ingredients:

- 1 lb. Turkey

- 1 medium onion, diced

- 1.5 tbsp. cumin

- 2 tbsp. brown sugar

- 2 tsp. Italian Seasoning

- 2 tsp. salt

- 2 tsp. pepper

- 2 tbsp. tomato Paste

- 2 14.5-oz. cans diced tomatoes

- 1 can black beans

- 1 can garbanzo beans

- 1 bag frozen corn kernels (I used fire-roasted, available at Trader Joes)

- 2 cups chicken broth

- 1 large handful of kale, roughly chopped/shredded

Method:

1. Head your stock pot over medium and coat the bottom with olive oil. Combine the turkey, chopped onion and garlic and cook it all together (until the turkey turns white), about 7 minutes. Make sure to season it with the salt and pepper! Mmm it already smells grand.

2. Add the brown sugar, cumin & Italian seasoning to the turkey. Make sure to mix it up well.

3. Add the tomato paste and diced tomatoes to the mixture. Stir well.

4. Add the chicken broth, garbanzo beans, black beans and corn to the mixture. Stir well. Cover the mixture and lower the heat to medium-low. Cook for about 20 minutes.

5. Finally, add the kale and cook uncovered for about 15 more minutes. 

Bon Appetit.

I like to pair this recipe with crumbly corn bread and a favorite autumn brew. Your belly will be warm and full! Keep an eye out next week for another (slightly heartier) chili favorite!

Current Reads.

Images Via 1, 2, 3

A Little Comfort Reading.

Autumn is really, truly here. It's officially biting cold outside and my hands beg to wrap themselves around a steamy cup of green tea every time I leave the apartment. It's a grand time to cozy up with a home-spun blanket, a hot beverage and a delicious book. Right now I'm reading several delightful books that are less about traditional storytelling and more about a journey in photos. Humans of New York is brand new, released last week, and based on a blog of the same name. It was gifted to me by my dear friend Mary who is always on trend, especially when it comes to the literary world. It's a gorgeous and candid look at, quite literally, the humans of New York. It's mini stories, quotes and striking photography. Plain and simple. And pretty mesmerizing, too.

I've also been thumbing through Gwyneth Paltrow's latest cookbook, It's All Good, which is based on a pretty strict/healthy diet with the intention of creating clean recipes that are still tasty and satisfying. Every so often I feel rather guilty about the amount of butter or oil that I cook with, and I'm often trying to find ways to incorporate more vegetables into my cooking. This book does both. We shall see how the actual implementation goes...

Finally, I've been reading/looking at the pretty house photos in the new Design*Sponge At Home book. Since moving into our new apartment in August, my husband and I have been trying to style our home in a carefree way that suits our busy lifestyle. It takes a lot of time to get your home just right, and I'm learning to accept that it will probably always be a work in progress. This book has helped me realize that I should embrace my own style quirks and showcase them in my home, instead of succumbing to the pressures of a manufactured decor template. It's been a fun journey, and certainly one that I want to share with you all soon.

What are you reading right now?

TASTE: Fresh Veggie Homemade Salsa

I woke up this morning to inches of fresh white snow.

I couldn't help but cry out in shock. Yes, it's been on the forecast for days, but I've been willing it away! More snow? MORE??? I mean, we still have icy patches of dirty snow from Nemo. There are thousands of cigarettes burned into each of these disgusting snowy depositories. Selfishly, I wanted to run errands today. I wanted to RUN today. This weather, while it looks positively lovely outside my window, is really cramping my style. I can't drive in the snow! I can't do anything in this weather. I want to see little pink buds on the trees, I want the sun to warm my soul and tan my sallow face. I want to wear sandals on my pedicured feet and sing pop songs at the top of my lungs whilst skipping down the cobble-stoned streets. But it is 30 degrees and STILL snowing. Hmm have I complained enough? I am doing everything I can to beckon Spring: I'm thinking happy thoughts, dressing in neon colors, and making summery foods. Like this homemade salsa (best if served with margaritas).

Take a moment to gather all these

Fresh Ingredients:

- Tomatoes (3-4)

- 1 Onion

- 1 Lime

- 1 Hot Pepper

- 1 Bunch of Cilantro

- Salt and Pepper (to taste)

- Some Garlic (if you really want to add a kick - this is optional!)

The Method:

(is pretty simple)

- Quarter the onion and tomatoes and throw them in the food processor. Blend just a bit.

- Then add the cilantro and 1/4 of the pepper (depending on how spicy you like it!), and blend those as well.

- Lastly, cut up the lime and squeeze all the juice into the mixture.

- Add salt and pepper to taste. Voila!

Yum.

I put my salsa in re-seal-able jars so we can eat it at our leisure. There is no need to ever buy store-packaged salsa again! Now if you really want to get crazy... here is a lunch I've been making with the salsa lately. It has tons of veggies so it feels fresh and healthy. I love feeling like I'm getting lots of veggies in early in the day :-)

Ingredients:

- 1/2 Avocado, sliced

- 1/2 onion, chopped

- 3-4 Baby Bella Mushrooms, chopped

- Some shredded Mozzarella

- A handful of Baby Spinach

- 1 Tortilla

- The yummy salsa you just made!

Method:

Combine all and enjoy! It's even more fun if you have a pretty plate to munch upon. See, you're ready for Spring already.

Happy healthy lunch day!