Three Bean Chili Deluxe

I found this recipe on the blog Design Mom. I'm not a huge fan of chili, but I was in the mood for some last winter and decided to try this. It is really yummy. I think the ranch adds a great flavor. Thanks Design Mom (and her kids who developed the recipe)!

Three Bean Chili Deluxe
from Design Mom

1 1/2 lbs ground beef
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
2 heaping tsp garlic, chopped
3 8 oz. cans tomato sauce
2 16 oz. cans light kidney beans
2 16 oz. cans dark kidney beans
2 16 oz. cans black beans
1 entire packet of Ranch dressing powdered mix
1 T cumin
1 T chili powder
1 t salt
2 teaspoons cream cheese

Brown the ground beef with the onions and garlic. Drain the fat. Add the rest of the ingredients (don't drain the beans) and simmer for 30 minutes. Or all day.

Here is what I do different. I use ground turkey instead of ground beef. It has way less fat and tastes the same for this recipe. I think you can use any combination of beans. Last time I made it I didn't have any cans of light or dark kidney beans. I had a can of cannellini (white kidney) beans, so I used that, along with a can of pinto beans. I cooked some dried kidney beans (about 1 2/3 cup cooked beans equals a can) and used those since I didn't have canned kidney beans. So my chili had 4 different kinds of beans (black, kidney, cannellini, and pinto). I thought it was still as good as the time I made it with the beans listed in the recipe.

Peanut Butter Popcorn

My friend, Lauren, has been making this ever since I have known her. I love it. I always wanted to make some, but I never had a popcorn popper. I finally bought one a couple of days ago and this is what we made to break it in.

Peanut Butter Popcorn
2 poppers popped corn
1/2 cup light karo (corn) syrup
1/2 cup honey
1 cup white sugar
1 cup peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
m&ms (optional)

Mix karo syrup, honey, and sugar in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook 2 minutes until the sugar is dissolved. Add peanut butter, vanilla, and salt. Mix til peanut butter is melted and all mixed in. Pour over popped corn and stir.

Easy, right?

Here is what I did different. I only used 1/2 cup sugar. I wanted to see if it would still taste good with less sugar. I didn't notice any difference. I wanted to add m&ms, but my husband doesn't like them, so I left them out.

Enjoy!

Eugenia's Potato Soup

My mom found this recipe in a book and tried it last week. Everyone loved it enough that she emailed it to all us girls. I tried it tonight and it was delicious! Potato Cheese Soup has always been my favorite, and I think this may even be better! And it's REALLY easy!!!

Eugenia's Potato Soup
4 lbs. potatoes
2 cans chicken broth
8 oz. monterey jack cheese (and/or pepper jack cheese)
1 pint half & half
2 cans cream celery soup
1 8 oz. sour cream
Cook potatoes in broth until tender but still firm, approx. 12 - 15 min. Grate cheese and stir into potatoes until melted. Add soups, half & half and sour cream. Cook on low, stirring constantly until hot.

SO yummy!