Monday, March 25, 2013

Dinner Plans

Hello!  How was your weekend?!

Mine was spent painting, painting & more painting!  My body feels like I ran a race.  It's that kind of tired; like I worked really hard.  Our family came to our new house and helped paint on both Saturday & Sunday (thank you so much!!!)  I'm talking every inch of the house - ceilings, trim, walls...it all needed a new paint job.  Next weekend we will be out there again, hopefully to get the job done in time for new carpet. 
 
My husband looking determined to paint those ceilings in the den! 
And now it's green in there.  So much more lively!  Jax, our dog, supervised all weekend.  Went out for a late dinner Saturday night, overly tired, but wonderful.  Starbucks happened Sunday morning - it was a must!
 
So come Sunday night we really did not have any food in our kitchen.  Time to shop.  It's hard to dinner plan when we're trying to pack up our apartment so I planned two big meals for the week that will each last a few nights:  Lentil Stew & Chili
 
 
 
Chili Recipe (Ridiculously easy)
 
I think chili is a really great fall/winter meal, but since it still feels like winter out there, it felt OK to make.
 
Ingredients:
 
1 large onion - chopped
2-3 tbs oil
1/2 tsp. salt
3 tbsp chili powder
6-oz. can tomato paste
40.5 oz. can kidney beans
15.5 oz. can of red beans
1 can of diced tomatoes (or fresh!)
1 cup frozen corn (optional)
1 package faux beef crumbles (optional - can just have beans!)
 
 
1. Saute onion in oil in skillet until transparent.  Add meatless crumbles and cook few minutes together. 
 
2.  Combine all ingredients in slow cooker.  I have a 4-qt. slow cooker.  Mix well.
 
3. Cover.  Cook on Low 5-8 hours.  I say this range because there are many times we eat it after 5 hours and it's delcious.
  
Between the chili and lentil stew, we should be set for dinners this week.  Sometimes it's really nice to have a very simple dinner week.
 
What's your favorite slow cooker meal?
 

12 comments:

  1. Wow, busy weekend! I bought my house about a year and a half ago... and am yet to redo pretty much anything, despite the fact that my mom is a professional painter! So you're doing so much better than me already in the homeowner department.

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    1. Well thank you!! We figured if we paint now we probably won't for a long time after this haha!

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  2. That new paint color looks fabulous! It looks so updated now :).

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    1. Thank you! I thought so too :) Very happy looking.

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  3. Looks like a good but busy weekend! Nice lentil stew, simple and healthy!!

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  4. Just found your blog! Where are you located if you don';t mind me asking...couldn't help but noticing your WEGMAN'S labels!!!!

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  5. Both of those meals look fantastic! I have just started trying gluten free to see if it would help my stomach and hadn't even thought that ezekiel might have some thats GF. Glad the painting went well. I love almost all slow cooker meals, SO easy!

    I nominated you for the Liebster award http://fruitnfitness.com/2013/03/25/liebster-award/

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    1. Thank you so much Nicole!!! I love ezekiel bread so much! I hope your stomach starts feeling good :) And thank you for the nomination!!!

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  6. Love your easy chili recipe! I just made taco soup last night! Congrats on the new house, too!!! Painting is hard work! :)

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  7. This kale/potato/cannellini bean soup is fantastic! You could make it in a slow cooker but I did it on the stove in a stock pot.

    http://m.allrecipes.com/recipe/187924/recipesavory-kale-cannellini-bean-and-potato-soup

    I add in carrots too and skip the wine. I used serano peppers instead of standard chile, gave it fantastic flavor and a kick!

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    1. IT LOOKS FANTASTIC!! Way better looking than the chili I made. Thank you for sharing I will FOR SURE be making this!!!

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