Beef and Bean Chili

Fresh bell and chile peppers, plus herbs, from the garden.

Tomatoes soon...but not yet!

Cheddar chive biscuits - compliments of my daughter Lauren.

Beef and Bean Chili

Ingredients

½ Lg. Vidalia onion, diced

1 Bell pepper, diced

1 Jalapeno (or other hot peppers as desired), minced

S&P

3-4 garlic cloves, minced

1 lb. ground beef

1 T chili powder

1 T ancho chili powder

2 tsp. cumin

2 tsp. paprika

1 tsp. dried tarragon

1 bottle beer

2 cans diced tomatoes

1 can pinto beans

1 can kidney beans

1 can beef broth

1-2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

2 T flour

2 T water

Fresh oregano, minced

Fresh thyme, minced

Directions

Saute onion and peppers in olive oil. Add S&P.

When onions are soft add garlic, stir until fragrant, just about 30 seconds.

Add ground beef. Cook until no longer pink. Drain fat from pan.

Add spices. Cook until fragrant, about a minute.

Add beer, deglaze the pan.

Add tomatoes, beans, broth, and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to a boil.

Stir together flour and water. Add to chili, cook about a minute.

Cover, reduce heat, and cook until slightly thickened – about 45 minutes or more.

Stir in oregano and thyme.

Serve with grated cheddar cheese, fresh chives, and sour cream to cool the heat, if desired.

White Cake Cupcakes with Chocolate Whipped Cream Frosting

My younger daughter Paige's delicious creation.

Following in her elder sister's footsteps...

Maybe someday they'll start their own bakery. Lol.

 

Maybe this is where it all started... Disney '07

Shrimp Risotto

Risotto is to die for. But no matter how good it is... the leftovers will be even better :)

Grilled Tilapia w/ Grilled Potato Cakes and a Summer Salad

Tilapia, rubbed in a spice mixture, then seared on the grill - with a little seasoned tartar sauce.

Pre-made potato cakes :( - but redeemed by cooking them on the grill with extra seasoning!

Fresh summer salad - mostly from the garden (not the tomatoes yet!)

Grilled Pork Chops with Savory Cherry Compote

Had the cherries...had the pork chops...hmmm!

The thai chile pepper from the garden kicked up the cherries just a bit.

Pork chops were brined, then bathed in an oil and fresh herb mixture before being placed on the grll.

The cherry compote had some cherry honey that I had found at a specialty shop over on LBI.

All together, delish!

Beer Can Chicken - well...

Well more like soda can chicken :)  I used Dr. Pepper.  Got the chicken rubbed inside and out...got it propped up on the can and all...then went to light the grill. Uh Oh, somehow the valve wasn't all the way off and I was now out of gas. Oh well, oven at 375 degrees did fairly well.

Radish

Well this is actually not this year's crop. But I did pull my first radish today and they look just as nice. It's just that the hail we had a few weeks back did some damage and only a few were ready so far.  Maybe in another week the rest can come out.

Blueberry Crisp - by my daughter Lauren

My daughter wanted to bake something... I told her I had fresh blueberries.  Two minutes later she was back with a recipe in hand asking if we have unsalted butter. I told her where it was and she set out to do her magic. Afterwards, the kitchen was fragrant with the smell of homemade blueberry crisp - and not a sign that she had even used the kitchen :)  Love you Lauren!