Chocolate for dinner! 2/2

Menu for 2/2:

• Vegetarian Crock-Pot® chili with chocolate

Chili:

Mirepoix, garlic, green pepper, red pepper, black beans, red kidney beans, canned tomatoes with juice, paprika, chili powder, cumin, oregano, sea salt, unsweetened coca powder, 60- 70% dark chocolate.


Yeah, you read right. Chocolate. For dinner. To be fair it isn't that much chocolate and it is mostly low on the sugar ratio. It is also going to be the last thing added to the meal before serving. The point is though, there is going to be chocolate for dinner and I know that you are jealous about it. HA!

I found this recipe on the Internet during a search for delicious veggie recipes that the boy would eat without commenting on the lack of meat. Since the both of us are fans of dark chocolate and chili, this one caught my eye. I think that I may cook some rice to go with it to make it a little more hearty but just keep it off to the side in case it is too much. This recipe also is letting me utilize my lovely little Crock-Pot®. Seriously, whom ever it was at the The Naxon Utilities Corporation of Chicago that thought to themselves "You know what? I want to be able to put a whole lot of stuff in a pot with liquid, cover it, and then let it cook for 8 hours on a low temperature so that I can get a ton of other stuff done and I don't have to worry about the food burning or catching fire.". That person is my hero of the day, perhaps even the week.

Alright, I will check back in on Thursday with the finished product and let you know how it goes. With any luck I will have a snow day tomorrow and be able to monitor the whole process. Thank you to whoever keeps scheduling the snow storms for Wednesdays!

Gearing up for 1/12

Menu for January 12th

• Spaghetti Aglio E Olio
• Slow Roasted Tomato Garlic Sauce
• Steamed Broccoli
• Bratwurst Sausage

Spaghetti Aglio E Olio:

Dried spaghetti, good olive oil, whole garlic cloves, crushed red pepper flakes, fresh minced parsley, fresh shredded Parmesan and Kosher salt.

This is another of dear Ina Garten's recipes from "How Easy Is That?". I am looking forward to a less intensive entree and I am fairly certain that I know how to cook spaghetti so this should be a snap. Also, for those who want to know, 'Spaghetti aglio E Olio' translates to, spaghetti garlic and oil.

Slow Roasted Tomato Garlic Sauce:

Roma tomatoes, large yellow onion, garlic cloves, fresh basil, dried oregano, good olive oil, sugar, salt & pepper to taste.

As I told you at the end of last weeks post, I have decided to re-introduce myself to my Crock-Pot®. This recipe is how I am going to do that. Now I am sure that the above 'Spaghetti Aglio E Olio' is quite delicious on its own but my darling is on the type that he needs "red sauce" to truly enjoy pasta or pizza. Thus I am trying my hand at creating my own! This seems fairly straight forward so I am not expecting any surprises.

Steamed Broccoli and Bratwurst:

Broccoli, really hot water, bratwurst.

I don't really think that I need to elaborate on these things. I am not going to do anything fancy with anything in this step. Just cook them.

Onwards and upwards to 51/2!