December 2021 ~ My Food Recipe Videos

Dec 10, 2021

Insanely Good Crockpot Chili

Crockpot chili is the ultimate comfort food! This chili is SO easy and insanely good that everyone will come back for seconds!

I love a good chili and all of the sides that I can put with it! Try out this Cornbread, these Breadsticks, or this amazing Grilled Cheese. They are so good and will complement this chili so well!

Homemade Crockpot Chili

Chili is such a classic meal during the cold, winter months. It’s the ultimate comfort food that is a go-to recipe ALL the time in my family! Plus, when you make it in a slow cooker it makes it so easy! Not only does this recipe have classic ingredients like meat and beans but it really goes to the next level of flavor with veggies and spices! It is making my mouth water just thinking about it!

I love chili for dinner because it’s so hearty and filling. In fact, on the days when I am on the go, I don’t even make and sides with this! It has everything that I need in the recipe including meat and vegetables. This is also a go-to recipe for me for a party! Because it’s in a slow cooker, it makes it easy to transport and serve anywhere else. Plus, it’s perfect for a chili cook-off! It will win every time. Try it with these Nachos or put it on top of this Rice for a little added extra flavor and texture!

Ingredients You Need for Crockpot Chili

You probably already have all of the ingredients on hand! Which makes it super easy to whip this up for dinner anytime. See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact measurements.

Ground beef: I like to use lean ground beef or even ground turkey for this recipe.
Olive oil: Just a little bit is fine to cook up the vegetables in.
Onion: An onion that is small and diced will work great for this.
Green bell pepper: Dice this up to all of the same size so that the pieces cook evenly.
Garlic cloves: If you dont have fresh cloves then you can use minced garlic. ½ tsp equals about one clove of garlic!
Beef broth: This is the base of the chili and is better than water because it adds a lot of flavor to the chili.
Tomato sauce: Make sure that you are getting tomato sauce and not tomato paste.
Diced tomatoes: These can come in flavored juices so make sure that you get the ones that are just in plain tomatoes sauce.
Pinto beans: I love the flavor of pinto beans!
Kidney beans: Dark or light kidney beans will work. Just use whatever you have on hand.
Chili powder, Oregano, Cumin, Coriander and Cayenne: These spices mixed together make such a delicious blend! Not too much heat but a lot of flavor!

Let’s Make Some Chili!

This slow cooker chili recipe only takes about 5 minutes to put together! Then you let the slow cooker do all of the work. It’s so easy and delicious, there should be no question about it you try it or not!

Add ingredients to slow cooker: In a medium sized skillet over medium high heat cook and crumble the beef for about 7 minutes or until brown. Add the beef, onion, bell pepper, garlic, beef broth, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, pinto beans, kidney beans, chili powder, oregano, cumin, coriander, salt and cayenne to the slow cooker. Stir everything until combined. Cook on low for 5-6 hours. Serve warm with desired toppings.

3 pictures showing ingredients being added to a slow cooker.

Toppings You Can Use

I’ve come up with a list of a bunch of delicious things that you can add to your crockpot chili! Try a couple or try them all. You really can’t go wrong with too many toppings!

Fresh lime juice
Sour cream
Avocado
Shredded lettuce
Shredded cheese
Green onions
Frito chips
Tortilla strips
Cilantro

How to Store Leftovers

If you have leftovers of this crockpot chili then you are in luck! This tastes just as good, if not better, the next day. Once it has cooled, place it in an airtight container and put it in your fridge. It can last 3-4 days. Just reheat it in the microwave when you are ready to eat it again!

A close up of chili with a spoon scooping some out of a bowl.

Insanely Good Crockpot Chili

Crockpot chili is the ultimate comfort food! This chili is SO easy and insanely good that everyone will come back for seconds!

Course Dinner, main dish

Cuisine American

Keyword chili, crockpot chili

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 6 hours

Total Time 6 hours 15 minutes

Servings people

Calories 259kcal

Author Alyssa Rivers

Ingredients

2 pounds lean ground beef
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion diced
1 green bell pepper diced
2 garlic cloves minced
2 cups beef broth
1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes undrained
1 (15-ounce can) pinto beans
1 (15-ounce can) kidney beans
3 Tablespoons chili powder
1 Tablespoon oregano
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon coriander
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne

Instructions

In a medium-sized skillet over medium-high heat cook and crumble the beef for about 7 minutes or until brown.
Add the beef, onion, bell pepper, garlic, beef broth, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, pinto beans, kidney beans, chili powder, oregano, cumin, coriander, salt, and cayenne to the crockpot.
Stir everything until combined. Cook on low for 5-6 hours. Serve warm with desired toppings.

Nutrition

Baklava

1:11 AM No comments

A step-by-step guide (and video) for how to make homemade baklava with perfectly crispy golden layers of phyllo, your choice of nuts, and lovely citrus honey syrup.

Homemade baklava has been on my culinary bucket list for years and years and years. So last December, I finally decided to have a little baklavathon and spent the whole month learning about the different baklava styles and food traditions from around the world, testing out various baklava recipes, and refining our own family’s favorites. And turns out — I enjoy making baklava so much. ♡

To be sure, baklava is a labor of love that will always require a few patient hours of your time to prep, assemble and bake. But as you’ll see in the video demonstration below, the process for how to make this particular style of baklava is genuinely quite simple. (No fancy techniques or equipment required.) And as someone who tends to find repetitive baking projects quite relaxing and meditative, I actually really enjoyed all of the chopping and brushing that goes into creating all 40 of those lovely, flaky, honey-soaked layers.

There are of course endless different ways that you can make baklava, depending on which food tradition you happen to be following. But the recipe our family loved best ended up being a bit of a mix between Greek and Turkish-style baklava, made with lots of buttery, golden, flaky sheets of phyllo, a mix of pistachios and walnuts, honey-sweetened syrup, plus a touch of warming spices and orange blossom water added in for extra depth of flavor. And my goodness, it is so decadent and SO delicious.

It’s the perfect project for easy weekend days or — now that we have a very active 8-month old around this holiday season — some blissfully uninterrupted solo baking time in the evening once the little ones finally go to sleep. And it also makes for a great gift if you feel like sharing some sweet treats with friends and family season. (Oohs and ahhs are guaranteed!)

If you’re new to making baklava, I would strongly recommend reading the notes and tips below before starting the recipe. But I promise that it’s truly easy to make and will be worth the time and effort. So grab your apron and let’s make some homemade baklava!

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source https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/baklava-recipe/

No Bake Haystack Cookies (2 Ways!)

6:01 PM The Recipe Critic No comments

Haystack cookies are perfect for the holidays! They are festive, have the perfect crunch, and are so good that you won’t be able to stop at just one!

I love holiday cookies! If you want to try out some more of my favorites then you should make these Italian Christmas Cookies, Linzer Cookies, or these amazing Madeleines!

No bake haystack cookies with sprinkles.

What Are Haystack Cookies?

Ok, I know that the holiday season is about more than food but can we all agree that holiday desserts are the best part? I mean there are SO many to try like this Cinnamon Roll Wreath, these Grinch Cookies, this amazing Christmas Star Bread, or these darling Christmas Cornflake Wreaths. Not only do holiday treats look so festive but they taste amazing as well! And I think that these haystack cookies belong at the top of that list!

Haystack cookies are SO easy to make! My kids love helping me with them! All you need is some chow mein noodles, chocolate (white or milk works the best!), marshmallows, and some festive sprinkles. And voila! You have yourself these beautiful, tasty, and easy-to-make treats! Oh, and did I mention that you should probably double the batch? Because these will fly off your table so fast that you will wish that you had made more!

Ingredients for White Chocolate Haystack Cookies

There are two ways to make these cookies! I like to make them both but if you want, you could just make one! See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact measurements.

White chocolate chips: These go SO well with the marshmallow flavor!
Marshmallows: Use mini marshmallows so that they mix in better.
Peanuts: These are totally optional in this recipe!
Chow mein noodles: These create such a delicious crunch!

3 pictures showing how to mix marshmallows and white chocolate with chow mein noodles.

How to Make White Chocolate Haystack Cookies

These cookies are so easy! I love a good no-bake option for the holidays. They are quick easy and SO delicious.

Mix and melt: In a large microwave safe bowl add the White Chocolate Chips Microwave stirring after every 30 seconds until melted and smooth. Add in marshmallows and stir and cook for 30 more seconds.
Combine and top with sprinkles: Add in the bag of chow Mein noodles and mix until combined. Scoop out 2 tablespoons of the mixture and place on parchment paper. Top with sprinkles

A zoomed in picture of a white chocolate haystack cookie.

Ingredients for Chocolate Haystack Cookies

I can’t decide which one is better, the white chocolate or these ones! I guess you will have to make them both and decide for yourself!

Semisweet chocolate chips: The semi sweet bring in that chocolate flavor!
Butterscotch chips: These bring in the BEST taste!
Peanut butter: I like to use creamy peanut butter but you can use whatever you have on hand!
Chow mein noodles: The perfect added crunch!

2 pictures showing how to mix chocolate and butterscotch with chow mein noodles.

How to Make Chocolate Haystack Cookies

The chocolate version of these cookies is just as delicious and the butterscotch really adds such an amazing taste! They are definitely a MUST TRY this holiday season!

Mix ingredients until smooth: In a large microwave safe bowl add the chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, and peanut butter. Microwave stirring after every 30 seconds until melted and smooth.
Add chow mein noodles and top with sprinkles: Add in the bag of chow Mein noodles and mix until combined. Scoop out 2 tablespoons of the mixture and place on parchment paper. Top With sprinkles

Chocolate haystack cookies on parchment paper on a baking sheet.

Variations

These haystack cookies are great for the holidays but you can easily change them up for any holiday or season! Here are some ideas on how you can do that!

Get colored baking chocolate: Get some baking chocolate in different colors and mix things up! Then, you can make it go with a theme or any holiday that you want!
Change the sprinkles: You can make the sprinkles different colors! Orange for halloween, pastels for easter and red white and blue for the 4th of July!
Add mint chips: Instead of using butterscotch chips, try using mint chips instead! They are so yummy and add in a totally different flavor!