Pumpkin Chili-details

So we are making pumpkin chili for the girls Bethel of Job's Daughters tonight.  I decided since I had altered it a little I was going to post what I did-with pictures because this is truly a great chili!

I did a huge pot--about to feed my family with a few nights of leftovers.  you could do a smaller portion.

Brown 3lbs of hamburger

Add 2 Tbsp of Pumpkin Pie spice...I made my own

Place hamburger and 1lb cooked beans in pot

Add 2 cans diced tomatoes, or more if desired. and 1 1/2-2 Tbsp Chili powder

1 29oz can of pumpkin puree and 1/2 cup sugar

Sautee 2 green bell peppers and 2 onions

Add to mixture

64oz of V-8 or other vegetable juice

Cook on low heat for 8 hours in crockpot or simmer for 1 hour on stove top

Pumpkin Chili in the crockpot

Yesterday I saw that the weather today was going to be cold and rainy.  I LOVE IT!  So I decided a nice warm comforting meal was in order for the menu tonight.
Yes, it is autumn...so what could be better than pumpkin chili?!!!

Adapted from this recipe

I added 1lb extra hamburger, a 64 oz container of v-8, extra spices and beans and did a whole can of pumpkin instead of half.

So kind of funny,  I went to the store to get bell pepper and onion because somehow I was actually out! *gasp*

While there I realized no cans of beans - well they wanted $1.50 for 1 can of beans!  yes, so at 1am I was starting a pot of beans last night.

Then today, I realized, no pumpkin pie spice! LOL  so I made some up from this recipe here

the only thing not from scratch was canned tomatoes and the canned pumpkin...maybe next time I should remedy that!

Looks great and smells divine!  I can't wait to taste it.

Brown 3 lbs hamburger

Add 2 Tbsp of Pumpkin Pie spice...I made my own

Place hamburger and 1lb cooked beans in your pot/crockpot depending on your method of cooking

Add 2 cans diced tomatoes, or more if desired. and 1 1/2-2 Tbsp Chili powder

1 29oz can of pumpkin puree and 1/2 cup sugar

Sautee 2 green bell peppers and 2 onions

Add to mixture

64oz of V-8 or other vegetable juice

Cook/simmer on stove top for 1 hour

or 8 hours on low in the crockpo

Baked Macaroni and cheese-soo simple

I know that I talk about my baked macaroni and cheese a lot, but I have never shared it-so here goes.  I never learned to cook as a girl.  Everything I have learned has been since I was married, and I am far from a chef!  I wanted a homemade macaroni and cheese that did not need the preparation of a white sauce.  Because those sauces scare me.  Seriously.  And then I came across a version in the Joy of Cooking that met my needs! And best part was that it was baked and not runny - reminiscent of the elementary school stuff that I loved.  This has been modified and used many years-I hope you enjoy

Ingredients:
macaroni noodles (1 lb)
2 lb cheese- I use a mixture of cheddar and sharp.  more sharp adds more flavor. 
2 cups of milk
2 eggs

boil noodles.  layer in baking dish:  noodles, cheese, noodles cheese.  combine milk and eggs and pour down the side of the pan.  add pepper to top if desired.  cover with foil and bake about 30 min at 350 degrees.

thats it.