Chili and Corn Muffins

Chili

Serves ~10-12?

This is, admittedly, one of the most stuff-from-cans things that i make, but most of the stuff-from-cans is organic/beans so ::shrug::. We generally buy organic everything, but non-organic is still going to taste fine.

-4, 15oz cans of Kidney beans (I like 2 light and 2 dark because i enjoy the color contrast)
*I use 4, 15.5oz cans instead of 2, 33oz cans because it just fits in my crockpot better. 2 large cans works fine too, it just fits a little less comfortably.
-1, 18oz Can of Tomato Paste
-2 lbs ground beef.
-1 Onion, minced (i stick this in a personal blender because my husband has a thing about onions)
-2 Tbs Chili Powder
-2 Tbs Cumin Powder
-1 Tbs Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
-1 tsp Garlic Powder
-1 tsp Cayenne Powder (Optional, we like it spicy)

Mix the beans, tomato paste, and spices in your crock and set to low. Cook beef on the stove and drain off the fat.  Add onions to the pan and cook for ~5 minutes so the meat is super flavorful. Add to the crock and turn to low or high depending on desired cook time.

Corn Muffins

Bake at: 350*F for 10-15 minutes
Makes: 4 dozen minis

I use Ina Garten's Corn Muffin Recipe. and, because we're a family of 2, I do a couple of things different from her recipe: Firstly, I make minis and secondly, there is enough butter in these, you don't need paper liners. I either make a half batch (~24 minis) while my chili is cooking OR I make a whole batch (which is about 4 dozen minis) and freeze them, keeping the bag of frozen muffins next to the containers of frozen leftover chili. They DO reheat well.

This is a wet/dry deal so use 2 bowls, dry ingredients in 1 and wet ingredients in the other
-3 cups Flour
-1 cup Corn Meal
-1 cup sugar
-2 Tbs Baking Powder
-1 1/2 tsp Salt

-1 1/2 cups Whole Milk
-2 Large Eggs
-2 Sticks Unsalted Butter, Melted

Add Wet to dry and combine until just mixed. You don't want to overmix. I pour this (and all batters i do) into a large ziplock and cut the tip off so i can squeeze it into the muffin tins. Bake at 350* for ~12 minutes