Spaghetti Squash

I have always wanted to try making spaghetti squash.  So, I researched a few recipes on the Internet and decided to stay simple with it.  Plus add some Parmesan cheese, you just can't go wrong with Parmesan.

I served this with steak, peas and Swiss chard.  Turned out to be a great meal.

Ingredients:

1 spaghetti squash

olive oil

salt and pepper

grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Slice spaghetti squash in half, lengthwise. Drizzle cut side with olive oil, salt and pepper.

Place squash, cut side down on parchment lined baking sheet or a nonstick baking sheet.  Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until squash is tender when pierced with a fork.

Remove squash from oven and cool slightly, to handle. Into a bowl, shred the inside of the squash with fork to resemble spaghetti. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper and top with grated Parmesan cheese. Serve warm.

Crock Pot Texas Chili

In the Fall and Winter time I start craving chili.  Especially, on football Sundays, chili is a go-to meal.  I like chili with or without beans.  In Texas, it ain't chili if it has beans.  So, in this recipe I don't add any beans.  If you must have beans a can or two of pinto or black beans would work well.  I doubled the recipe below when I make chili, that way we have leftovers for a few days.
Chili is great by itself, on a baked potato, a sweet potato, over cornbread and on Frito's corn chips.  Cheddar cheese and sour cream are my favorite toppings to put on it.

Ingredients:

1 Carroll Shelby Chili Kit

2 lbs ground meat or ground turkey

1 medium onion, chopped

1 garlic clove, chopped

1 green or red bell pepper from my garden

2-3 banana peppers from my garden (optional)

1-2 jalapenos, seeds removed

8 ounces tomato sauce

1 jar Rotel tomatoes

Directions:

Saute onions and peppers, season with just a little salt and black pepper.  When onions are translucent add ground meat and cook till no longer pink.  

Add meat mixture to crock pot.  Then add all the seasoning packets except the masa to the crock pot. Add Rotel and tomato sauce.  

Add water as directed by package.

  Cook in crock pot on high for a 3-4 hours.  Enjoy!