Cowboy Chili and Baked Bean Pot

Cowboy Chili.

Cowboy Chili and Baked Bean PotIngredients

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
6 slices smoky bacon, chopped, optional
1 1/2 pounds coarse-ground sirloin
2 Idaho or russet potatoes, peeled and chopped
1 large onion, chopped
2 Fresno chile peppers, sliced
1 carrot, peeled and chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons chile powder
1 large fresh bay leaf
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 (12-ounce) bottle beer
4 cups beef stock
1/4 cup thick Worcestershire sauce
1 (16-ounce) can baked beans
1 (14-ounce) can diced fire-roasted tomatoes or diced tomatoes
Scallions, thinly sliced on an angle for topping
Directions
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the bacon, cook until browned, and remove with slotted spoon. Add the beef, brown well, and then add the potatoes, onions, chiles, carrot, garlic, chile powder, and bay leaf. Season the mixture liberally with salt and pepper, and cook 10 minutes more, stirring frequently.

Add the beer and stir about 2 minutes, or until the beer almost cooks out completely. Stir in the stock, thick Worcestershire sauce, baked beans, and tomatoes, and thicken to desired consistency, about 20 to 45 minutes over a steady simmer for loose to super-thick chili. Cool and store for make-ahead meal.

Reheat over medium heat with a little water, if necessary, to loosen up the chili, so it will heat through without scorching. Serve in shallow bowls topped with green onions

Cowboy Beans

Ingredients

2 cups pinto beans, cleaned, soaked overnight in a non-reactive bowl and drained; liquid discarded
1 ham hock
1 bay leaf
3 cloves garlic, peeled
1 whole jalapeno chile
5 cups water
2/3 cup finely chopped white onion,
2 slices thick-cut bacon, finely chopped
4 ounces pork chorizo, casing removed
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions
In a large saucepan, bring the soaked beans, ham hock, bay leaf, garlic, jalapeno, and 5 cups of water to a boil over high heat. Cover the pan, reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 2 hours or until beans are tender. If the beans absorb too much water, add 1 cup of water after 1 hour and continue cooking (Beans mixture should remain soupy while cooking). Turn off the heat.

Cook the bacon in a large saute pan over medium-high heat until almost crisp, about 10 minutes. Add onion and cook for about 3 minutes or until translucent. Transfer bacon and onion mixture to the pot with the beans. Wipe pan clean. In same pan cook chorizo over medium heat until crisp, about 1 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the chorizo and drain on paper towels. Add to the beans. Season lightly with salt, if necessary. Stir the beans over medium-high heat until heated through. Remove the bay leaf and ham hock and discard. Ladle into bowls and serve.

Cook's Note: In place of soaking the beans, you can use 3 (15-ounce) cans rinsed and drained pinto beans. Proceed as above but reduce the cooking time to 1 hour.

Tuscan Pasta Salad With Grilled Vegetables

Total Time:

30 min
Prep10 min
Cook 20 min
Yield:6 to 8 servings
Level:Easy

Grilling Central
Backyard Barbecue
Cookout Sides
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Ingredients
1 small head radicchio, halved lengthwise and cored
2 small bulbs fennel, cored and cut into 1/4-inch wedges, plus 1/4 cup chopped fennel fronds
6 assorted baby bell peppers, halved and seeded
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
8 ounces orecchiette (about 2 cups)
1 15-ounce can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
Juice of 1 lemon
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
3 ounces parmesan cheese, shaved with a vegetable peeler
Directions
Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium high. Toss the radicchio, fennel wedges and bell peppers in a large bowl with 1/4 cup olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and grill, turning occasionally, until charred and crisp-tender, about 4 minutes for the peppers and radicchio, 6 minutes for the fennel. Remove from the grill and let cool, then cut into small pieces.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente (about 2 minutes less than the label directs). Drain and rinse under cool water; shake off the excess. Transfer to a serving bowl. Add the grilled vegetables, cannellini beans, the remaining 1/4 cup olive oil, the lemon juice, parsley, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste; toss. Add the parmesan shavings and fennel fronds and toss gently. Serve immediately or refrigerate, covered, up to 6 hours. (Bring to room temperature before serving.)

Whole-Grain Pasta with Chickpeas and Escarole

Ingredients

2 cups whole-grain penne
1 head escarole, roughly chopped
4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more to taste
1/4 cup capers, drained and patted dry (optional)
5 cloves garlic, sliced
1/2 cup roughly chopped fresh parsley
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 28-ounce can whole peeled tomatoes, crushed slightly,
liquid reserved
1 15.5-ounce can chickpeas, drained, rinsed and patted dry
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
2 bay leaves
1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese, plus more for garnish
Directions
Cook the pasta according to the package directions; add the escarole during the last 2 minutes, cover and do not stir. Remove the escarole with tongs; set aside. Drain the pasta, reserving 1/2 cup cooking liquid. Meanwhile, if you're using capers, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the capers and fry until crisp, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate.

Add the remaining 3 tablespoons oil to the skillet. Cook the garlic, parsley and red pepper flakes until the garlic toasts slightly, 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, chickpeas, a pinch of salt and the bay leaves. Cook until the tomatoes and chickpeas brown, about 6 minutes. Add the escarole and reserved tomato juice and cook until the sauce thickens slightly, about 4 more minutes. Remove and discard the bay leaves.

Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss with the sauce; season with salt and pepper. (If the sauce is thick, add some reserved pasta water.) Stir in the cheese and top with fried capers, if using, and more cheese.

Per Serving: Calories 540; Total Fat 19 g; (Sat Fat 4 g, Mono Fat 11 g, Poly Fat 2.6 g); Protein 21 g; Carb 79 g; Fiber 15 g; Cholesterol 9 mg; Sodium 800 mg

Tiramissu

Tiramissu

Creamy, lemony layers are brightened by berries in this no-bake cross between tiramisu and trifle. Kids can assemble this treat with very little help.

Ingredients1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup granulated sugar
12-ounces cream cheese, softened
One 8-ounce jar prepared lemon curd
2 cups heavy cream
22 hard ladyfinger cookies
3 cups mixed raspberries and sliced strawberries
Powdered sugar, for garnish
Whipped cream, for serving
Directions
In a small measuring cup, mix the lemon juice with the sugar and 1/4 cup water until the sugar is dissolved. Set aside.

Place the cream cheese, lemon curd and heavy cream in a food processor and process until smooth and a bit fluffy.

To assemble the tiramisu, place half the ladyfingers in the bottom of an 8-inch square baking dish, breaking a few to fit, and drizzle with half of the lemon syrup. Top with half the lemon cream and 1 cup mixed berries. Repeat the layers, using the remaining ladyfingers, syrup and lemon cream.

Cover with plastic wrap and chill at least 8 hours or overnight. Before serving, top with the remaining 2 cups of berries and dust with powdered sugar. Serve with whipped cream on the side.