Black bean chili

I love a good bowl of chili on a cold wintery day. Especially my favorite black bean chili. This recipe is easy to put together and freezes great. I love to have it with tortilla chips since it comes out so nice and thick. If you like a thinner chili you can add more tomato sauce.

Here is what you need :
1 pound ground beef or turkey (or a 1/2 and 1/2 mix)
2 cans black beans
1 1/2 cups chunky salsa
2 8oz cans no salt added tomato sauce
1 - 3 tbsp(depending on how hot you like it) chili seasoning mix or chili powder
1 can diced jalapenos
sour cream and shredded cheese for topping

In large skillet brown meat and drain.

drain and rinse one of the cans of black beans and mash.  I use a potato masher but a big spoon will do just fine too. Drain and rinse the other can of beans and leave whole. Add the mashed beans and the whole beans to the meat.

add the cans of tomato sauce, salsa, jalapenos, and chili seasoning to the pan and mix well.

let simmer on low until heated through at least a half hour. This recipe tastes great the longer you let it simmer. I have frozen it and put it in the slow cooker all day and something magical just happens to it when left to sit and meld the flavors slowly. This recipe is very versatile so you can add in other peppers or onions or another kind of beans and have fun with it! You can top with cheese and sour cream. And enjoy :)

Peanut Butter Brownies

This is a recipe I developed myself a few years back. After making mint brownies for so long, I decided to try the same concept but with peanut butter. The result is a fantastic rich brownie that tastes like it has a buckeye on top. Yum! And I promise I will put up the mint brownies soon!
For the base use a brownie recipe that is good and fudgy. You can use a box mix or your favorite recipe from scratch. (my favorite fudge brownie recipe will be posted at the end if you want to use it) You may use a 9x13 inch pan or a slightly smaller pan if you want them a bit thicker. For this one I used an 8x10in.
So make the brownies and let cool completely.

In a mixing bowl combine :

1/3 cup creamy peanut butter

3 cups powdered sugar

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

2 - 4 Tbsp milk

mix till creamy and fudgelike but still spreadable and  not too thin. If too thick add a little more milk.

Spread over cooled brownies making sure to seal the edges.

In a microwave proof bowl melt together 2 squares semisweet chocolate and 1/2 stick butter. Microwave on high for 1 minute and stir, add more time in small incriments if needed.



Pour melted chocolate over peanut butter covered brownies and tilt the pan to cover completely.

Then just wait a bit till chocolate sets up and you can cut them and enjoy. Peanut butter lovers will love these!

Fudge Brownies ( great on their own as well as good for a base for PB brownies or Mint brownies)

4 squares unsweetened chocolate
1 1/2 sticks butter
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup flour
microwave chocolate and butterin large microwave proof bowl on high 2 min or until melted. Stir until chocolate is melted. Stir in sugar. Stir in eggs and vanilla. Add flour and mix till blended. Spread into greased 9x13 pan and bake at 350* 25-30 minutes.