I got myself into a predicament yesterday.

quick chili

To be honest, I’ve been getting myself into this same predicament almost once a week.

Lately, every person I know is either having a baby or having surgery. Or both.  And the only way I know how to show my love is to make people food.

Oh, you gave birth? Have some lasagna!

Rough day? I made you mashed potatoes!

Stubbed your toe? Here’s a cookie! Feel better soon!

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So I’ve been making meals for people a lot this month. I’m so glad that people need food when they’re in a crisis…makes me feel like I can do something to help. Ya know?

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Here’s the only problem. I am miserable at planning for these extra meals. I usually remember during Adrienne’s naptime that I have volunteered to bring someone dinner (in two hours) and then I frantically start googling quick recipes and making a list. The minute Adrienne wakes up, I whisk her away to the grocery store (which is luckily five minutes away), we buy things, come home, cook things, then speed off again to deliver the things.

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Yesterday this happened. It was cold and rainy/snowy, so the only logical food was soup.

I ACTUALLY googled the word soup at 3:30pm yesterday. Soup. Yeah, I got a lot of results.

But then my brain kicked into gear and I remembered that I could make a pretty mean chili in about  thirty minutes. So the second I heard Little Chubby Cheeks awake from her nap, we whisked ourselves into action. After a trip to the grocery store (including a swing by the bakery for a free kid’s cookie) she was more than willing to help me throw together some cornbread muffins to go alongside.

(FYI this makes a huge pot of chili. Enough for two – small – families. Which was perfect because I actually hadn’t planned dinner for us either. Half for you. Half for me.)

At 5:09pm, the meal was delivered, and we were on our way home to eat our own chili for dinner (oh and try to photograph said chili with zero rays of sunshine left in the sky. Sorry for that ugly grain.)

The takeaway here is that you should plan your life better than I do. But if you forget, you can always make this quick and delicious pot of chili.

Quick Chili

PRINT Recipe

  • 2 lbs lean ground beef
  • 2 white onions
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 30oz can tomato sauce
  • 2 (15 oz each) cans ranch-style beans
  • 2 (15 oz each) cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 8 oz can chopped grean chilies
  • 2 T chili powder
  • 1 t cumin
  • 1 t Tony Chachere (or any Cajun) seasoning.

In a large pot, brown the beef over medium/high heat. Add the onions and garlic until the onions are translucent and soft (about 10 minutes). Add the rest of the ingredients and simmer for 15 – 20 minutes.

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