FAST FUN AND FLAVORFUL....

WELL,  need a quick dinner and "cheap" ?  Last night Daddy said...  lets do something simple andnot fancy for dinner.  ( I have a tendency to do "dinner") so I looked into the fridge and saw that I had some ground sirloin.  I knew I had a big beautiful sweet onion and in the pantry a big can of tomatoes and a couple small cans of white beans..  Yep...   WHITE BEAN CHILI...  

Of course I did it with my own twist.. I used tomatoes in it..  and.. I decided to serve it over angel hair pasta and top it off with room temperature, shredded,  mild cheddar cheese.  

You know this whole idea of fast and cheap is super... as long as it really tastes good and looks beautiful and appealing and makes a presentation..  I also,  think that if you cook with your spouse and or friends it makes it so much more than just dinner..  A social event..  I romantic gesture, a bonding with a glass of wine and bite of bread..  You get the idea..  so, lets make this WHITE BEAN CHILI ...  more than just dinner..  lets make it part of the day.. a way to communicate with another person....  or if you are alone and want to make it and treat yourself..  then share the experience with a friend on the phone or skype them and show them what you are doing while you are cooking...   or at least "tell" someone about it while you are cooking or at least afterward..  "Hey Mom!  Guess what.  I made the best WHITE BEAN CHILI tonight and had glass of  Vouvray wine with it and the whole thing only cost me $10 bucks.

good idea?????   this is the perfect time to delegate who is to do what.  make it fun.. one can stir... one can chop ..  you open the wine first... pour a glass, "how was your day?" got the idea now??  

WHITE BEAN CHILI  a $10 buck meal.....

recipe for 2

half pound ground sirloin 

half pound angel hair pasta

1 large can tomatoes whole

2 small cans white beans

1 large sweet onion

1/2 cup mild cheddar cheese

1 t olive oil

2 t butter

1 t chili powder

1 t garlic powder

1 t kosher salt

1 vegetable bullion cube

1/2 t crushed red pepper

1/4 t cinnamon

take cheese out and grate (about 1/2 cup cover and let stand to get to room temp)

half pound ground sirloin  (crumble into skillet with 1 teas olive oil 1 teas butter and stir)

slice and chop onion into small bits (place in skillet with meat)

stir meat and onions often 

add all other ingredients when meat "starts" to brown.(make sure to squeeze the tomatoes till they fall apart before you add)

stirring often to crumble meat and blend spices

 

meanwhile put pot of water on for pasta.. 

when boiling remember to time angel hair for "finale" as it only takes 4 minutes.

when meat is brown and smells just right  taste  to see if it needs more salt..  

throw pasta in..    don't forget the oil and salt in the water.  wait 4 minutes (have a glass of wine)

plate pasta, top with chili then sprinkle a generous serving of cheese over it.

cheap and fast... 

for $9 you can add a bottle of Vouvray a semi sweet yet dry white wine.  goes great with spicy besides it is fun to "clink glasses "

remember that this is a mild spicy, Daddy doesn't like it to "hot"  so you can add as you taste.. 

remember also, that crushed red pepper grows in intensity as it cooks.