Paradise is where I’m at…-Voltaire

Hello, sweet friends…

You don’t need to travel abroad to find amazing places.

some of the best places can be found in our own backyard…

A satisfying occurrence for me during this pandemic time…

has been the opportunity to visit…

and explore local places in the area.

That being said…

each week just for fun (aka date day) Joe & I plan a quick local get-away.

Recently we took a less than an hour away drive…

to Port Orford…

a working fishing port…

oldest town on the Oregon coast…

And…

although small in size…

the beaches are spectacular…

with their natural beauty…

an active and talented art community…

along with fun cafes minus the crowds

makes Port Orford the perfect day escape date day…

What’s Cooking?

I’ve been playing around with chili recipes for a while…& found this recipe to be the perfect blend of seasonings, ground beef (plant based meat for me) and beans. I garnished it with a sharp shredded cheese…however there a variety of toppings to choose from.

A SIMPLE CHILI RECIPE

Ingredients

2 lbs. ground beef, ( I use plant based)

2 cloves garlic, diced

8 oz. tomato sauce

2 tablespoons chili powder

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon ground oregano

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/4 cup masa harina, white or yellow

15 oz. kidney beans, drained and rinsed

15 oz. pinto beans, drained and rinsed

Instructions

Stove Top

Cook and crumble the ground beef in a large pot over medium heat until browned.

Drain excess grease.

Add the garlic and tomato sauce, cook for 1 minute.

Add seasonings: 2 TBS Chili Powder, 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp oregano, 1 teaspoon salt, ¼ tsp cayenne pepper.

Stir to combine. Decrease heat to low.

Cover and let simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

Note: If the meat seems too dry after an hour, add water ½ cup of water.

Combine the masa harina with ½ cup water in a small bowl. Stir to combine. Add to the chili.

Add more masa and/or water until preferred consistency is obtained.

Add the drained and rinsed beans. Simmer for 10 minutes.