Simple & Quick Chili

This recipe is super simple and super healthy. Sometimes making chili can seem pretty intimidating because there are those recipes out there that have around 72 ingredients or they require hours and hours of  prep and cook time. This recipe, however, is a no-brainer and so adaptable. It's a great foundation recipe to creating your own unique chili recipe, after all chili should taste good to you not just some food critique from a magazine!

Serves 2

Materials:
1/4 lb. ground beef
1/4 of an onion, diced
2 tbs water
1/2 can of tomatoes
1/2 tbs chili powder
1/4 tbs cumin
1- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Salt and pepper to taste

First heat a pot with a fitted lid at MED heat. Add the meat and onion. Brown evenly stirring occasionally, making sure to break up the meat as you go. Add the salt and pepper to taste. With the extra spices in this dish not much salt or pepper should be needed.

Once you've done this, add the chili powder, cumin and garlic and cook about 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally.

At this point add your beans, tomatoes and water. I like to rinse the beans in cool water before adding them so that they don't have too much of the slimy canning liquid on them.

Now lower your heat to LOW and simmer COVERED for about 15 minutes. This helps tenderize the meat and cook the tinny flavor out of the canned tomatoes. After it has simmered for the time, remove the lid and simmer for another 5 minutes. You should remember to taste for seasoning. It's best to alter seasoning as you are cooking so that the end result is what you like.

Fini! :) Now you can top the chili over some healthy brown rice, mashed potatoes or it's good just by itself! I like to top it of with some low-fat cheese and sliced green onions. You can also try Greek yogurt, sour cream or tortilla chips. It's all up to you!

When choosing your ingredients have fun with it! You can use ground turkey or stew meat instead of the beef and whatever kind of bean you'd like. So versatile and so healthy!

Wolfgang Puck Pizza- Quick and Easy Pizza Dough

I LOVE pizza! Sometimes though, it can be a little pricey and high in fats and oils. This pizza dough recipe is simple, healthier and so yummy. It is said to be Wolfgang Puck's signature California pizza method. I never thought that I could make my own breads and pizza dough but I surprise myself more and more every day!

Materials:
1 package dry active yeast
1 tsp honey
1 cup fairly warm water (not too hot but about 100 degrees)
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup wheat flour
1 tsp salt
1Tbs olive oil
Cornmeal
pizza toppings :)

To start I put one package of yeast in a large mixing bowl and add the honey. Next stir in 1/4 of a cup of warm water and let the mixture sit for 10 minutes to let the yeast activate. After 10 minutes the mixture will look frothy and that's when you add the salt, oil and last 3/4 cup of warm water and mix together well.

This is when I add the first cup of all purpose flour and stir til combined. Add another cup of flour and stir that til combined. Add the half cup of wheat flour and stir until it is too ridiculous to stir and then turn out onto a well floured (and CLEAN) surface. I usually add the last 1/2 cup of flour onto the work surface and as I knead the dough eventually it will pick up the rest but the flour will help the dough from sticking to the table. Knead the dough for about 5 minutes or until all the flour is picked up (cause by then it's about 5 minutes lol).

 Shape the dough into a ball and place in an oiled mixing bowl and cover with a towel and place in a warm area to help the dough rise. I usually place the bowl on or next to the oven while it preheats a bit. Let the dough rise for 30-40 minutes. Turn the dough out onto your work place (make sure to add more flour to help prevent sticking). Pat the dough to help expel some of the air built up while the dough set. Take a knife or scraper and cut the dough into 4 equal sized pieces. Shape the pieces into rounds. If you are not going to use all 4 pieces of dough you can either wrap the dough and keep it in the fridge or freeze it for later use. Take the dough ball or balls and place on a pan and cover to rise for a second time. This rise will be for 20 minutes.

Preheat your oven to 450 degrees.

 Now that the dough has risen for a second time, place the ball on your work place and pat out the air and roll into a disk of your desired thickness. At this point place your pizza on a well cornmealed pan. At this point top with the toppings of your choice. I like to brush the crust with olive oil and some crushed garlic then spread on some pizza sauce with traditional mozzarella and a variety of vegetables. You can try anything from barbeque style to creamy mushroom and spinach.

Place your pizza pan on the lowest rack of your oven and cook for 5 minutes. Then bring the pan to the middle rack and finish with another 5 minutes of cooking. Let your pizza cool and enjoy. :)