Chili and pumpkin painting

So tonight we had some chili. I had made this once before last winter and liked it...so I made it again. I usually don't make a meat chili, but this one is pretty tasty. It is from Martha's Everyday food magazine.

TURKEY AND BEAN CHILI
4 strips bacon, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
3 lbs ground dark-meat turkey (I used only 2 lbs and used ground turkey breast)
4 cups chopped onions (I used 3 c.)
1/4 cup minced garlic cloves
2 medium fresh jalapeno chiles (ribs and seeds removed for less heat, if desired), minced
3 T chili powder
3 T unsweetened cocoa powder
4 tsp ground cumin
2 cans (28 oz each) whole tomatoes in puree ( couldn't find this, substituted one can diced in juice and one can crushed)
2 T unsulfured molasses
coarse salt
3 cans (15.5 oz. each) pinto beans, drained and rinsed
assorted toppings for serving (cheddar cheese, sour cream, crumbled cornbread, pickled jalapeno chiles, cilantro leaves)

1. Heat a Dutch oven (or other heavy 5 qt pot) over medium heat. Add bacon; cook until crisp and brown, 6-8 minutes. Raise heat to high; add turkey. Cook, stirring and breaking up meat with a spoon, until no longer pink, 8-10 minutes.

2. Add onion, garlic, and jalapeno; cook until soft, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Stir in chili powder, cocoa powder, and cumin; cook, stirring, until fragrant, 1 minutes.

3. Break up tomatoes with a spoon or your hands, and stir them in along with the puree. Add molasses, 1 cup water, and 4 tsp salt; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer; cook, partially covered, 30 minutes.

4. Add beans; continue cooking, uncovered, until meat and beans are very tender, and chili is thick, about 30 minutes more. Serve with toppings.

8 servings. 480 calories, 13.7 g fat.


The other night we picked up a pumpkin and a gourd at hy-vee. This was to pacify Emma until we make it to the pumpkin farm. She is very determined to go to the pumpkin farm and asks about it daily. The girls wanted to paint them, they turned out pretty cute. Bella wanted to put them outside so they are on either side of the front door. She was all excited that we are already decorating for Halloween. I think we'll go the pumpkin patch tomorrow afternoon.