Pork Meatball Chili

Pork Meatball Chili

adapted from Food Network Magazine March 2019

This recipe is essentially using a vegetable chili as a sauce for pork meatballs that use tortilla chips as a binder. The cream in the meatballs keep them very tender and moist.

Mexican oregano has a strong, citrusy, and slightly licorice-like flavor, while Italian oregano (also known as regular or Mediterranean oregano) is more earthy, floral, and minty with a milder taste.

Makes 2 servings                                        3 WW pts / serving without garnishes

1/2 lbs. lean ground pork
2 Tbsp. + 2 tsp. light cream
2 Tbsp. crushed tortilla chips
1 Tbsp. grated Cojita or Parmesan cheese
1/2 beaten egg
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. Kosher salt

Cooking spray
1/4 large onion, chopped
1/4 red, orange or yellow bell pepper, chopped

1 small clove of garlic, chopped  
1 1/2 tsp. tomato paste
1 Tbsp.chili powder
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. ground coriander
1/2 tsp. dried Mexican oregano

1/4 tsp. Penzeys Southwest Seasoning™

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 15-ounce cans kidney beans (do not drain)
3/4 14-ounce cans diced tomatoes

1/4 cup water + more for thinning if needed

1/2 tsp. dried cilantro

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Jalapeno peppers, reduced fat sour cream, reduced fat cheddar cheese, cilantro & /or scallions (optional)

1. Make the meatballs by mixing the pork, cream, tortilla chips, parmesan cheese, egg, garlic powder and kosher salt. 
2. Form into 1-inch balls; If time refrigerate for an hour.
3. Meanwhile, heat a pot coated with cooking spray over medium heat and cook the onion and pepper cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes; Add the garlic and cook  a couple more minutes.
4. Add the tomato paste, chili powder, cumin, coriander and oregano; Cook, stirring, until brick red, about 2 minutes.
5. Add the beans, tomatoes, 1/4 cup water and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a simmer and cook, adjusting the heat as needed and stirring occasionally, until thickened, and the flavors meld, about 60 minutes, adding additional water if it is getting too thick.
6. Preheat the broiler.
7. Remove the meatballs from the refrigerator; Broil the meatballs on a baking sheet until browned, 5 to 7 minutes.
8. Add the meatballs to the finished chili and simmer 10 more minutes; Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper
9. Garnish as desired prior to serving, if using.

Enjoy!

Black Bean & Chorizo Soup

Black Bean & Chorizo Soup

adapted from Food & Wine December 2016

This is a hearty, satisfying soup that freezes well.

Makes 2 servings                                                            4 WW points / serving

8 oz. dried black beans, rinsed and soaked overnight
1 small bay leaf
1/3 tsp. dried thyme
1 small parsley sprig

1 1/2 onions—1/2 quartered and 1 finely chopped

1 1/2 tsp. Kosher salt 

2 tsp. olive oil  

1 link Aidell™ Chorizo Smoked Chicken Sausage, chopped 

1 garlic cloves, minced 

1/2 tsp. ground cumin 

2 cups homemade chicken stock or canned broth

1 cup water

Kosher salt  & freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Thinly sliced radishes, cilantro sprigs for garnish, optional

Lime wedges and tortilla chips, for serving

1. Drain the black beans.
2. In a pot, combine them with enough water to cover by 3 inches. 
3. Place the bay leaf, parsley and thyme in a piece of cheesecloth and secure with a string to make a satchel
4. Add the herb satchel, quartered onion and salt tp the beans; Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. 
5. Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook until the beans are just tender, about 1 hour. 
6. Drain the beans and discard the herb satchel and onion; Wipe out the pot.
7. In the same pot, heat the olive oil; Add the chorizo and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until starting to crisp, about 4 minutes. 
8. Add the chopped onions, the garlic and cumin; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
9. Cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until the onions are tender, about 10 minutes. 
10. Add the stock and 1 cup of water and bring to a boil. 
11. Return the beans to the pot, cover, reduce the heat to low and continue cooking until the beans are very tender and the soup has thickened, about 1 hour and 45 minutes. You may need to add up to another cup of broth or water towards the end of cooking it it thickens faster than the beans cook.
12. Ladle the soup into bowls and serve garnished with radishes and cilantro, if using. 
13. Pass lime wedges and tortilla chips at the table.

Enjoy !

Chicken and Pinto Bean Soup

Chicken and Pinto Bean Soup

adapted from Taste of Home November 2013

Feel free to use any type of beans that you have on hand.

Makes 3 servings                                                          4 WW pp / serving

1/4 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
2 cups homemade chicken stock or canned broth
3/4 cups canned or frozen corn
1/2 can (15 oz.) pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 can (10 oz.) diced tomatoes and habaneros, undrained
1 Tbsp. cilantro, minced
1 1/2 tsp. chili powder
1/4 tsp. ground cumin
1.5 oz. baked tortilla chips
2 Tbsp. fat free cheddar cheese

1. In a soup pot coated with cooking spray, cook the chicken until no longer pink, about 5 minutes.
2. Add broth, corn, beans, tomatoes, cilantro, chili powder and cumin to the pot; Bring to a boil.
3. Reduce heat and simmer until flavors are melded, about 15 minutes.
4. Add the cilantro and serve with chips and cheese on the side.

Enjoy!

Patriotic Garlic Herb Dip

 Patriotic Garlic Herb Dip

adapted from WW.com

This is a zesty dip that is good with crudites, tortilla chips or crackers.

The presentation is a fun way to celebrate the Fourth of July.

Makes about 1 2/3 cups                                                1 WW Blue point / Tbsp.

3/4 cup plain fat free Greek yogurt

6 oz. Neufchatel cheese, softened

2 2 /3 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese

2 tsp. Italian seasoning

1/4 tsp. Kosher salt

1/4 tsp. freshly grated black pepper

3 medium garlic cloves, crushed

Jarred roasted red peppers, cut into strips

3 Blue tortilla chips

1. In small food processor, combine the yogurt, Neufchatel cheese, Parmesan, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper and garlic; process until smooth.
2. Spread the dip into a 1/8 sheet pan container.
3. Arrange the roasted red papers to be the red flag stripes and tortilla chips to be the star field.
4. Serve with crudite.

Enjoy!

Mexican Pinto Beans

Mexican Pinto Beans

adapted from Mexico One Plate at a Time  by Rick Bayless

This makes a brothy bean dish. It can be turned into refried beans by draining the beans (reserve the broth) and cooking them again with sautéed onion and garlic; mashing them with a spoon or potato masher and adding enough bean broth to make it smooth.

The epazote adds a sweet mild flavor to the beans. Substitute other dried beans that you may have in your pantry.... kidney, black, white etc.

Makes 2 servings                                                       1 WW Blue point / serving

1/4 cup dried pinto beans

1 tsp. bacon drippings or olive oil

1/4 medium onion, chopped

3/4 tsp. dried epazote (optional)

2 tortilla chips, crushed

2 tsp. Mexican queso fresco or feta cheese

1. Put the beans in a pot along with 2 cups of water, the bacon drippings, onion and epazote; bring to a boil.
2. Lower the heat to simmer, cook with the cover slightly askew for 2 hours.
3. Check the pot occasionally and add more water as needed.
4. To serve, top with crumbled tortilla chips and cheese.

Enjoy!

Chicken Enchilada Stuffed Poblanos

 Chicken Enchilada Stuffed Poblanos

adapted from Rachael Ray

There was a lot more filling than I could stuff into the poblanos so I put the leftover in ramekins and cooked it along with the peppers.

Makes 2 servings                            4 WW Blue points / serving

1/2  cup shredded cooked chicken

1/2 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed

1/2 cup canned or frozen corn, thawed if frozen

1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp. green enchilada sauce

1/4 +2 Tbsp. fat free shredded cheese

2 1/2 tsp Penzeys taco seasoning or your favorite sugar-free taco seasoning

2 large poblano peppers

0.4 oz. baked tortilla chips, crushed

3 Tbsp. reduced fat Mexican cheese blend

1. Preheat the oven to 400F.
2. In a bowl combine the chicken, beans, corn, enchilada sauce, fat free cheese and taco seasoning. Mix to combine.
3. While keeping the stem intact, cut a trip from the top of the poblano. Remove the seeds.
4. Stuff with the chicken mixture.  Place in a baking pan coated with cooking spray.
5. If you have extra filling, divide it between 2 ramekins and put in the baking pan.
6. Bake in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes. The chiles should be tender and the filling beginning to brown.
7. Top each poblano and ramekin with the reduced fat Mexican cheese and baked tortilla chips.
8. Return to the oven for an additional 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
9. Serve with salsa and fat free sour cream.

Enjoy!