Best Easy Muffin and Chili Meals

♣ Meal In A Muffin ♣

Serves 6 - 8

Each of these large muffins contains vegetables, meats, and cheese for a hand-held meal that is good for lunch at work.This recipe makes an easy alternative to the hand pie, empanada, or pastie.

As a vegetarian option, you can substitute sauteed eggplant or other additional vegetables for the meat and cheese, if you like.

Ingredients

• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1 1/2 cups self-rising flour
• Pepper, to taste
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin, optional
• ½ cup olive oil
• ¾ cup low-fat milk or us an 8-punce container of plain yogurt
• ½ cup copped onions
• ½ cup chopped green peppers

An alternative to chopped green peppers is to slice the bell pepper into thin strips and sauté then lightly. This brings a different flavor and texture to the muffin.

• ½ cup sliced mushrooms (sauté first if you like)
• ½ cup crumbled cooked sausage, bacon, or diced kielbasa
• ½ cup shredded cheddar or Colby jack cheese

Preparation and Baking Time - About 35 Minutes

• Mix the corn meal and flour together in a large bowl. [If you use all-purpose flour, add ½ teaspoon salt and 1 Tablespoon baking powder. ]
• Add pepper, to taste. This could be black pepper, white pepper, or red pepper. Add the cumin if you desire a smoky type of flavor. Mix well.
• Add oil and mix well.
• Add milk or yoghurt and mix well.
• Add vegetables and meat and mix.
• Add cheese and mix finally to form a moist ball of dough. Add a little more milk or yogurt of the mix is too dry. If too moist, add a little more corn meal.

Fill muffin pans 3/4 full of dough.

Bake at 375 degrees F for 20 minutes or until a knife inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.

This dish might become lunch for the next day at work.

≥ Sausage-Veggie Chili Bowl ≤

Vegetarian options included

In place of sausage, additional vegetables may be used. Sometimes I use fresh mushrooms or sauteed eggplant or a combination of both. Other times I substitute 1 can of another type of bean so that I have dark kidney beans and black beans in the same dish. Still other times I use 3-4 kinds of beans or use both white/Spanish and red onions. A group of possibilities makes this dish a surprise every time.

Equipment and Tools

• Clean and Sanitized Cutting Board.
• Kitchen Knives
• Measuring Spoons
• Measuring Cup
• Can Opener
• Small Saucepan
• Cast Iron Skillet with Lid
• Mixing Spoon

Ingredients

• 3-4 Celery Ribs, chopped
• 1 Large Onion, chopped
• ½ Cup chopped Green Bell Pepper
• ½ Cup chopped Red Bell Pepper
• 4 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)
• 1 Pound of Sausage links, any kind you like [substitute vegetables, if you like]
• 1 Can diced Tomatoes with green peppers or chilies [Old Gold brand is very good], with the juice
• 1 Can Kidney Beans (dark or light) or Black Beans, drained
• 2 Cups of water (I use spring water, vegetable broth or chicken stock)
• 5 Tbsp tomato paste
• 2 Tbsp chopped green Chilies or 1 Tbsp chopped Jalapeno
• 1 Tbsp chili powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp pepper
• ½ tsp cumin
• ½ tsp coriander
• ½ Cup shredded Colby Jack Cheese
• 1 Bunch of scallions or green onions, including half of green tails, chopped

Preparation takes about 30 minutes

• Chop the vegetables or buy pre-chopped or chopped-frozen at the market.
• In the bottom of a saucepan, pour EVOO to just cover the bottom of the pan.
• Sauté the celery, onion, and sweet peppers in the EVOO until tender-crisp and don't overcook. Remove the pan from heat and set aside.
• Pour EVOO to cover the bottom of the cast iron skillet and break the sausage meat into it. Cook the meat over medium-high heat until sausage is completely browned, but not overdone. Drain excess grease and return skillet to the burner.
• Stir tomatoes, kidney beans, water or stock, tomato paste, chilies or Jalapeno, and the seasonings into the skillet.
• Bring the skillet mixture to a hard boil and then immediately reduce the heat to medium-low.
• Simmer the mixture uncovered about 20 minutes until the desired level of thickness.
• Spoon into chili bowls and garnish with shredded cheese and chopped green onions or scallions.
• Alternatively, if you like a thinner dish, cook for less time and add seasoned croutons that will soak up the good flavors.