Cha Cha Chili Mac

Ok, so let me first start with a disclaimer.  I am not a professional.  I make mistakes.  I am human.  I'm simply trying to use the best ingredients possible to make healthy meals for my family.  Don't flame me if I use something you think I shouldn't.  This is what works for us and you can adapt these recipes however you wish.



If you're like me and love a good quick one pot meal in under 30 minutes, this is for you.  It's gluten free and dairy free too! Of course you're always welcome to substitute for the real deal, but we keeps it dairy free up in hurrr! 

This is my version of Hamburger Helper chili mac.  I think it's much tastier and there are no chemicals in it! It's all healthy ingredients and no canned food either!  It's a quick simple meal that everyone can enjoy!

First let's talk ingredients:

• 1 lb ground turkey (you can use beef, we don't eat red meat)
• 2 1/2 cups unsweetened original Almond Milk (make sure it's not vanilla flavored or     sweetened otherwise you're gonna have too much sugar and it will taste weird *trust me on this I made that mistake :/)
•1 1/2 cups hot water
•2 cups gluten free pasta of choice, we like quinoa
•2 cups of cheese substitute, we use go veggie!
• spice mix

2 1/2 cups milk

1 1/2 cups hot water

2 cups elbow macaroni

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 tablespoon chili powder

2 teaspoons garlic powder

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon paprika

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

pinch crushed red pepper flakes

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Read more at http://www.farmgirlgourmet.com/2012/12/homemade-hamburger-helper.html#dtVPEPC3LeUZQH0H.99

1 lb ground beef

cooking spray

2 1/2 cups milk

1 1/2 cups hot water

2 cups elbow macaroni

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 tablespoon chili powder

2 teaspoons garlic powder

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon paprika

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

pinch crushed red pepper flakes

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Read more at http://www.farmgirlgourmet.com/2012/12/homemade-hamburger-helper.html#dtVPEPC3LeUZQH0H.99

1 lb ground beef

cooking spray

2 1/2 cups milk

1 1/2 cups hot water

2 cups elbow macaroni

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 tablespoon chili powder

2 teaspoons garlic powder

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon paprika

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

pinch crushed red pepper flakes

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Read more at http://www.farmgirlgourmet.com/2012/12/homemade-hamburger-helper.html#dtVPEPC3LeUZQH0H.99

1 lb ground beef

cooking spray

2 1/2 cups milk

1 1/2 cups hot water

2 cups elbow macaroni

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 tablespoon chili powder

2 teaspoons garlic powder

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon paprika

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

pinch crushed red pepper flakes

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Read more at http://www.farmgirlgourmet.com/2012/12/homemade-hamburger-helper.html#dtVPEPC3LeUZQH0H.99

1 lb ground beef

cooking spray

2 1/2 cups milk

1 1/2 cups hot water

2 cups elbow macaroni

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 tablespoon chili powder

2 teaspoons garlic powder

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon paprika

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

pinch crushed red pepper flakes

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Read more at http://www.farmgirlgourmet.com/2012/12/homemade-hamburger-helper.html#dtVPEPC3LeUZQH0H.99

 

 

Next are the ingredients in the spice mix:

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 tablespoon chili powder

2 teaspoons garlic powder

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon paprika

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Read more at http://www.farmgirlgourmet.com/2012/12/homemade-hamburger-helper.html#dtVPEPC3LeUZQH0H.99

 •1 Tablespoon of cornstarch (to make your sauce thicken)

 •1 Tablespoon of chili powder

 •2 teaspoons of garlic powder

 •1 teaspoon sugar

 •1 teaspoon of salt

 •3/4 teaspoon paprika

 •1/4 teaspoon cayenne (omit if you don't like it spicy)

 •pinch of red pepper flakes (I mean a little pinch-a little goes a long way)

Once you have your spices assembled start cooking you meat! I use just a tiny bit of coconut oil in a pan on medium to brown my turkey.

Once you have cooked and drained your meat place it back in the pan and add your macaroni or noodle of choice:

 

Add your milk

Then your water

 

 Last, add your spices

Then all you do is mix it up, and bring the pan to boiling.  Once it's boiling reduce to a low simmer and cover!

Check it and stir every 5 minutes or so for about 20 minutes. Next add your cheese!

Mix until cheese is melted and ta da! Enjoy!

Winner Winner...Lazy Chicken Dinner!

Ok, so let me first start with a disclaimer.  I am not a professional.  I make mistakes.  I am human.  I'm simply trying to use the best ingredients possible to make healthy meals for my family.  Don't flame me if I use something you think I shouldn't.  This is what works for us and you can adapt these recipes however you wish.

So now to the food.  There are nights where I just don't feel like cooking.  We've all felt that whole, "I just don't feel like getting any dishes dirty or doing anything in the kitchen because I just cleaned" etc.  I don't blame anyone because this is me 85% of the time.  So I thought, I'll start you off with this easy peasy dish.

Now, I can't take all the credit for this.  It was a Pinterest recipe:

However there was no link, just small instructions and a photo.  Easy enough right? I took the challenge and gathered my ingredients:
  
     • 3-4 organic chicken breasts
     •1 bag of purple potatoes
     •1 10oz bag of organic frozen green beans
     •2/3c coconut butter
     •Italian "spice mix" (see below)
     •9x13 glass baking dish

The original post said to use a packet of Italian dressing mix, but there are ton's of weird ingredients in that that I can't pronounce, so I made my own.  This is a guesstimate of what I created.  Feel free to add lib here and add your own favorite spices!

Spice Mix

     •1 TBSP Italian seasoning
     •2 TSP Garlic powder
     •2 TSP Onion powder
     •1 TSP Red pepper flakes
     •1 TSP Basil
     •1 TSP Salt

Set that aside and get to work chopping some taters! I used purple potatoes because they are so delicious and they roast well in the oven.  They seem more creamier than regular potatoes. Of course, you can use any kind you like.  New potatoes, Idaho potatoes, yellow potatoes, the list goes on.  If you're adventurous you can try my version!

And, yes, if you're wondering, they are purple inside!

I put my potatoes on one side of the dish and my bag of green beans on the other.  These were frozen when they were put in the pan. No thawing needed!

So your pan should look somewhat similar:

Now that your pan is all pretty it's time to shake shake shake your spice mix over that stuff! All over!  This is a great step to include kids!

Next step is the "butter".  Of course we are dairy free so I'm using coconut butter.  It has a small, tiny, hint of coconut to it, but not enough to overpower anything.  If you are gonna use real butter, it just needs 1 stick, melted.  Coconut butter is not quite as dense so I added 2/3 of a cup instead of a 1/2 cup.

 Stick it in the microwave and melt that butter!!!  Then prepare to pour onto your dish!

Once you coated all of your ingredients with the melted butter, cover with foil and cook in the oven for 1 hour!

That's it! After that hour you've got a delicious and healthy meal that takes hardly any effort! My husband says the green beans are the best part, but I'm a fan of the potatoes myself! Good Luck!