Cincinnati Chili

In continuing with meals that are inspired from our missions, Laura and I decided to make one of my most favorite meals ever. Cincinnati Chili. This chili is not anything like what most people think of as chili. This chili is a Greek meat sauce made with cinnamon, allspice, chocolate, and chili sauce, that's placed over spaghetti and topped with either cheese, onions, kidney beans, or all three. It so good and we are so glad that everyone loved it! Here's the recipe:

Cincinnati Chili

2 lbs. ground beef
1/2 tsp cumin
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp cocoa powder
2 large onions finely diced
2-4 dashes of Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp garlic powder
2 Tbls chili powder
1/2 tsp pepper
1 1/2 Tbls salt
6 oz. can of tomato paste
1 1/2 Tbls apple cider vinegar
1/2 Tbls all spice
3 Bay leaves
3 pints of water

Take the raw meat and put it in a pot with 2 pints of the water. Mush the meat into the water with your hands until it is a mealy consistency. Cook the meat until it has turned brown, about 20 minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients and last pint of water and mix well. Cook for 1-2 hours. Serve over spaghetti.

Here are the different ways to make it:

Three-way: Spaghetti, chili, and cheese

Four-way: Spaghetti, chili, cheese, and onions

Five-way: Spaghetti, Chili, Cheese, Onions, and kidney beans

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Frittata

The other day we were watching Food Network (our daily food inspiration channel) and discovered a new breakfast dish called a Frittata. A frittata is basically like a fluffy omelet that you bake. We were intrigued and Laura remembered seeing a recipe on one of her favorite blogs a few months back. So we looked it up and finally made it today. And it was so good! Fluffier than scrambled eggs but still dense enough to fill you up. It's like a whole breakfast in one! We loved it.

Breakfast Frittata

7-8 eggs (depends on the size of the eggs)
half a bag of cubed hash-brown potatoes
2/3 Cup of grated cheese (usually cheddar but feel free to use anything, we hear ricotta is actually pretty good)
2-3 scallions, finely shopped
1/2 tsp. Baking Powder
1 cup of chopped ham (or bacon, or anything that you want pretty much)
Salt and Pepper (to taste)

Preheat oven to 350. Cook the potatoes in a oil sprayed, oven-safe pan until they are fully cooked and lightly browned. Add the ham to the cooked potatoes and heat thoroughly. While that is heating, in a bowl, whisk together the eggs, cheese, onions, baking powder, salt, and pepper until well mixed. When the potatoes and ham is fully heated, remove from heat and pour the egg mixture over the potatoes. Place the pan in the oven and bake for about 20 minutes or until it becomes fluffy and you can stick a fork in it and it comes out clean. Cut in wedges and serve. Yum!

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