Pumpkin Chili and Monster Apples

Black Bean & Pumpkin Chili

So the chili cook-off was this week at work, and I decided it would be a fantastic idea to pick a chili recipe out of my lovely cookbook at make it for the occasion. I chose this recipe because it was unique and I thought it’d be interesting. Well, I for one loved the outcome. The pumpkin and spices really meshed well together to bring in a flavorful chili. It’s not your typical chili, and probably isn’t the best if you truly want to win a chili cook-off, but it really was delicious. ​

I did not win the cook-off, I did not even come close to winning, but it was all eaten up and gone within an hour. I’m blaming my low votes to the two chilis I was in between and my location in the room. First, I was in the corner, nobody puts Baby in the corner. Second, I was next to one chili that was extremely hot so no one could taste mine after eating that. And third, the other guy I was next too had steamed tortillas and toppings for his chili. Can’t really compete with chili eaten like a taco. Cheat much?

I ended up just using ground turkey for the meat. This would be an awesome chili to make with leftover Thanksgiving turkey… just an idea for everyone who gets sick of eating leftover turkey sandwiches after Thanksgiving. Also, it was the perfect day for chili. Slightly cold and a little rainy. I’ll probably want to make this chili again for myself, I only got a taste, but it was delicious and not at all spicy (my kind of chili). Thumbs up for Black Bean and Pumpkin chili.

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Monster Caramel Apples

I have never made a caramel apple before, so I decided that this Halloween I would do so. Well, it wasn’t as great as I thought…

First of all, I couldn’t find any sticks to purchase in time for when I wanted to make them. Yes, the are on amazon and walmart.com, but I needed them the same day. You'd think if it's on walmart's website they'd have it in the store. Nope. So, what did I do? I improvised. I made myself a Monster Caramel Apple “salad.” And though it was good, it was way too much sugar to be consumed in one sitting.

Instead of dipping the whole apple into caramel and then into the oreos and then drizzled with white chocolate candy, here’s what happened at my house: Diced the apple, drizzled with caramel, sprinkled with oreos and white chocolate chips and halloween colored sprinkles. Oh man it was way too much sugar! I think I only ate like a fourth of the entire thing, but it was good.

Even though the outcome didn’t look as pretty as the picture in the cookbook, I can only imagine that it tasted exactly the same. I won’t be attempting this recipe again, but still counts right?

recipe

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