Food Saver

George

I thought the bags used with the Food Saver could be taken from the freezer and put in boiling water or microwave to reheat the food.  I was thinking of getting one and I think that's what they said on QVC.  If that is the case, no more eating meatloaf for a week.  It would be really convenient to put a slice or 2 in the bag and reheat in the microwave.  Chili and other things would also be easy to reheat.

Anyone have a good chili or soup recipe?  I know there are probably a million of them out there but I'd like to have one that someone can vouch for.

I do that with mine, freeze, then make into boiling bag....

We normally do that with the food saver, but we have gotten lazy over the last couple of months.  It is time to start it again.  It does not particularly bother me to have the same thing several days in a row, but Mary tends to stop eating it after 2-3 days.  Doing that, leaves more days of it for me.  In the meantime, she has cooked something else that I want to try when it is fresh.  So the original stuff goes bad in the freezer.  It was just a matter of laziness.

George, the best thing I ever did for myself is to purchase a pressure canner. I got them from someone who could no longer use them (got 2).  It is so much better to can things like soups or chili.  The texture of the potato and beans done change like I find they do in the freezer.  They are pretty and I just put them in the pantry with all the other canned items and I don't forget them in the freezer too long.  It is great to open a can of chili, soup, or beef stew and be able to eat as soon as it is warmed up.

Look for the canners at yard sales, estate sales etc. You can also find jars there.  Parts are usually easy to find like seals or pressure gauges and so forth. 

Happy Cooking!
Vera

I find that chili, soups, and spagetti sauce are tastier if I can them.  I just make a big batch and put it in jars, then I pressure can it.  Last find without refridgeration. ( don't have to worry about electricity going out during the hurricanes or ice storms. 

As for a good recipe we like mine but I am afraid that I make so much at one time that the amounts might be too much.  I would have to estimate some amounts also as I am not one to measure to much.

I use

2 gallons cans of crushed tomatos
1 gallon can of tomato paste
10 lbs lean ground meat (beef, turkey, chicken)
4 large onions chopped
3-4 cloves garlic chopped
1-2 cups of chili powder (adjust to taste, I like hot my DH does not, so I add hot sauce when I fix my bowl)
1/4 cup of cumin
12 to 15 regular cans of pinto beans
6-8 small cans of green chili, chopped

Brown ground meat, onions and garlic in a little olive oil.  Add tomatos, and spices, beans and simmer for 1 hr, then add Tomato paste and green chili peppers, simmer another 20 minutes or so. Enjoy!

I hope this helps you out.

Hugs,
Vera

I

Vera - your chili recipe sounds delicious.  I can probably cut it down to suit my needs. If I made the full recipe I'd have to live to be a hundred to fini****  I love those green chilis. Never thought of putting them in chili.  Thank you.

I eat chili everyday for lunch.  My blood sugars seem to do better with my morning oatmeal and noon bowl of chili.

Season  1lb lean ground beef with fresh ground pepper ... I've used buffalo too  (very lean) 
add one chopped onion
add one package chili seasoning...  I prefer hot
cook together on low heat til meat is done
add one can diced tomatoes with juice
1/2 can water
add small can of tomato paste
add two well rinsed cans of kidney beans....... rinsing take the "juices" out that causes gas.

simmer for about 1-2 hours...  season with cayenne pepper,  hot peppers or hot sauce for desired taste.

 I add grated cheese and fine chopped onion to my bowl.....YUMMY

soup  recipes....... I could go on forever with those..  we eat a lot of homemade soups & stews.

Bon Appetite

Millie

Barbara, I have a large family.  Even though it is only my husband and I at home everyone else (sisters, brother, mom, children and grandchildren) want a jar or two of grandma's chili(or anything else I can).  I also share with the  anyone else that might need a helping hand. It disappears as fast as I can make it.  My husband complains that we are saving our nuts for the winter and then giving them away! LOL I only ask that they save the jars for me so I can refill them.

vera-great to see you posting!!!

"  My husband complains that we are saving our nuts for the winter and then giving them away!"

i love this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good morning everyone,

LOL - that is funny about "saving our nuts for the winter and giving them away!"  LOL

I love getting ideas like you all have shared.  When I was a week out of surgery, I canned 12 or so jars of tomatoes from our garden.  We smelled this awful stench in the kitchen.  I opened up my cabinet and 7 or 8 jars had bubbled over and didn't seal.  EW, what a mess and terrible stench!  I was really angry because I took the time to can these tomatoes when I really wasn't up to it just after surgery!  It seemed like it took me forever because I had to keep sitting and taking a break.  DANG!  I learned a lesson, though, make sure I buy fresh lids next time.

Anyway, thanks for the chili recipes and ideas!