The Best Chili EVER.

    I made a big ole crockpot of this chili last night and it's gonna last us through the weekend.  It's easy and can simmer all day long.  Great with the broccoli cornbread:

2 lbs. ground beef or chuck

1 green bellpepper

1 medium onion

1 can petite diced tomatoes

1 can (12 oz.) of tomato sauce

2 cans light red kidney beans

2 TBsp. chili powder

3 whole cloves

1 bay leaf

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

Here's what ya do.  Brown the beef (mostly), drain excess fat.  Add in chopped onion and bellpepper.  Cook.  I then transfer to a crockpot.  Add in tomatoes, tomato sauce, and seasonings.  Do NOT add in the beans until 15-20 minutes before you are ready to eat the chili, as they will get mushy if they sit all day.  Simmer on the LOWEST setting until you're ready to serve it up.  Great fall meal!!!

Peanut Butter Pie

   Ok, so it's not so good for the diet.  HOWEVER, it is such a popular dessert... a great dish to share.  I received this recipe from a girl in my Greek school class this summer.  It was so tasty I decided to post it:

Peanut Butter Cream Pie recipe:

Ingredients:
2 (15 oz.) pie crusts
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate
3 sticks margarine
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup peanut butter
12 oz. cool whip
1 tablespoon corn syrup
2 tablespoons milk
(optional) 1/4 cup peanut butter chips for decoration

Pie Crusts:
*Make sure to put enough fork holes in crust so crust doesn't bubble
*Bake crust @450 for 9-11 minutes or until golden brown

Bottom Layer:
*Melt together: 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, 2.5 tablespoons margarine, 2 tablespoons water, 1/2 cup powerdered sugar
*This makes enough for both crusts.  After crusts are cooled, spread chocolate on sides and on bottom of crusts.  Refrigerate until chocolate hardens.

Peanut Butter Layer:
*Melt together: 1 cup margarine and 1 cup brown sugar.  After mixture is melted together, stick in refrigerator for 10 minutes.  After mixture is cooled, add 1 cup peanut butter and mix well.  After mixed, add 12 oz. cool whip and mix well.  Spread the peanut butter mixture into the pie crusts and put in refrigerator.

Top Layer:
*Melt together: 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, 2.5 tablespoons margarine, 2 tablespoons milk, 1 tablespoon corn syrup.
*After everything is melted together, spread evenly on top of pies and either refrigerate or freeze.

(optional) decoration:
*Melt 1/4 cup peanut butter chips with approximately 1 tablespoon milk.  Once mixture is melted and smooth, decorate tops of pies to your liking!

**Hint for serving: Run knife under hot water for cutting**