144.8...Chili Mac Soup

This weekend didn’t turn out well in terms of my two favorite football teams: San Diego Chargers and the USC Trojans. They both suffered a defeat and I, in turn, suffered. 

The part of my weekend that didn’t endure pain and suffering was in the food department. I enjoyed so many delicious eats and made some new recipes too! 

One of those new recipes was dinner on Saturday night. It was hot as hell out but I was craving chili and soup. I found a recipe for Chili Mac Soup that combined chili and soup into one bowl of deliciousness!

Chili Mac Soup (Serves 6-8)

Recipe adapted from Cinnamon Spice and Everything Nice

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef or turkey

1 yellow onion, diced

1 green bell pepper, diced

Canola oil, for sautéing

1 Tbsp. chile powder

1 tsp. dried oregano

1 tsp. smoked paprika

1 tsp. cumin

1 tsp. salt, plus more to taste

Cayenne pepper, optional, amount up to you

1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste

1 (14 oz.) can cannellini beans with juices

1 (14 oz.) can diced tomatoes, undrained

2 (14 oz.) cans chicken broth

12 oz. medium-size pasta shells

Shredded cheddar, for serving

Sour Cream, for serving

Green onions, chopped, for serving

Directions:

1. In a large soup pot or Dutch oven, heat enough oil to lightly cover the bottom of the pan. Sauté the onion and green pepper for 3 minutes. Add the ground beef or turkey, crumbling it apart as it cooks.

2. When the onion and peppers are tender and the beef/turkey is cooked through, add all the herbs and spices including the salt and pepper. Cook for 2 to 3 more minutes.

3. Drain the grease, if any. Add the beans, tomatoes and broth to the pan. Bring to a simmer and cook for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste halfway through and season as needed, and again at the end.

4. Cook pasta separately according to package directions. Drain and toss with a teaspoon of olive oil. 

5. To serve, spoon pasta into bowl, ladle soup over top. Serve with shredded cheese, sour cream and onions.

*Note: can leave the chicken broth out and it will just be Chili Mac.

Printable Recipe

Friday’s lunch was with some friends at Big Bang Sushi. My weekly sushi lunch started with miso soup and Chili Garlic Edamame.

Tuna, yellowtail and salmon sushi:

Alicia and I split the Albacore Delight and Marine Boy rolls:

My husband and I went to see “Straight Outta Compton” Friday night. We loved it. You have to appreciate that kind of music and have enjoyed it back then to enjoy the movie I think.

We went to dinner afterwards at Davanti. I love that restaurant. One of the reasons is their Focaccia di Recco + Honeycomb (Ligurian style baked focaccia plus fresh soft cow cheese):

This is carb heaven. 

The carb enjoyment continued on with Tagliatelle with Tomatoes:

We had to add a bit of protein to our meal so we opted for the Pollo ‘Sole Mio’ (grilled half chicken, chili pepper paste, romaine salad):

I was extremely happy when we left. Everything was perfect! I could have bathed in that chili pepper paste that was on the chicken.

Saturday morning’s breakfast:

I went grocery shopping and started prepping for a barbecue with friends on Sunday. Lunch was a tuna sandwich and a salad. 

As I mentioned earlier, I made Chili Mac Soup for dinner Saturday night. 

I made my favorite Buttermilk Cornbread to go with it. 

Sunday morning’s breakfast:

I spent the morning prepping more barbecue stuff. Lunch was a turkey sandwich and a salad.

Our friends Jessy, Renee and their kids came over to swim and have dinner. I made Roasted Red Pepper Feta Dip (recipe coming) for an appetizer. 

This was INSANE. SO good!!!!

The main event was Green Goddess Turkey Burgers with all the fixings.

I made Chipotle Potato Salad with Fresh Corn (recipe coming) to go with the burgers. Another hit!

I ended up putting some of the Roasted Red Pepper Feta Dip on my turkey burger. So delicious. Renee brought over a fabulous black bean salad. I grilled some corn on the cob too but opted out…too much on my plate already.

I also needed to save room for dessert:

Chocolate Chunk Blondies. (recipe coming) OMG. You’re going to thank me when you make these. 

Great weekend of food for sure!!! This morning it was back to basics with my standard breakfast.

I took the kids to school, then to spin class. I ran some errands at the mall, stopping at The Corner Bakery for lunch. I didn’t have my standard chopped salad and chili but instead opted for the half Chicken Pesto Sandwich and a cup of Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup.

While it was good, I didn’t find it as filling as my regular order. :(  You win some….

What was the best thing you ate all weekend?

Technorati Tags: Big Bang Sushi, Buttermilk Cornbread, Chili Mac Soup, Chipotle Potato Salad with Fresh Corn, Chocolate Chunk Blondies, Corner Bakery, Davanti, Everyday, Green Goddess Turkey Burgers, Roasted Red Pepper Feta Dip