Cast-Iron Skillet Chipotle Chili

Cast-Iron Chipotle Chili  We could go around in circles discussing whether or not ‘real chili’ has beans in it or not. But I’m simply going to shut down that discussion because I’ve never known chili to ‘not have’ beans in it until I saw something about it on a cooking show, and all the Texans were giving the rest of us ‘bean in our chili’ eaters the “thumbs down”. And that’s ok…we forgive them!
In my book chili is an all year around meal because you can dress it up or dress it down according to the season. In the Spring, maybe you want a chili chock-full of full of fresh vegetables, and in the Summer maybe you desire something like a white chicken chili in a light broth. But it is indeed, undisputed that when the breeze begins to roll in from the hills and those leaves begin to burst into shades of burnt orange, cranberry and coffee — I want all the beef and canned tomato goodness with a kiss of peppery heat that one can stand, to fill my bowl to the brim. And this recipe gives you nothing less than that.Cast-Iron Chipotle Chili : The Salted Table
This recipe is also great for the adventurer within, so maybe you want to have a campfire in the backyard and invite a few friends or hang with the kids, maybe there’s a camping trip in your near future? This is the chili you’re gonna want for those “chili” nights in the wilderness.

You may be wondering why this chili isn’t smothered in avocado, sour cream, cheese and onions. If you are a lover of toppings then feel free because this chili may need to be cooled down if you’re sensitive to heat but I tend to be a purest if something’s made well and this chili is pretty darn perfect! So grab a warm blanket and eat a bowl…or two for me.The Salted Table Food Blog, The Salted Table, Nashville TN, Nashville Food Bloggers, Chefs, Personal Chef, Food Photography, Food Styling

Cast-Iron Skillet Chipotle Chili

1 lb 80/20 ground beef
3 Tablespoons Chipotle Chilies in Adobo (diced)
2 14.5 oz cans Red Beans
2 14.5 oz cans diced tomatoes
3 Heavy Tablespoons Chili Powder
2 Tablespoons Ground Cumin
1 teaspoon granulated garlic
1 Tablespoon Kosher Salt (to taste)

Method
1. Place your cast-iron over medium-high heat. Add your ground beef and crumble with a wooden spoon. Stir occasionally, breaking down the chunks of beef until meat is fully browned/cooked. Allow the liquid from your beef to reduce by half then, add your chipotle chiles, chili powder, ground cumin, granulated garlic, and salt. Stir until spice are incorporated into the beef but be careful not to burn, you may need to turn down your heat.

2. Drain excess liquid from your beans and add them to the beef along with your tomatoes. While occasionally stirring, you’re going to allow this to cook for about 20-30 minutes until the liquid begins to thicken and you have a hearty looking chili. Then you can taste to see if you need to add anymore seasoning.Cast-Iron Skillet Chipotle Chili, Quick Chili Recipes, Cooking, Dinner, Camping Food, Autumn Chili, Autumn Foods, Nashville TN, Food Photography

Notes:

Using dry beans: If you opt to use dry beans, simply soak them in luke warm water the night before you prepare the chili, this will cut down you’re cooking time though the beans will still need to be boiled off before allowing to cook in a cast-iron skillet.Cast-Iron Skillet Chipotle Chili

 

 

Summer Tomato, Tart Cherry & Squash Salad

The Asheville Wine & Food Festival & A Summer Tomato, Tart Cherry with Squash Salad

The Asheville Wine & Food Festival is right around the corner and my anticipation has reached a new level of out of control! Our Airbnb is booked and I won’t even begin to spill all the goodness about the cozy-decor-ed little apartment we scored! There’s just something about being in Asheville that makes you wonder why you haven’t been there all along, but don’t worry Nashville, I’m not leaving you! In anticipation for the food-coma of a festival I’ve whipped you up a vegetarian salad that will put a smile on your heart and keep you true to that summer diet. And revel in it guys because vegetarian options are a rarity here folks!

It seems like yesterday, my eyes were rolling into the back of my head and my arms were making a swift motion to push the plate across the table. Oh, you ask, “What was on that plate?” Well, if you were a resident of the blue home on Houston Avenue it may have been anything from buttered peas and onions to turnips or rutabagas, either way I wanted no part of it. But I was young and naive to the joy that these spring time and autumnal veggies had to offer. I only knew or at least thought I knew that they were healthy and weren’t worth another look, pass the mac and cheese please (wink).

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My mom cooked vegetables often and I’m not even sure if she loved them or if it was just something innate from her childhood. Because often you would arrive to my grandmother’s house and there would only be a pot of stewed vegetables on the stove and a cast-iron skillet of cornbread. And I had become accustomed to this tradition and over time it became a treat, as my palate matured and all those vegetables slowly began to take on their own definitive taste in my mind. It wasn’t as simple as ‘if you’ve tried one of them, you’ve tried them all’ which I lived by this mantra back then.

And now vegetables of all kinds arouse the epicurean within me and I want to know all the ways to use them. How other cultures enjoy from day-to-day; season to season, and what kinds exist that I’ve yet to discover? The Nashville farmer’s markets are flooded with all kinds of summer goods from the soils bountiful harvest and I can’t resist leaving the market with a bag full of them to explore. I’ve been pickling, jamming and tossing all the things in vinaigrettes and it won’t cease anytime soon. I’m enamored with the color varieties that vegetables come in even if the flavor doesn’t change, it keeps that dinner plate interesting and makes for beautiful presentation.

The recipe for this salad is relatively easy, you’ll have to put a little time in but the end product is well worth it. And squash has been killer this summer, so much so, that it has ended up in many a dish for dinner. The combination of these tart cherries, earthy sweet tomatoes and the burst of brightness from the lemon vinaigrette work so well with the zesty pop of the onions. I think you’ll be making this for summers to come…if you’re smart. Also, if you want more info on the Asheville Wine & Food Festival simply click here! I’d love to see you there!

Summer Tomato, Tart Cherry & Squash Salad

2 Summer Squash
1/2 cup pitted & sliced cherries (tart)
1/4 cup julienne red onion
3 Tomatoes

Lemon-Honey Vinaigrette

1 medium lemon (zested & squeezed)
2 tablespoons TRU Bee Honey
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1/4 Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 tsp kosher salt (to taste)

Method

First, rinse all of your fruit off under cold water for about thirty seconds to remove all debris. Julienne one-quarter of a red onion, put it in an ice-cold bath for about 5 minutes. I do this to remove the sharp bite that onions may have. Take them out, lightly pat them with napkins to remove excess water. Shave your summer squash with a potato peeler or a mandolin, place in a bowl with onions. Core and slice your tomatoes into thin wedges or you may dice them if you like. Then, add them to the onions and squash, set aside.

Combine all of the ingredients for your lemon-honey vinaigrette and whisk them vigorously in a small bowl until a temporary emulsion forms. Taste for salt and adjust accordingly. Drizzle the vinaigrette over the squash, onions, and tomatoes and toss gently with your ‘clean’ hands for about 30 seconds or so. Taste again for salt and adjust accordingly. Arrange salad on the serving platter or plates how you see fit and last, but not least, place the cherries across the top. Enjoy!

Note: I also think sherry or rice wine vinegar would be a great substitute if you don’t have apple cider vin on hand, but you may need to add a little sugar (like a teaspoon) if using rice wine vinegar. This salad would also be nice with seared duck breasts or grilled salmon if you’re feeling fancy!

 

 

macerated strawberries and a farewell to Spring 

macerated strawberries on The Local Forkful

When I was a child tracing the cracks of sidewalks with my tender bare feet I knew nothing of the joy that each season had to offer–I was simply on a mission to find things in the dirt and release them from the soils firm grip. It seems like yesterday Nanny was walking across the decrepit bridge to the garden in search of the overnight harvest. She would pluck a basketful of tomatoes that were tugging at the vines and grazing the moist dirt below. The Serrano peppers would be swaying in the breeze as if wanting to chime like bells on the veranda. It was indeed summer and spring was leaving behind the last of the wild berries that grew up against the fence. The old wooden fence where you could occasionally catch a glimpse of our neighbor’s dog’s eyes glaring at you in the sun. I avoided getting to close to that fence in fear of shrilling barks being directed my way with great force–and laced with disdain and contempt for my existence. That is what I knew of dogs then, not now.

macerated strawberries on The Local Forkful

I remember only having a few strawberries to eat from those bushes because they didn’t produce much fruit and I’m not sure why. But it may have something to do with the local plants in Oak Ridge contaminating our water supply, I kid, we had much supply of vegetables that never lacked the ambition of sprouting forth–only the strawberries. I was a lover of strawberries when I was a child but I was a meticulous eater of sorts, only chasing the lush red fruit and leaving the slightly bitter and tangy hull behind. This relationship was and is still the same with many other fruits today, don’t judge, you simply like what you like and we are who we are.macerated strawberries on The Local Forkful

macerated fruit, strawberries, Delvin Farms, buy local

In my family, I simply can’t recall anyone ever macerating strawberries or fruit. It just wasn’t ‘a thing’ in my family. My mother and Nanny both used the gelatin in a tub when making desserts if Nanny wasn’t putting it in Jell-O mold for a church potluck. My father’s mother was the rinse and eat from the pint kind’ve of woman, and the resident baker, my cousin Carnell would typically bake them into a cake that would be lathered with strawberry frosting. It wasn’t until my mother in-law came into the picture some eleven years later that I would actually know and love the art of macerated strawberries. I’m sure I came across it in some format or another throughout culinary school but nothing that stuck like when the MIL made them.macerated strawberries on The Local Forkful

There’s nothing like strawberries in season that will create a flutter in your heart and an excitement of your palate when you bend down to pluck it fresh from the vine. The experience of that tender bite kissed by sun, releasing that sweet juice into your mouth and without warning the corners of your lips begin to curl up the sides and you’re smiling ‘something serious’ that just can’t be contained. The strawberries you’re feasting your eyes upon in the post today are from the lovely folks at Delvin Farms and some from the folks at Kelley’s Berry Farm. I won’t lie to you I picked both of them up at East Nashville Farmer’s Market because I like to spread the love event though I occasionally have my bias depending upon the product. But I couldn’t fight the urge to have these berries in snacking distance so I sat them in the front seat, and if you know anything about Nashville traffic, it’s a nightmare. I came to an abrupt stop and the berries began to cascade in slow motion through the air and onto my ‘freshly cleaned’ car floor (wink). Well, there was no way I would be able to separate them and I don’t think the berries minded being blended so everyone was happy and now we’re spreading the love for two companies, so win win.

As you all know it’s kind’ve of a pain in the roo to put recipes into a formatted display in which you can just scroll down to the bottom and make it. I’m a talker and I’m going to tell you what to do to have this deliciousness in your mouth sooner than later. Not to mention, I love that it encourages you guys to actually read the content though I know there are those of you who hate it (sorry, not sorry)!macerated strawberries on The Local Forkful

All you need are some fresh local strawberries or some Driscoll’s or whatever store brand you can get your hands on will work. I know that I caught you kind of late with this post because strawberry season has ended for us here but you may be lucky. And be warned that most mass producers pick strawberries before they’re ready so macerating them is never a bad option. Always rinse your strawberries off unless you have a little country in you, like myself, then you eat them in the car on the way home from the market. Cut the berries into whatever size you prefer and toss them in to a couple of tablespoons of granulated white sugar. I recommend two tablespoons of sugar per pint of berries you have. Toss the berries in the sugar to give them an even coating in a bowl that’s not metal. Let them set in the refrigerator for about 20-30 minutes occasionally giving them a little stir to insure that the sugar is completely dissolved. Once you have a nice syrup in the bottom and fruit has weeped just a little, you have a perfect bowl of macerated strawberries ready to be devoured. This is great to do with your kids, it makes the perfect topping for a slice of cake or a scoop of ice cream and this process also works well with peaches, plums, pineapple etc. And if you desire to use raspberries or blackberries you’ll want to crush some of the fruit to encourage juicing.

macerated strawberries on The Local Forkful

You can find this recipe on Steller Stories and please follow along for quick recipes and creative happenings in my life. I really hope you guys enjoy and I’d love to hear what you’re doing with your seasonal fruits!

macerated strawberries on The Local Forkful

 

Herbed Roasted Chicken & Vegan Spiced Apples & Potatoes

IMG_2896.JPGYou know those dishes that you create without any plan and you find yourself surprised at how well they come out? Well, needless to say this is one of those dishes. And yes, despite being trained to know how to cook, chefs indeed have those moments of ah-hah, that’s delicious. It’s not like the roasting of chicken is a complicated process that requires the need of bells and whistles because it doesn’t. And that’s why we flock to it as our go-to meal when there is minimal time for fussy dinner preparation. Not that I make fussy meals or anything, cough.

Over the summer my wife and I visited Asheville, NC for the Food Blogger Forum. An event where food bloggers gather and discuss our passion for food, blogging, and the art of creating community. I received a little jar of what was labeled vegan spice. At first, I had no idea what the heck the stuff was or how I was going to properly utilize it to fit into our meals, but one night I saw the spice while in the midst of trying to decode what we were going to eat for dinner based upon the scant selection of ingredients in our fridge. If there’s anything I hate more than folding laundry, its trips to the grocery store once I’m already home for the evening.

I looked in the fridge and there it was staring at me, a whole bird, two sweet potatoes, three new red potatoes and some Mutsu apples from Chattanooga that I had just purchased at Whole Foods Market. Before I knew it, I had reached for the cast-iron skillet on the shelf and I set the chicken in the pan. After a brief moment of hesitation I placed the chicken back onto a cutting board and proceeded to cut it in half after realizing we probably won’t eat the whole thing. I turned the oven to 425 degrees. I seasoned both halves of the chicken with kosher salt, fresh ground black pepper, finely minced thyme, oregano and I tucked two pats of unsalted butter beneath the skin, set it aside. I rinsed the potatoes and apples, removed any eyes from the potatoes that didn’t look edible and cut them into chunks. Just in case you were wondering I cored the apples. I tossed the potatoes and apples in two teaspoons of the vegan spice, one tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil, and a smidge of kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste.

I put the chicken in the center of the cast-iron skillet and nestled the potatoes and apples around it but being careful not to completely cover the skin, because crispy skin is the key to the perfect roasted chicken. I walked away and began to write this post while I waited for it to cook and for my wife to come home. The cooking time is somewhere between 45 min to an hour, of course this is subjective based upon your oven, so properly temp your chicken for a internal temperature of 165º. There may have been some Parks & Recreation in the backdrop, laugh-out-loud, because that show slays me! I’m so grateful for Netflix…sigh. But any-who, I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as the wife and I did. I’m already in need of ordering more of that vegan spice because I’ve been using it so often. You can order it here. Enjoy and I’d love to hear about some of your ah-ha dishes that turned out un-expectedly well.