Unusual Chili Recipes - 4 Wacky But fantastic Chili Meals

Got a hankering for chili, but tired of the same old bean chili you've had countless times? Good. It's time to shake things up a small and try something distinct to get your taste buds excited. Here are four unique recipes for chili that will give your chili cravings some much needed variety.

=> Pumpkin Chili Mexicana

Delicious Cookie Recipes

The sweet, earthy taste of pumpkin takes this dish to a whole other level of savory goodness.

2 tablespoons vegetable oil, 1/2 cup onion, chopped, 1 cup of red or green pepper, chopped, 1 clove garlic, finely chopped, 1 pound of ground turkey, 2 (14 oz.) cans diced tomatoes, undrained, 1-3/4 cups pumpkin puree, 1 (15 oz.) can tomato sauce, 1 (15-1/4 oz.) can kidney beans, drained, 1 (4 oz.) can green chilies, diced, 1/2 cup whole kernel corn, 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper.

In a large saucepan, heat the vegetable oil over medium high heat. Add in the onion, bell pepper and garlic. Cook, stirring constantly, for 5 to 7 minutes or until tender.

Add in the turkey meat and cook until browned; drain.

Add in the tomatoes with juice, pumpkin puree, tomato sauce, beans, chilies, corn, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper. Cut the heat to low. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes.

=> Memphis Barbecue Shrimp Chili

Here's a very unique chili formula that comes level out of the Memphis barbecue tradition. The consistency will be very soup like and is meant to be served over rice or French bread.

1-1/2 pounds medium shrimp, 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter, 3 tablespoons of olive oil, 5 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped, 1-1/2 cups of barbecue sauce, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon hot sauce, 1 teaspoon liquid smoke, 1-1/2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes, 1-1/2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon tasteless ground black pepper, 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley, 1 lemon, sliced very thin, white rice and or French bread.

Peel and fully clean the shrimp.

In a large, heavy skillet, melt the butter and oil. Cook the garlic until it's nice and soft.

Add in the shrimp and cook until pink.

Add in the barbecue sauce, Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce, liquid smoke, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper and chili powder.

Simmer all for 10 minutes. Add in the parsley and lemon slices. Continue to simmer for 5 to 7 minutes.

Serve chili over white rice and/or French bread.

=> Italiano Chili Con Carne

Italian meets Southwestern in this easy-to-make chili dish.

1 green pepper, 6 to 8 large onions, 1 pound ground beef, 1 medium can of tomatoes, 1 can of kidney beans, 1 can of spaghetti sauce.

In a skillet, cook the ground beef until brown; drain.

Dice up the green peppers and onions and add to a saucepan. Add in the cooked beef and the tomatoes. Let simmer until all ingredients are well done. Add in the beans and spaghetti sauce; heat thoroughly.

Season to taste with salt, pepper and sugar.

=> Picante Cincinnati Chili

This Cincinnati version is known as the sweet chili and is served over spaghetti noodles. The picante sauce adds a nice twist to this beloved dish.

2 pounds of ground beef or pork, 2 large onions, chopped, 2 cloves of garlic, minced, 1 (15 oz.) can tomato sauce, 1 can picante sauce, 2 tablespoons chili powder, 1 to1-1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice, 2 bay leaves, 1 pound thin spaghetti, cooked.

Topping: Shredded cheddar cheese, 1 chopped onion, kidney beans, heated, Oyster crackers.

In a large Dutch oven or pot, brown the beef or pork along with the onion and garlic. Add in the remaining ingredients, except for the spaghetti and the toppings. Cover and let simmer for 1 hour; stirring occasionally.

Remove the bay leaves. Serve the chili nice and hot over the cooked spaghetti. Use toppings as desired.

Unusual Chili Recipes - 4 Wacky But fantastic Chili Meals

Unusual Christmas Cookies

Try some of these unusual combinations to liven up your cookie exchange and bring a smile to the house table this holiday season. They are quick and easy and you probably won't see them on any other tables, but they are oh, so good.

Cola Gingerbread also known as

Delicious Cookie

Ginger Soda Bread

When I was a teen my grandmother made these and brought them with her when she came to visit for the holidays. I can still remember the taste today. And now, as an adult, I know why mom and dad would only let us have one. It was the topping!

To one box of gingerbread mix add 3/4 cup of cola.

Mix well.

Stir in one tablespoon of instant coffee and 1 tablespoon of grated orange peel.

Drop by rounded teaspoons onto a parchment lined baking sheet.

Bake at 350 degrees.

Gingerbread is done when it springs back when touched lightly in the center.

Cool for ten minutes.

Serve topped with whipped topping, or if you want the former topping for this treat serve with hard sauce. The formula follows.

Hard-sauce: To 1 cup confectioners sugar add two tablespoons of brandy or whiskey. Stir until blended and the sauce is stiff. You may have to add additional sugar on a humid day, or a petite less. Spread onto cooled cookies. You can also decoration with candied ginger for a petite something extra.

Vinegar And Cocoa Cookie

Sounds strange but these are delicious. Add a few colored sugar sprinkles to the frosting to give them a festive flair.

Sift together three cups of flour, two cups of sugar, a 1/4 teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoons of baking soda, and ten level tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder in a bowl and set aside.

In an additional one bowl mix together 2 tablespoons white vinegar, 3/4 cup salad oil, and 2 teaspoons vanilla. Add to dry mix. Stir in up to 1/2 cup of water a petite at a time. Blend should be a soft batter but not runny.

Drop onto a greased baking sheet and Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes.

Frost with your favorite frosting.

Mayonnaise Cake Cookies

This may sound surprising but mayonnaise is a blend of eggs and oil, so it makes sense that while the depression my grandmother would think of using it to bake some house treats. To make them more festive for the holidays and special events, grandma would add some nuts and candied cherries to the batter.

Sift together 2 1/2 cups flour, 1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1 cup sugar.

Cream 3/4 cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons water and 1 teaspoon each, vanilla and almond extract.

Add dry Blend and stir until well blended.

Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls and bake on a greased baking sheet 10 - 12 minutes at 350 degrees. Frost with your favorite fudge frosting.

Corn Meal Cookies

Another house favorite, these will leave you wanting more. And more. And more!

you will need:

1 cup shortening

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon lemon extract

1 cup raisins

1/2 cup finely chopped nuts

1/4 cup dried apricots

1/4 cup dried cherries

3 cups cake flour

1 cup yellow corn meal

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon salt.

Cream shortening. Add the sugar, eggs, and excerpt and cream until light. Toss the raisins in 1/2 cup of flour and add. Sift the remaining dry ingredients and add, mixing well.

Drop by rounded teaspoons onto a greased cookie sheet. Flatten out with a fork. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 - 12 minutes. Cool. Makes about 60 - 2 inch cookies. Store in airtight box for up to a month.

Flak-O-Roons

Funny sounding but delicious none the less. Whip these up and you will be an instant hit.

3 egg whites

1/2 teaspoon salt stirred into 1 cup sugar

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

2 cups rice flakes

2 1/4 cups coconut- flaked

1 cup chocolate chips

Beat egg whites until stiff adding sugar slowly until soft peaks form.

fold in cereal and coconut.

Drop from a spoon onto a parchment paper lined cookie sheet.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

Cool.

while cooling, melt the chocolate chips. Using a spoon drizzle the cookies with the melted chocolate in a pleasing pattern. Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

Optional: You can use white baking chips or a thin frosting tinted with food coloring if you like.

I hope your house enjoys these as much as mine do.

Unusual Christmas Cookies