Winter Meals and Staying Motivated on Monday's

In January we're going to start having Meatless Mondays again, as well as, Muffin Tin Mondays. Winter meal planning always seem to get me down so I think this will help me stay motivated to feed my kids throughout the winter months. Not that they would let me get away with not feeding them for too long. I used to do the Muffin Tin Mondays with the kids when they were little. Their appetites were so small that I could put their meal in one of those 6 tin muffin pans. I made some pretty cute little meals for them and they always loved it. But all my big muffin tins are rusted out and I really need to get some new ones. I do have a muffin tin that makes little muffins. So I thought I'd make some mini muffins with our chili for dinner tonight. The Chili recipe is handed down from my mom. I don't recall where I came up with the cornbread recipe. I like to sprinkle a little bit of shredded cheese on top about five minutes before it's done baking, but it's not necessary.


Mom's Chili
Ingredients
1/2 Yellow Onion diced
4 Cans Chili Beans
1 Can Black Beans drained and Rinsed
1 Can Chili Ready Tomatoes
1 pkg. Chili Seasoning Mix
1 lb Hamburger meat (optional)
4 oz Sour cream (optional)
1 oz Sharp Shredded Cheese (optional)

Directions

1. Fully Cook Hamburger meat with onion, drain
2. Place Hamburger Onion mixture, Chili Beans (with juice), Black Beans (rinsed/drained), Tomatoes and Seasoning mix in crock pot. Cook on low 6 to 8 hours or on high 3 to 4 hours.
3. Serve in bowl with sour cream, shredded cheese (optional) and cornbread muffins.

Cornbread Muffins
Ingredients

• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1 cup bread crumbs
• ¹⁄₄ cup sugar
• 5 teaspoons baking powder
• ¹⁄₂ teaspoon salt 
• 1 cup water, plus
• 2 tablespoons water 
• ¹⁄₃ cup oil

Directions

1. preheat oven to 425.
2. Combine all ingredients and beat well.
3. Bake in greased and floured muffin pan for 15-20 minutes.