Cheesy Chili Mac

So sometimes you just crave some good old comfort food, especially in the winter. I grabbed a magazine from Whole Foods awhile back called "Skillet Suppers" that was put out by America's Test Kitchen. It was an impulse purchase at the time but it has produced some new, easy family favorites for us and the beauty is all the dishes are cooked in ONE POT. Fewer dishes=Happier Mama. I hesitantly decided to try this recipe for chili mac. . .the boys love their mac n' cheese so add meat to it and you've got their dream come true in a bowl. It hit the spot for my entire family. Everyone down to the baby gobbled it up and it was so easy and pretty cheap to make. I made a few modifications.

Cheesy Chili Mac

Ingredients:

1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 Tablespoon chili powder
1 Tablespoon ground cumin
Salt
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 Tablespoon of brown sugar or maple syrup (heaping)
1 lb lean ground beef (I used grass-fed 85% lean beef)
2 cups water
1 (15oz) can of tomato sauce (I used Trader Joe's Organic)
8 oz elbow macaroni (I used De Cecco)
2 cups shredded italian cheese blend (I used Trader Joe's Three Cheese blend)

Directions:
Heat oil in 12-inch skillet over medium heat for a minute or so. Add onion, chili powder, cumin and 1/2 tsp of salt and cook until soft, 5-7 minutes. Stir in garlic and brown sugar and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add beef and cook, breaking up meat, until lightly browned and no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Stir in water and tomato sauce, then add pasta. Cover, increase heat to medium-high and cook stirring often until the pasta is al dente. It should maintain a vigorous simmer.

Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup of shredded cheese. It may seem a little too "saucy" at this point but don't worry it'll thicken up as it sits. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and remaining cheese. Cover again until the cheese melts and let stand, off heat for 2-4 minutes. Serve.

Apple-Cranberry Crisp

Directions:

3 cups cubed Granny Smith apple (about 1 pound)
2 cups fresh cranberries
1/2 cup pure cane sugar
Butter for greasing the baking dish

Topping:
1/3 cup sprouted wheat flour
1 cup regular oats
1/2 cup packed brown sugar or sucanat
1/4 cup butter (melted)
Preparation

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°. Combine the first 3 ingredients in a medium bowl; Spoon into an 8 x 8-inch baking dish coated with butter. Lightly spoon the flour into a dry measuring cup, and level with a knife. Combine flour, oats, sugar, and butter, stirring with a fork until crumbly. Sprinkle over the apple mixture. Bake at 350° for 40 minutes or until bubbly. Top with vanilla ice cream and enjoy.