Easy chili

I made this chili today because it seemed like a perfect fall day for it. I actually didn't know what I was doing, so I just threw a bunch of stuff in a crockpot. It turned out to be the best chili I've ever had and Eddie agreed. He told me to make sure I write the recipe down and make it over and over again. The picture isn't too pretty, but I promise the taste is great!

1 lb. hamburger (I accidentally used DH's beef with bacon hamburger)

1 lb. sausage

2 lg. onions, chopped

1 can beans in chili sauce

2 cans light red kidney beans, drained

2 cans petite diced tomatoes

1 can tomato sauce

1 pkg. Carroll Shelby's chili kit (it is in the spice aisle. It comes in what looks like a small brown bag. I'm guessing other chili seasonings would work.)

Brown hamburger and sausage. Drain grease and add meat to crockpot. Throw in remaining ingredients and mix. Mine ended up cooking on low for about 5 hours, but I'm guessing longer would be even better. Top with your favorite chili toppings and enjoy!

Easy Chicken gravy

This recipe is adapted from a couple of recipes I found on Allrecipes.com. It is really the easiest crockpot recipe, and while not healthy by any means, it is the ultimate comfort food. I served it over mashed potatoes and with some broccoli and cheese.

4 chicken thighs - usually I use chicken breasts, but all I had were thighs

1 pkg. onion soup mix

1 can cream of mushroom

1 can cream of chicken

Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 4. Take out chicken and shred. Add chicken back to crockpot and stir in some sour cream (I used the kind with onion and chives).

Nothing fancy, but ultimate comfort food and very kid friendly.

Banana Cream Cheesecake

I got this recipe from the fall edition of the Kraft Food and Family magazine. It sounded syummy and easy, which is my perfect combination so I decided to make it. My picture isn't the best because it didn't cut as well as I would have hoped. The cheesecake portion just tastes like cheesecake, and I'm disappointed that the banana flavor didn't come out more. I think next time I'm going to add some banana extract in the cheesecake portion to give it that extra flavor or I might just mix the bananas in with the cheesecake part instead of slicing them.

1 pkg. white cake mix, divided

4 eggs, divided

3 Tbsp. oil

2/3 c. packed brown sugar, divided

2 bananas, sliced

2 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese (I used reduced fat)

2 Tbsp. lemon juice

1 1/2 c. milk

1 1/2 c. whipped topping (I used Cool Whip)

Preheat oven to 300 F. Reserve one cup dry cake mix. Mix remaining cake mix with 1 egg, oil, and 1/3 c. sugar with mixer (mixture will be crumbly). Press into bottom and 1 inch up the sides of a 13x9 baking pan. Top with sliced bananas.

Beat cream cheese and remaining sugar with mixer. Add reserved cake mix, remaining eggs and lemon juice. Beat 1 minute. Blend in milk (batte will be thin). Pour into crust.

Bake 45-50 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool. Refrigerate 4 hours. Top with whipped topping. Refrigerate leftovers.

**I also think this would be good as a basic cheesecake recipe. Just omit the bananas and serve with pie filling or a topping of your choice**