Slow Cooker Hearty Beef Chili

1-1/2 lb. lean ground beef
1 can (15 oz.) dark red kidney beans, drained, rinsed
1 can (15 oz.) light red kidney beans, drained, rinsed
1-1/2 cups TACO BELL® HOME ORIGINALS® Thick 'N Chunky Mild Salsa
1 can (16 oz.) no-salt added tomato sauce
2 Tbsp. chili powder
1 onion, chopped
1 cup frozen corn, thawed, drained
1 cup KRAFT Mexican Style Shredded Four Cheese

BROWN meat; drain. Add to slow cooker with remaining ingredients except cheese; stir. Cover with lid. COOK on LOW for 5 to 6 hours (or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours). STIR just before serving. Serve topped with the cheese. (from www.kraftfoods.com)

Darcey Pett

Chile Verde

1-1/4 c. dry pinto beans
1 lb. chicken breast
1 can chopped green chilies
1 tsp. ground cumin
3/4 tsp. dried oregano
1/8 tsp. ground cloves
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
3 cups chicken broth
1 tsp. minced garlic
1 tsp. salt
2/3 c. chopped onion
1 c. Monterey Jack cheese
1 c. salsa
1 dozen tortillas

Rinse pinto beans, soak them in cold water overnight, then drain. Cut chicken into cubes. Cook in water until no longer pink (about 15 minutes). Combine chicken with chilies and seasonings. Refrigerate until needed. Combine beans, chicken broth, garlic, salt, and onion in large pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for one hour. Add more water if necessary.

Combine chicken mixture with beans; simmer 10 minutes. Cool and freeze. Grate chicken and freeze in a separate bag. Freeze both bags together.

To prepare for serving, thaw. Simmer chili 30 minutes, stir occasionally. Top with salsa and grated cheese. Serve on warm tortillas.

White Turkey (or Chicken) Chili

1 1/2 cups chopped onions
2 cloves minced garlic
1 jalepeno pepper minced (I take out the seeds and ribs so it is not too hot)
1 can (4 oz) chopped mild green chilies
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp salt
1 c chicken broth
1 can white kidney beans (I add 1-2 cans of any white bean I want)
2 cups cooked turkey or chicken (cubed or shredded)
cilantro and monterey jack cheese

Saute onions and garlic in olive oil over med. heat until onion is tender. Add jalepeno, chilies, cumin, oregano, cayenne pepper, beans, broth and meat. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 20-25 minutes. Stire in cilantro and sprinke with cheese on top when chili is done.

*As a note, I usually double this recipe and like triple the broth and even add water. I just add liquid until I like the consistency. I don't make this as an exact science. You can add more or less meat, beans or liquid. I completely leave out the cilantro because I don't like it. And then I cook it as long as I need it to stay warm, anywhere from 30 minutes to even an hour and a half. You may need to just add more liquid if you do this. Enjoy!!!!