A "Chili" In The Air

Our twin daughters turned two years old on October 6th!  Very hard to believe!  On Sunday we had the first of three little parties to help celebrate their birthday. We had my husbands family from Indiana over.  Thanks to the horrible economy we are trying to watch our spending just like every other family out there.  I love to entertain and make large meals for parties.  Trying to find ways to still entertain and keep on a budget is hard to do...BUT...I have come up with some simple menus that will not break the bank and will still keep them coming back for more!  Here is the first of those menus:  A Chili Party!

MENU:  CHILI PARTY

Appetizers:
Tortilla Chips with salsa and cheese dip ( home-made or store bought)
Vegies and ranch dip
Cheese, salami cracker tray

Cocktails:
Apple Margarita, Hot Apple Cider and Beer

Dinner:
Chili with all the "fixins", cornbread muffins and rolls

Dessert:
Apple piew with vanilla ice-cream, birthday cupcakes and coffee

RECIPES:

Apple Margarita

• 1 oz. premium tequila
• 1 oz. apple pucker
• 3 oz. apple cider or apple juice
• 3 oz. sweet and sour mix
• apple cider/juice to rim the glass
• cinnoman and sugar to rim the glass

To make frozen margaritas:

1. Place tequila, apple pucker, apple cider/juice, sweet and sour mix and ice in a blender.  Blend.
2. In a small plate or bowl place about 1/4 cup of apple cider/juice.  Take your margarita glass and turn it upside down.  Place the trim of the glass in the cider.
3. In a second small plate or bowl mix together the cinnamon and sugar.  After dipping the glass rim in the cider immediately roll the rim of the glass in the cinnamon sugar mixture.
4. Pour margarita mixture into the cinnamon sugar rimmed glasses and enjoy!

To make margarita on the rocks:

1. Place tequila, apple pucker, apple cider/juice, sweet and sour mix and ice in a cocktail shaker.  Shake vigourously for 30 seconds.
2. In a small plate or bowl place about 1/4 cup of apple cider/juice. Take your margarita glass and turn it upside down. Place the trim of the glass in the cider.
3. 
   
   In a second small plate or bowl mix together the cinnamon and sugar. After dipping the glass rim in the cider immediately roll the rim of the glass in the cinnamon sugar mixture.
   
   
   
   
   
4. Pour shaken margarita into the cinnamon sugar rimmed glasses and enjoy!
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

* Recipe Courtesy of http://www.drinksmixer.com/

CHILI

• 5 lbs. ground beef
• 3 garlic cloves finely chopped
• 2 onions chopped
• 1 - 28 oz. can chopped tomatoes in juice
• 1 - 14 oz. can chopped tomatoes in juice
• 3 - 15 oz. cans chili beans in sauce
• 1 - 15 oz. can kidney beans without sauce (drained)
• 1 chili seasoning packet (1 oz.)
• 2 - 8 oz. cans tomato sauce
• 1/2 jalapeno finely chopped
• hot sauce (to taste)
• 2 TB. chili powder
• dash of cinnamon
• salt and pepper to taste

      Garnish:

• 1 lb. small pasta (cooked aldente)
• shredded cheddar cheese
• chopped onion
• oyster crackers
• sour cream
• giardinierra

1. In a heavy pot brown the ground beef.  Drain the fat off.
2. Add garlic and onions to groud meat and cook for 5 minutes.
3. Add chopped tomatoes with juice, all cans of beans, chili seasoning packet, tomato sauce, jalapeno, hot sauce, chili powder, cinnamon, salt and pepper.  Stir.
4. Cook on medium low for about half hour.  Turn down heat and cook on low for half hour more.

    To Serve:  Let guests help themselves to a big bowl of chili with noodles.  Have a decorative sectioned  serving dish with all the garnish for guests to help themselves.