🎃 It's a 2020 Full Moon, Blue Moon, Halloween 👻
This chili recipe is sure to put chills down your spine! (In a good way!)
With the convergence of a full moon, a blue moon, daylight saving time and Saturday celebrations, not to mention the unprecedented events of this year, Halloween 2020 will truly be memorable. The full moon on Saturday will be the first full moon to fall on Halloween since 2001. The next won’t be until Halloween 2039. What makes this full moon extra special is that it is actually the second full moon we've had this October, with the last one falling on October 1st. When more than one full moon happens within the same month, it is called a "blue moon" - hence the saying "once in a blue moon" due to the rarity of the occurrence.
Halloween 2020 might look a little different than past years, but that does not mean we the fun has to stop. Here are some ideas to celebrate Halloween safely.
- Carve or paint pumpkins with members of your household and display them on your porch
- Decorate your house
- Tell ghost stories
- Have a virtual Halloween costume contest with friends and family
- Have a Halloween movie night
- Have a scavenger hunt-style trick-or-treat search with your household members in or around your home rather than going house to house
- Create a Halloween-themed dinner menu
One suggestion for a unique and comforting Halloween-themed dinner idea is Pumpkin Chili. It tastes just like a traditional chili recipe, but the pumpkin adds a smooth, thick texture to the broth and gives the dish just a hint of sweetness. The recipe can be prepared either on the stove-top or slow cooker, making it an easy to prepare and serve.
Pumpkin Chili Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 ½ lbs. lean ground beef (or substitute ground turkey or chicken)
- 2 (15 ounce) cans pinto beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup frozen corn kernels
- 2 (14.5 ounce) cans fire-roasted diced tomatoes (NOT drained)
- 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
- 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
- ½ cup beef broth (plus extra to thin, if necessary)
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Instructions:
FOR THE STOVETOP:
Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. When the oil shimmers, add the onion and cook about 5 minutes or until it begins to caramelize around the edges. Stir in the garlic and cook another minute. Add the beef and brown all over, breaking up the meat as you go, about 5-7 more minutes. Drain fat and return beef mixture to the pot.
Stir in remaining ingredients. Simmer, covered, on low heat for about 1-1 ½ hours.
Ladle the chili into bowls and garnish with optional toppings.
FOR THE SLOW COOKER:
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When the oil shimmers, add the onion and cook about 5 minutes or until it begins to caramelize around the edges. Stir in the garlic and cook another minute. Add the beef and brown all over, breaking up the meat as you go, about 5-7 more minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat. Drain fat.
Transfer the beef mixture to a slow cooker. Add remaining ingredients and stir to combine. Cover and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours or HIGH for 2-3 hours.
Ladle the chili into bowls and garnish with optional toppings.
Thinking about implementing the Cook Chill process in your business? Plascon’s Cook Chill bags are an excellent addition to your chili processing needs. Our Cook Chill bags are made with a 7-layer co-extruded film for maximum durability and provide:
Longer Product Life: Oxygen and moisture barriers provide increased protection of flavors. The low rate of gas transmissions safeguards flavor components throughout distribution.
Superior Durability: The bags are designed to withstand the rigors of handling and distribution, including hydraulic pressures exerted by packaged liquids during transportation.
Positive Closure: Bag is either pre-clipped or heat sealed on one end. After filling the open end is then closed with a clip or impulse sealer. A contents label with code dating can be attached to the clip or affixed to the bag itself.
Improved Sanitation: The Plascon bag is used for packaging, storing, distribution and reheating. The foods are packaged at above pasteurization temperature, and not exposed to air until the bag is opened for serving.
The Cook Chill Starter Sets offered by Plascon are a great way to implement the Cook Chill process in your facility at minimal cost, and are available to purchase directly from our website! Explore our website or contact us today to learn more about Cook Chill and how to get started!
