Healthy Open Face Chili Dogs

Healthy and Chili in the same title? Oh, yeah! After I had my daughter, I went on a healthy eating kick that lasted until about dessert time. Healthy desserts just aren't for me. I did, however, come upon this tasty recipe that is now one of my favs for BBQ season! The chili is chuck-full of tasty{and healthy} vegetables and these particular veggies have so much flavor, there's not all the unhealthy stuff to bugger it up. Plus, you can double the veggies when you're doing your chopping then freeze half of them so next time it's a simple pull it out and dump it in!

2 tsp canola oil

1 onion, diced

1 red bell pepper, diced

2 cloves garlic, crushed

1 tbsp chili powder

1 (15 oz) can of black beans, with liquid

2 tomatoes diced {I used a can of diced tomatoes}

Turkey hot dogs

hot dog buns{we were out so we used a piece of bread to two dogs and it was super good}

cheese

Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and bell peppers and saute until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and chili powder. Cook until well blended, about 30 seconds. Add the black beans. Cook until warmed through, about 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes. Bring to a simmer and reduce heat. Cook until the chili thickens: 10-15 minutes.

Either grill the turkey dogs or cover in water in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 4 minutes or until heated through.

Place the dogs onto a bun and top with 1/4 of the chili each and top with cheese. Broil for about 1 minute, until the cheese begins to melt. Serve hot.

Creamed Turkey/Tuna/Chicken-a-la-king/Biscuits 'n Gravy Gravy

Check it out- dinner or breakfast in one recipe! This one's a doozy- So many possibilities from one recipe! This is one of those that I never think of off the top of my head, but never regret when I remember to make it- delish!

Creamed Turkey

1/3 C butter

1/2 C flour

3 1/2 C milk, divided

1/2 C celery, chopped

1 tbsp minced dry onion

2 chicken bullion cubes

1/2 C water

1/4 tsp salt

1/8 tsp pepper

1 C cooked turkey, cubed

1 C frozen green peas

Melt butter in large pan. Remove from heat, stir in flour until smooth. Stir in 2 C milk. Cook over medium heat stirring constantly until sauce thickens. Stir in remaining milk until sauce is of desired consistency. Heat celery, onions, water and bullion in microwave for 3 minutes on high. Add to sauce with all remaining ingredients, simmer until heated through. Serve over toast cups {pinch the corners to fit bread into a cupcake tin then broil until lightly toasted.}

Creamed Tuna:

Make as above, substituting 1 can tuna for turkey and omitting bullion.

Chicken a-la-king(my personal favorite):

Make as above substituting chicken for turkey, reducing milk to 3 cups and adding 1 can cream of mushroom soup with remaining ingredients.

Biscuits and Gravy Gravy:

Prepare as above, omitting celery, bullion, and peas. Reduce milk to 3 cups and add 1 can cream of mushroom soup. Add cooked link or ground sausage. I just make biscuits following the directions on a Bisquick box.