Chili & Breadsticks

I know chili is usually served with cornbread but I was craving breadsticks and they were actually Really good together! Chili is another one of my go-to meals. You just use whatever you have.
I had some cooked ground beef in the freezer that was left over from a few weeks ago when I made dinner in a roll. It had ground beef, celery, onions and a bit of gravy with it. So I tossed that in a big pan then I went to the pantry. I dumped in a can of chili beans, kidney beans and corn. I added tomato juice till it had the right amount of liquid. I seasoned it with chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Let it simmer as long as you can. Top with cheese.
You could also add black beans, baked beans, sausage, bacon, diced tomatoes, shredded beef etc. Or do a white chili with chicken, great northern beans, green chilies, diced tomatoes and seasonings.

Breadsticks
I got this recipe from my visiting teacher. They are SO good! I would like to eat them with every meal from now on!
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup warm water
1 heaping TB Yeast
1/4 cup honey
1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp salt

Directions: Combine water and yeast in bowl and let raise a few minutes. Than add all other ingredients and mix well. Add 1 1/2 cup more of flour, mix well. Continue adding flour while stirring and kneading till dough is no longer sticky. Let raise till double. Roll out dough and cut into strips with a pizza cutter. Melt 1/2 cube butter on cookie sheet. "Flop" strips of dough around on butter till coated and place on cookie sheet. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and salad supreme. (I didn't have Salad Supreme so I just used garlic powder, onion powder and parsley for color) Let them Raise while the oven preheats to 425 degrees. Bake for 8-10 minutes.

Baked Potato Soup

Okay, this is a favorite in our house and my go-to meal. It is one of the easiest and cheapest meals you can make! Plus its easy to change up a bit every time!
Ingredients:
3 potatoes
1/2 cup butter (You can get by with 1/4 cup)
1 small onion diced
1/2 cup flour
2 cups hot water with 2 cubes chicken bullion dissolved in it OR 2 cups chicken stock
2 cups milk
Salt and Pepper
Optional other seasonings like garlic powder, parsley, or a bay leaf.

Toppings: shredded cheese, sour cream, bacon bits, chives

Directions:
Bake potatoes. If you don't have time to bake them in the oven, toss them in the microwave for 10 minutes or so to bake. Saute onion in butter in a pot till tender. Add flour. Slowly add water with bullion or chicken stock. Add milk. Dices potatoes leaving the peel on or taking it off. I usually leave mine on for sake of time and added fiber! Stir with whisk till thickened. I also season with parsley and garlic powder. Add salt and pepper to taste. This is an easy one to stretch. Simply add more flour at the beginning and more liquid. I also sometimes add corn, peas, carrots, or broccoli, whatever I have on hand. Top with shredded cheese, bacon bits, sour cream and chives.