5 Bean Chili

 

 

School or Work Lunch Rut? I’m Here to Help!

 

Ok, so how many of you have kids that are just so sick of sandwiches? Or just don’t care for them? OR are just picky?! I happen to have a couple of those, and yet they want so badly to take lunch to school. I can’t blame them, the cafeteria food at their school is just, gross. I tried to come up with a more polite way of saying it, but lets face it, it’s gross. Poor kids don’t even get access to salt & pepper! Savage, right?! Not to worry! I am here to give you ideas for hot lunches to send your kids to school with. I never thought I could send hot lunches to school with my kids. I don’t know about your kids, but mine do not have access to a microwave while at school.  

So How Do You Keep Food Hot?

You would be amazed at the items available these days, from insulated lunch bags, to insulated containers that go beyond a thermos. Here’s one I really like:

Thermos 16 oz. Travel Tumbler – This is a 16 oz food container, is made with Thermos patented vacuum insulation for maximum temperature retention, hot or cold. It’s designed to keep food hot or cold for up to 24 hours. Now, granted, I haven’t tested the 24-hour mark. My kids have their hot lunches in their thermos for approximately 4-5 hours and have reported that it sufficiently keeps their food hot. It has a durable stainless-steel interior and exterior that keeps the bottle cool to touch with hot liquids and sweat proof with cold liquids. So, no worries about packing it in with cold items. It won’t heat them up since it doesn’t get hot on the outside. it’s fine to put it in your lunch bag with cold items. It’s easy to open and it comes with its own folding spoon that sits right in the lid. Sure, it’s a thermos, but you can put so much more than just soup in it. Try leftover pasta from the night before, or a real kid favorite like mac & cheese.

 

Here’s Another Lunch Idea

 I have the perfect recipe to get you out of that lunch rut. Why not make a batch of my 5-Bean Chili to pack in school or work lunches? It’s perfect during the fall and winter months. You’re basically packing warmth and comfort into your lunch boxes. This would go perfectly into that cute container, and would stay hot/warm until lunch time, and here’s a bonus, it’s super simple to make! Just check out the recipe below!

Side note: My 5 Bean Chili recipe makes a lot. It's perfect to take to potlucks. You can also turn leftovers into chili dogs.

Looking for More School/Work Lunch Ideas? Try Some of These!

• Dad's Glop - Coming Soon
• Tomato Mac & Cheese - Coming Soon
• Andouille Sausage Stew - Coming Soon
• Christine's Chicken & Vegetable Chowder - Coming Soon
• One Pot Chili Mac - from Plain Chicken
• Copycat Stouffer's Mac and Cheese - from Go Go Gourmet

 

5 Bean Chili

Recipe by Christine Titus

Serves: 10

Ingredients:

2 pounds lean ground beef

1 large onion, chopped

1 (15 ounce) can light red kidney beans, drained & rinsed

1 (15 ounce) can dark red kidney beans, drained & rinsed

1 (15 ounce) can cannellini beans, drained & rinsed

1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained & rinsed

1 (15 ounce) can pinto beans, drained & rinsed

3 (10 ounce each) cans Rotel (any spice level you wish)

2 (1 1/4 ounce each) packets chili seasoning mix

1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce

1 cup water

salt and pepper, to taste

Optional toppings: sour cream, cheese, tortilla or corn chips, and fresh cilantro

Instructions:

In a skillet over medium-high heat, brown ground beef with the onions, breaking up clumps.

Transfer beef mixture to slow cooker.

Add beans, Rotel, seasoning mix, tomato sauce, water and salt and pepper. Stir everything together well. Cover and cook on high setting for 4 hours or on low for 7 to 8 hours.

Ladle into bowls and serve with your favorite toppings and some cornbread.

 

Notes:

Recipe adapted from Sandra Lee.