Monthly Archives: April 2013

Jodee’s Homemade Chili

Posted on by

By Jodee Weiland

Healthy eating sometimes involves taking a close look at what you’re putting into your recipes made at home. With store prepackaged seasoning packets for various dishes, you might think it’s just seasonings, but look again. It was for this reason I made my own recipe, seasonings and all, for Jodee’s Homemade Chili.

Homemade Chili a 011 (500x333)When my children were little and we went grocery shopping, they would always ask, like most children tend to do, “Can we have this?” Usually, it was something I would not even think of buying for them. My answer was always the same, “Look at the ingredients on the label.  If you can’t read it or if you don’t know what it is, it probably isn’t real. So no, you cannot have it.”  Eventually, they would start to ask this question once more, and then stop to say, “Never mind, it isn’t real.”

Homemade Chili a 013 (500x333)Right about now, you may be asking, “Why?” That’s easy enough to explain.  My own mother, a wonderful woman, was health conscience and chose natural foods over everything else before it was even popular. She exercised to keep in shape and lived to be ninety.  Having been raised in this manner, I chose to do the same with my own children.  Consequently, when I wanted to make homemade chili for my family, I came up with my own recipe through trial and error, and chose not to use prepackaged seasonings or less lean meats.

Homemade Chili a 018 (500x333)My recipe for homemade chili is healthy and tasty.  My family loves this recipe, and my own children have asked for it, so they can make it in their own homes.  There are some optional ingredients that have been added in through the years since I first put together my final recipe.  Those options are for those who like a spicy chili as I do.  When the children were young, spicy was not an option for me, but later it became a choice for some of us. It really is a good recipe that everyone can enjoy with even a few add on ingredients after cooking, if desired.

 Homemade Chili a 004 (500x333)Jodee’s Homemade Chili

1 to 2 pounds of lean ground round or ground sirloin
1 to 2 (16 oz.) cans of kidney beans drained and rinsed (all natural ingredients brands)
1 large onion chopped
2 cloves chopped garlic
1 green bell pepper (optional)
2 to 3 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon sugar
1 to 2 (16 oz.) can tomato puree or crushed tomatoes (no salt added brands)
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/4 teaspoon cayenne (optional)
Water as needed to thin out chili sauce as it cooks (usually about 1/4 cup more or less)

Homemade Chili a 002 (500x333)Note: The recipe calls for 1 to 2 cans of kidney beans and 1 to 2 pounds of lean ground round or ground sirloin. These amounts are flexible depending on whether you like more beef in your chili or more beans in your chili. You decide what’s right for you.

Brown meat slightly over medium heat with onion and garlic added (green bell pepper if used).  Add to this the chili powder, paprika, cumin, and oregano (cayenne if used) and stir in to meat.  After browning the meat, onion, garlic, and additional seasonings, add the tomato puree and sugar, stirring into the meat and seasonings.  At this point, add water if needed to thin out the sauce a little.  Once you have the desired thickness, add the drained and rinsed kidney beans, and stir into the chili.  You can use light or dark kidney beans, whichever you prefer. Cover the pan and lower your heat to simmer for about twenty minutes or until meat is cooked.

Homemade Chili a 017 (500x333)Serve the chili with all your favorites.  We usually serve our chili with tortilla chips, shredded or grated cheese (any type you prefer), and sliced or diced jalapenos. To this we sometimes add a sour cream or sliced olives (green or black). However you choose to serve this chili, even if that is just the chili by itself, you will be pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to put together and how delicious it tastes. I hope you try this recipe and enjoy it as much as my family has through the years.  Enjoy!

Jog Indoors on an Exercise Mini Trampoline…an Easy to Use and Low Cost Piece of Exercise Equipment

Posted on by
By Jodee Weiland

 

Many years ago, I wanted to lose weight and be able to exercise without having to go to a gym. At the time the cost of a gym was not something I could afford with a young family and all the expenses that go along with having children. I also wanted something that would be easy to use, while maintaining the busy schedule of a young mother and later, a working mother. When I first attempted to find something that fit this description, I found it in a most unexpected place.

 

I was shopping in one of the local retail stores and attempting to find a new workout video. The problem with workout videos and having small children to attend to or being a working mom, there is a small window of opportunity during the day to be able to use one.  Nonetheless, I continued to look for those videos that were short enough to give me a good workout in what time I could squeeze in during the day. Don’t get me wrong, I use quite a few workout videos that I love, but sometimes it’s difficult to find a time when you can put one on and use it without either interrupting someone else or being interrupted by someone else.

 

On this one particular day, I was searching for something new and inexpensive to use for exercise, as was my habit at the time, and as my eyes searched the aisles and shelves, I noticed something I had not come across before. There in front of me was a box labeled Rebounder Mini Trampoline. At first I thought it was some sort of toy, but on closer inspection, I realized it was an inexpensive, easy to use, and easy to store piece of workout equipment. At the time, the price was about twenty-five dollars and much easier to afford than a treadmill, so I thought to myself, “Why not?” I decided to give it a try, and that has been a decision I have never regretted to this day.

 

https://learnfromyesterday.com

 

I still use my mini trampoline, even though I now have a workout room in my home with a treadmill and an elliptical, as well as weight training equipment, plus more. Although I use these other pieces of equipment, I still find my mini trampoline to be the easiest to use, anywhere any time.  I will put it in front of the television while watching a movie, the news, a TV program, whatever and jog in place, sometimes for an hour or more.  The best part is that it allows me to jog indoors no matter what the weather is outdoors, and I don’t have to worry about impact injuries to my body. As a matter of fact, after a fall jogging outdoors several years ago and sustaining injuries to my knees, the mini trampoline has helped to alleviate the pain in my knees associated with that injury, while my treadmill did not. I, also, sustained an injured disc in my back, and the mini trampoline has helped strengthen my back once again as well.

 

https://learnfromyesterday.com

 

I have purchased one or two replacements, since that first purchase years ago, but I have never paid more than thirty-five dollars, although there are now mini trampolines priced over one hundred dollars or more, as well as the less expensive but still durable versions. They also have ones with folding legs, attached stabilizing bars to hold on to as you jog, etc. They are usually about 36 to 38 inches wide with easily removable legs, but they vary in size and style. If you decide to look into a mini trampoline, an increase in popularity has made them available at even more stores and online if you search for mini trampoline or rebounder. Nowadays mini trampolines are easily accessible and have features I don’t remember seeing early on when I first purchased one.

 

The bottom line is the mini trampoline is a safe effective way to get a good cardiovascular workout in your home with an easy to use, low cost piece of exercise equipment. The benefits are that it will improve cardiovascular fitness not only by helping you to lose those extra pounds, but also by toning your legs, buttocks, abs, and even your back.  It will help increase your metabolism and control your weight. It is, without a doubt, an easy and effective way to fit exercise into anyone’s schedule, no matter how busy you may be, because you can do it while watching the television or even while you talk on the phone.  It’s that easy!  The intensity you use with the mini trampoline is up to you, but even a low jog will bring health benefits to you that will improve your life. You can even add a weight belt or handheld weights to your workout to add intensity. The benefits for you are there, just try it…what have you got to lose?
Enjoy!