Happy Family Day!

Holla!! Happy Family Day! Canada, ya did good introducing Family Day 5 years ago.  My husband and I hosted my Mama, Bro, Sista-in-law and nephew last night for dinner, a movie and a sleepover.  We always love having a house full of people and last night was no exception.  I'm not one to want to be prepping food while people are catching up (God forbid I miss out on something!)so I made a big old patch of chili (gluten free!) ahead of time and warmed it through in time for dinner.  It was a hit!  I served it with rice and tostitos and had franks hot sauce and shredded cheese for toppings. This can be made and tossed in the freezer too.  Comfort food --- mmmm...

Chili Ingredients
2 lbs of ground beef or chicken
1 medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
1 tbsp Worcestershire (*** make sure there is not wheat in it if you want gluten free)
4 tbsp chili powder
1 tbsp sugar
1/4 tsp Cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried red pepper flakes
2 bay leaves
1 can diced tomatoes (or crushed tomatoes if you don't want tomato chunks)
1 can tomato pasta sauce
1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 can chick peas, drained and rinsed
Method
In a fry pan over medium heat, cook ground beef/chicken all the way through. Drain fat if necessary. Add onion and celery and cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add all remaining ingredients and turn heat to low.  Simmer for 1-2 hours. Remove bay leaves and serve. 

After the family left I whipped up two batches of chocolate chip bran muffins.  One for us and one for a friend who unfortunately lost a family member this weekend.  I made some healthy modifications to my regular bran muffin recipe which I am happy with.  Hope you like them too.

Yields: 1 dozen

Chocolate Chip Bran Muffin Ingredients
1 1/2 cups wheat bran
1 cup milk
1/3 cup unsweetened apple sauce
1 egg
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup raisins/blueberries/chocolate chips (optional)

Method
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease muffin cups. Mix together wheat bran and milk; let stand for 10 minutes. Beat together apple sauce, egg, sugar and vanilla and add to milk/bran mixture. Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Stir flour mixture into milk mixture, until just blended. Fold in raisins/berries/chocolate chips and spoon batter into prepared muffin tins. Bake for 15 minutes. Cool and enjoy!