Kids and a Mom in the Kitchen #95: Crockpot Chili

Time for Kids and a Mom in the Kitchen

(A weekly linky to share what you and your children have created in the kitchen.)

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The linky is at the bottom.

This past week we have set aside our normal curriculum to have some fun with this month's Poppins Book Nook theme of "The Wild West." In celebration of this western theme, I decided the children and I would make a traditional western dish, chili. I'm not sure how authentic our recipe is, but it is our go-to chili meal. The recipe comes from the cookbook that I received with my crock pot. Though we have it a 2-3 times a year, this is the first time the children have helped prepare it.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pounds mild Italian sausage (the recipe calls for hot Italian sausage)
1 1/4 pounds ground turkey (the recipe calls for 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef)
1 medium onion (chopped)
2 (3/4 oz) envelopes chili seasoning
2 (16 oz) cans kidney beans, drained
2 (14 oz) cans diced tomatoes
2 (6 oz) cans tomato paste
30 oz of chicken broth

We started by chopping the onion.

Everyone wanted a turn to use the food chopper, except for Harold. I guess it was too loud for him.

Then, I allowed the girls to help take the sausage out of the casing. After which they were taught the importance of washing their hands after touching raw meat.

They found it quite icky, in a funny sort of way.

After I added the ground turkey, Hannah helped pour in the chopped onion.

While the meat cooked and the chicken broth simmered...

we added the remainder of the ingredients.

Diced Tomatoes:

Tomato Paste:

Kidney Beans that Harold helped drain:

Chili Seasoning:

I then added the "partially" cooked and drained meat plus the broth.

We let it cook on low for about 6 hours (though it was supposed to cook for 8 hours).

Time to eat!

Directions:

1- Chop onion.

2- Crumble sausage (which has been removed from casing) and ground turkey (or beef) in large saucepan, add onion.

3- Over medium high heat, partially cook meat and onion.

4- Place all ingredients in crock pot.

5- Cook on low for 8 hours, on high for 4 hours (adjust for your crock pot).

Do you have your children help you in the kitchen?  What lessons do they learn? Do you have any kid friendly recipes to share?

I'd love to see your posts, whether you have done something this week or some time in the past. Just link up below. This is a weekly linky.

I am linking up to:

Melt in Your Mouth Monday
Try a New Recipe Tuesday at Home to Four Kiddos
The Gathering Spot at Mamal Diane
Friday Food Frenzy at Close to Home
Fantastic Thursday at Five Little Chefs
Foodie Friends Friday at Robyn'sView
Family Fun Friday at Happy and Blessed Home
Find a New Recipe Friday at Almost Supermom

And here is my Kids and a Mom in the Kitchen linky