~15~ Spicy Pumpkin Chili & Cornbread

This is one of my favorite meals to make. I would never have imagined mixing pumpkin with meat and beans, but it's really good! I especially love it because there's lots of leftovers for the next few days. The cornbread turns out so sweet and moist.

I have my first interview tomorrow for an administrative assisstant to the nursing staff at a locked down psychiatric facility. It's part-time, pays well, and in the field I'm studying, so it would be perfect!

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Spicy Pumpkin Chili 10 Servings
1 pound ground beef
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 large onion, diced
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15 ounce) can Great Northern beans, drained and rinsed
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (4 ounce) can tomato sauce with garlic and onions
2 (14.5 ounce) cans petite diced tomatoes
1 (14.5 ounce) can fire roasted diced tomatoes
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon salt, or to taste

1.Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat; cook and stir the beef in the skillet until crumbly and no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Stir in the red pepper flakes, garlic, and onion; continue cooking until the beef has browned and the onion has softened and turned translucent. Add the green and red bell pepper and cook 5 minutes more.
2.While the beef is cooking, combine the kidney beans, black beans, Great Northern beans, tomato sauce, tomato sauce with garlic and onions, petite diced tomatoes, fire roasted diced tomatoes, and pumpkin puree in a large slow cooker. Season with pumpkin pie spice, chili powder, cumin, and salt. Stir in the ground beef mixture.
3.Cook on Low until the chili is hot, 1 to 2 hours.


Corn Bread 12 Serverings
2/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 2/3 cups milk
2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup cornmeal
4 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

1.In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Combine the eggs and milk. Combine flour, cornmeal, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with egg mixture.
2.Pour into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking pan. Bake at 400 degrees F for 22-27 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cut into squares; serve warm.