Chili with Chocolate (Slow Cooker/Crock Pot)

I am trying to find some slow cooker/crock pot recipes that my family likes. I was going through this little grocery store cookbook with my two girls (7 and 8 years old), asking them which recipe sounded good to them. We got to this recipe and they both thought it sounded wonderful. What could be bad....it has chocolate in it!

I wasn't sure how they would like it. As long as it wasn't too spicy, I knew my 8 year old would like it. She likes chili. My 7 year old has never really eaten chili. Recently she has loved sloppy joes. The recipe only serves 4 so I thought it was pretty safe to try.

THEY LOVED IT!!!! Did you read that? LOVED IT! Both girls went back for seconds! I couldn't believe it. SCORE one for mom! This is a keeper!

Chili with Chocolate
Makes 4 servings

(When I made it, I cut down on the chili powder and did not add the hot pepper sauce.)

1 pound 90% lean ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced and divided
1 can (28 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can (15 1/2 oz) chili beans in mild or spicy sauce, undrained (I used Ranchero Style Chili Beans)
2 tablespoons chili powder (I used 1 tablespoon)
1 tablespoon grated semisweet baking chocolate
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin (I used about 1 teaspoon)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (I did not add this at all)

1. Brown ground beef, onion and 1 clove garlic inlarge nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, stirring to separate meat. Drain and discard fat.

2. Place meat mixture in slow cooker. Add tomatoes with juice, beans with sauce, chili powder, remaining 2 cloves garlic and chocolate; mix well.

3. Cover; cook on LOW 5 to 6 hours. Add cumin, salt, pepper and hot sauce during last hour of cooking.

Pork Loin in the Crock Pot

Here is another recipe from the BMCC email archives. As winter approaches I know many of you like to use the crock pot. I've heard rave reviews about his recipe.

Pork Loin or Short Ribs in the Crock Pot

Just put pork loin or short ribs (no bones and very little fat) I use the leanest cuts available. I've done this dish with chicken too and it is just as good.

Add:

1 can of condensed golden mushroom soup

2 - 3 cubed peeled potatoes (you can use sweet, regular, or both)

1/2 chopped onion

baby carrots

3/4 cup water

Put all of this in a crock pot (potatoes on bottom) on low for 6-8 hours. The meat will fall apart when done. I usually serve this with green beans or peas.

If you want to make this on the stove top,  which is good too, brown the meat and onions first  and then add the rest of the ingredients and simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour.

NOTE from another BMCC member on this recipe: Check your crock pot settings. Mine has only low and high. A dish like this = LOW 10-12 hours, HIGH 5-6 hours.