Cooking With Your Kids

I know what you’re thinking—bison? Just like other meat lovers out there, my family loves beef and chicken. But sometimes it’s fun to spice dinner up a little.

Bison (also known as buffalo) meat is leaner and healthier than the other traditional meats, and it is packed with Omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamin B. It is the only red meat that the American Heart Association recommends.  Bison has many other healthy benefits that I won’t go into, but take a few minutes and look it up.

For many of my recipes, I like to substitute bison for red meat. I only buy organic, grass-fed ground bison meat. We try to eat as healthy as possible in my family, so bison is the way to go.

If you’re sensitive to new foods, you can always substitute the bison for your traditional beats—ground lean beef, chicken, or pork. You can also just omit the meat, if you’re a vegetarian. The chili will still taste delicious.

This bison chili recipe is great on a cold day. It’s easy to make and of course, everyone can participate. You can make it in less than 30 minutes, and clean-up is a snap. Let your kids take turns opening the different cans of tomatoes and beans. The older ones can help chop, and the younger ones can help stir the chili.

To give it a kick, garnish with hot ground pepper and chopped hot chilies (like jalapeno). You can also add a sprinkling of your favorite cheese on top.

Quick and Easy Bison Chili

Ingredients:

1 small onion, peeled and diced
1 tablespoon of cooking oil
1 package (or 1 lb) of ground bison
1 package of taco or chili seasoning mix
1 can of diced tomatoes
1 can of kidney beans
1 can of chili beans
1 package of ranch dressing mix
1/2 cup of water

Directions:

Before you start, let your kids take turns opening the cans of beans and tomato. Do NOT drain any of the cans.

Let one of your younger kids peel the onion, and either you or an older child coarsely dice the onions.

In a large pot, heat the oil. Sautee the ground bison and onions over medium until the meat is light brown.

Add the can of tomatoes and beans into the pan. Tear open the package of chili (or taco) seasoning mix and add it to the pan. Add the ranch dressing mix next. Stir the contents of the pot.

Add the 1/2 cup of water. Bring the chili to a boil. It should take about 5 minutes.

Reduce the heat, cover the pan, and let the chili simmer for 10 minutes.  Stir occasionally.

Serve and enjoy!

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