Comfort Food

Even though Chicago has seasonal identity crises on a regular basis...the weather is starting to become more consistently "Fall" and that means one thing in our home... COMFORT FOOD. Yum! 

Hubs and I were just chatting about our favorite comfort food dishes to make. His is Lamb Shanks with Orzo. Mine is Chili Mac. 

Last night I made us Chili Mac and it was soooo comforting. I never get sick of eating a big, hot, steamy bowl of mush covered in cheese. How could I?! 

My goal is to slowly but surely improve the eating habits in our household. I'm not talking about ditching our favorite meals - quite the opposite. I want to make healthier substitutions for us. 

This week my change was to make my own chili seasoning! I've been buying the pre-packaged kind forever and ever. Hubs says it tastes better than the version I created, but I think I can just add another pinch of salt and he will be satisfied :) 

I used this recipe from My Baking Addiction and I'm thrilled with the result. I was even wearing Billy while making it - that's how easy it was! 

Homemade Chili & Taco Seasoning
4 tablespoons of chili powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 teaspoons paprika
2 tablespoons ground cumin
3 teaspoons sea salt
4 teaspoons black pepper

NOTES:

- Stored in an airtight container, this spice blend will keep for up to a year.
- When making chili or tacos using one pound of ground beef, start with 1 1/2 tablespoons of the seasoning blend and adjust according to your tastes.

I have also switched from microwave popcorn to popcorn kernels. I was making it on the stove, but that seemed like too many steps for a simple snack, so I'm going to attempt the paper bag microwave method as seen on Pinterest. 

What small changes do you make in the kitchen to help your family live a healthier lifestyle?