Best Chili Recipe

The best chili recipe I have ever made! It’s packed with ground beef, bacon and 3 kinds of beans with just the right combination of spices for the perfect flavor! Top it off with a little sour cream and shredded cheese, Yum!

You all have been loving our award winning Instant Pot chili for quite some time now, but this one is better. I can’t believe I’m saying that because the Instant Pot version is the bomb, but this is THE BEST!

Now, I’ve actually never been a chili fan. Spicy is not my thing and growing up I didn’t like ground beef and wasn’t a huge bean fan so chili was definitely not my favorite. But then I became intrigued, and all from one story…

My sister once called me later at night and I was juuust about to go to sleep. I knew she’d just been on a date so I answered to hear the details. No. No this was not a, “best date ever” call, but a “you will not believe the awkwardness” call.

He had called last minute and asked if she could pick him up. “Oh sure” she replied, totally not worrying about it as they were nearing the end of college and maybe his car was out of luck. So she picks him up and he tells her he actually doesn’t have a car, or a job, nor is he actually in school. Instead he’s pursuing breakdancing.

Best Thing I’ve Ever Eaten

Which is fine, there’s probably some good ones out there, but as he later showed her, he wasn’t one of them. But I’m distracted. So this kind boy tells her, I’m taking you out for the very best thing I’ve ever eaten. “You’re going to love it,” he says. Right at the light, then head straight down main. Take a left at this light and straight again until it’s on the left hand side. Wendy’s.

Well again, she’s so kind and gives him a chance. They get inside and he orders two baked potatoes with chili. Whhhhhaaaaaa?

This is the BEST thing you’ve ever eaten?

That date didn’t end up going anywhere, haha, but it sure sparked something in me!

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! I’m writing to you this morning from Switzerland – no joke – and I’m pretty excited about it. We just settled in at our Airbnb a couple of hours ago and the view of Lake Geneva from our apartment is lovely.

I’m here for Prix de Laussane and can hardly wait to see Rowan dance again. (I’m also here for alllll the chocolate and the cheese, but if Rowan asks, this week is all about him, k?) If you’re reading this and happen to be familiar with Switzerland, send me your favorite must-try foods, pretty please!

ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK: With a flavorful chicken broth base and light wisps of egg throughout, classic Egg Drop Soup is a wonderful, light, and simple soup your whole family will request again and again. The first time I made this soup, my kids went crazy over it and devoured every single sip. They requested it again the very next day for lunch.

Flavorful artichokes and earthy spinach meld perfectly with zesty garlic and Parmesan cheese in a creamy Spinach Artichoke Dip so good, you will not be able to stop dipping.

Tender chunks of savory chicken dance with crisp green beans in a sauce that’s the perfect blend of savory and spice in this Chicken and Green Beans Stir Fry.

With a rich, buttery dough that is loaded with irresistible morsels of chocolate, these Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies nail every delicious detail. And, bonus, they stay soft and chewy for days.

Andes Mint Cookies are soft-baked chocolate cookies loaded with Andes Mint pieces and spread with an extra layer of mint goodness. They’re amazing straight from the oven.

Gooey chocolate chips and salty bits of toffee are wrapped up in these soft Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies that are just begging to be dunked in your favorite milk.

Creamy vanilla ice cream is swirled with decadent fudge while tiny peanut butter cups dance in every spoonful of this homemade Moose Tracks Ice Cream.

What I’m CRAVING: Raclette! I can hardly wait to try authentic raclette while we’re here in Switzerland. It’s going to be a delicious week. 

My FAVORITE THING this week is my

Creamy vanilla ice cream is swirled with decadent fudge while tiny peanut butter cups dance in every spoonful of this homemade Moose Tracks Ice cream.

Moose Tracks Ice Cream

The original moose tracks ice cream has been making people smile for decades, with it’s fudge ripple and peanut butter cups. And, if you love that, then this homemade moose tracks ice cream recipe will knock your socks off.

You won’t believe the difference it makes to eat it while it’s still freshly churned with top-notch ingredients. The sweet vanilla, rich chocolate and peanut butter flavors will keep you coming back for another spoonful.

One of my favorite things about ice cream is that it is an endlessly versatile, adjustable dessert. Add chunks of baked goods, candy, fruit, or nuts and you transform plain old vanilla into something truly magical.

Even with an ice cream like moose tracks, which already has mix-ins, you can still make it even better with toppings. There’s whipped cream, chocolate sauce, peanut butter sauce, salted caramel sauce and so many more!

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Vanilla Bean Whipped Cream Recipe

It’s not just a vanilla bean whipped cream, it’s hands down my most favorite thing ever to serve alongside desserts or even just to dip fresh berries in. And the best part? It’s just as easy as a plain whipped cream.

Ingredients Needed for Vanilla Bean Whipped Cream

You only need 4 ingredients for this luscious whipped cream! Here is your shopping list:

• Heavy Whipping Cream: you’ll need a pint of whipping cream to make this recipe
• Vanilla Bean Pods: if you don’t have vanilla bean pods, add a splash of vanilla extract
• Powdered Sugar: also called confectioners’ sugar
• Mascarpone: can be found in the grocery store near the ricotta cheese or cream cheese

The measurements for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card below.

How to Make Vanilla Bean Whipped Cream Recipe

Making this vanilla bean whipped cream is just as easy as making regular whipped cream with just a couple extra steps.

1. Beat the whipped cream with a hand mixer (or with the whisk attachment on a stand mixer) in a mixing bowl until soft peaks form. Don’t over whip!
2. Add the vanilla beans (see next section for directions on scraping vanilla bean pods) and powdered sugar and beat until soft peaks form again.
3. Beat until stiff peaks form.
4. Serve on top of pies, cake, waffles, pancakes, or use as a dip for fresh fruit. Everything is better with a dollop of vanilla bean whipped cream!

These instructions can also be found in the recipe card below. You can print or save the recipe there as well.

How to Scrape Vanilla Bean Pods

Place the bean pod on a cutting board and slice it lengthwise using the tip of a paring knife. Use the edge of the paring knife to scrape the length of the pod removing the seeds or beans as you go.

Should I Use Powdered Sugar or Granulated Sugar in Whipped Cream?

You can use either granulated or powdered sugar. I prefer to use powdered sugar because it’s so light and doesn’t weigh down the whipping cream. 

Is Whipping Cream The Same As Heavy Cream?

Whipping cream and heavy cream are the same thing. They both contain at least 36% or more milk fat, but the difference between whipping cream and heavy cream is that whipping tends to be more fluffy when whipped. But you can use them interchangeably.

Is There a Substitute for Heavy Cream?

There isn’t really a substitute for heavy cream when trying to make whipped cream. If you want to make a dairy-free whipped cream, you can use full-fat c

With a rich, buttery dough that is loaded with irresistible morsels of chocolate, these Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies nail every delicious detail. And, bonus, they stay soft and chewy for days.

Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies

I have made this recipe more times than I can count, over the years. They’re perfect for potlucks and gift-giving. And, I get asked all the time how they are so soft and chewy.

The not-so-secret ingredient is instant pudding mix. It’s that simple. In addition to their incredible chewy texture, these cookies freeze beautifully, making them especially easy to have ready to go when you need them.

And, I happen to know that both the cookies and the dough taste awesome straight out of the freezer. Yes, I did admit that. I often bake about half of the batch and freeze the remaining cookie dough.

When I am ready to use the frozen dough, I set it on the counter for 20-30 minutes to thaw slightly and then scoop out the number of cookies I want to bake.

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