
Get ready to elevate your chili game with this flavorful recipe, perfect for cozy winter nights! Packed with robust spices, tender meat, and a medley of beans, it's the ultimate comfort food to warm you up during the chilly season.
Hearty Chili
by Kristina Case
2 lbs. ground beef
29 oz can tomato sauce
29 oz can kidney beans
29 oz can pinto beans
1 diced onion
½ cup diced green chiles
¼ cup diced celery
2 tsp minced garlic
2 tsp cumin
3 TBL chili powder
1 ½ tsp black pepper
1 tsp salt
2 cups beef broth
Drain and rinse beans in colander. Brown beef over medium heat in fry pan and drain fat. Add beef and all other ingredients to a large pot and simmer over low fo...

This recipe is from my great-grandma (who loved to bake) and offers a delicious twist on a classic apple pie. It's the perfect way to savor fresh fall apples. My favorite varieties for pies are Granny Smith and Golden Delicious; they create a delightful balance of sweetness and tartness.
By Kristina Case
Make a double crust (or you can purchase from the store to save time):
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
¾ cup shortening
5 Tablespoons ice cold water
Cut flour, salt and shortening together using pastry blender. Add water until the dough holds together. Roll out bottom crust and place in 9" deep dish pie pan.
Pie filling:
Shred 5 large apples into unbaked pie crust.
Whisk together: 3 tablespoons butter,...

Indulge in a delightful and effortless salad, made just for warm summer evenings. This refreshing salad highlights the vibrant flavors of seasonal ingredients like red peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, and corn. The dressing perfectly balances the subtle sweetness and tanginess of limes and buttermilk, and lasts in the fridge for up to a week.
Photo and recipe by Kristina Case, adapted from Catherine Newman

One of the best ways to enjoy summer? A delicious ice cream treat. Here are some spots our real estate agents recommend to get a scoop at:
A local favorite, Fanci Freez has been serving up ice cream since 1947. Customers keep coming back for favorites like their dipped cones, the Boston shake and ice cream sundaes.
Delsa's has been serving up homemade ic...

This is an easy and healthy dinner that comes together pretty quickly and can easily be made gluten-free by using gluten-free soy sauce. I prefer using ground chicken, and the leftovers are fabulous in a salad. I usually serve with potstickers (gyoza) and Trader Joes has a gyoza sauce that works for both the gyoza and lettuce wraps. Other veggies that are good additions: diced cucumber, sauteed mushrooms or red peppers.
Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Recipe by Kristina Case, adapted from Iowa Girl Eats