It’s Getting “Chili”…Warm Up the Kids with a Spooky Pre-Trick-Or-Treat Meal

Posted on Oct 29 2014 - 7:33pm by Jessi Meehan

How to steal a meal in before the kids hit the street to trick or treat? A few Happy Halloween disposables with a couple of fast and festive additions added to spicy and spooky chili might do the trick! But before we get started on our chili, let’s create a crafty Halloween tablescape in under 10 minutes, and for under $10! Guaranteed to get your little goblins to have a seat and enjoy a meal before their treats…

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We found these silvery trays for $1 at Dollar Tree, with boo-tiful printed baskets to boot! Also found there, are handy clip on witch hats which we saved from last year, perfect for doctoring up a witchy bun. By serving chili in a small dish that fits just right + a couldron of cheese…you’re sure to please even the ancy-est trick or treater! Add a few flickering creepy LED candles, we got ours on sale last year from Lowes at 75% off, and a funky and fun ice cream scoop (on sale NOW for 50 cents at Albertsons!) to spoon all that spicy goodness…and you’ve got a dinner nobody can pass up before they head out the door!

Make your favorite chili recipe and let it warm in the crock pot with a quick veggie dip in a pumpkin! Check out the how-to HERE… OR…

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…try out something fresh and new…Quick Turkey Chili!

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Ingredients: Serves 4 (This recipe can easily be doubled, as you’ll see in our photos and made ahead of time!)

1 tbsp oil
1 onion, diced (We used a few bunches of scallions)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb extra-lean ground turkey
1 carrot, diced
1 rib celery, diced
1 pkg cremini mushrooms or button mushrooms, diced
Half sweet red peppers, diced
1 chili seasoning packet
1 can 28 oz whole tomatoes, crushed by hand
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
4 cups lightly packed spinach

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Directions:

1. In a large frying pan, heat oil over medium-high heat; saute garlic and brown your ground turkey for about 5-8 minutes. We decided to add our chili to the crock pot, so we then added all of our remaining ingredients to the crock pot, except our spinach. Wrap the top of your crock pot with tin foil to seal in heat to quicken the process, and then set to HIGH for approx 1 to 2 hours…or on low for 3-4.

2. Stir in spinach after about an hour. Serve with cheese, and/or tortilla chips!

This easy chili is packed with veggies and lean protein…yet has a warm comfort food feel that the kids will love! Happy trick or treating! 3P is wondering what your monster meal will be on the 31st…share a photo on Facebook HERE!