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Whoa! Has it really been that long since my last post?!?

While enjoying a nice happy hour over some wings on Friday night, my coworker Dan told me I was slacking on the posts. He was right. I have been slacking. Sorry!

I recently took the Graduate Record Exam as part of the application process to grad school. As an undergrad, I graduated with honors and thought this standardized test would be a piece of cake. I studied with my Kaplan guides and took lots of practice exams. The practice exams were going well and on the day of the exam, I flopped. Like flopped it. I was so upset. And after so many days with my nose in the books, I felt so unprepared. But, I still have a chance at grad school and I have faith that I will make it in!

Sometimes BR gives me some ideas for the menu planning. I mean, considering that we now live together (surprise!) he gets to put his two cents in every now and then. He had the brilliant idea of incorporating more veggie dinners into our plans. With a  slight chill in the air these days, I felt like making a chili.

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One of the best veggie chilis that I have had contains zero soy and is super filling comes from Hungry Girl. Dan Good Chili. A chili that can be thrown together in an instant or in a slow cooker. Its healthy, its filling, and its delicious.

    4 1/4 cups canned tomato sauce
    1 cup canned diced tomatoes with green chilies
    3/4 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
    3/4 cup canned red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
    1/4 cup canned jalapeno slices, chopped
    1 cup canned sweet corn kernels, drained
    1 1/2 cups chopped onions
    1 large red bell pepper, chopped
    1 large green bell pepper, chopped
    1 3/4 cups chopped carrots
    1 1/2 cups chopped mushrooms
    1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
    2 teaspoons crushed garlic
    1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
    1 teaspoon ground cumin
    Optional: salt

Directions

Place the tomato sauce, tomatoes, jalapenos, chili powder, and cumin in a large pot slow cooker. Stir over low heat. Once the mixture is heated, stir in the garlic and continue to cook for about 5 minutes.
Add carrots and continue to cook over low heat. Meanwhile, over medium heat, cook onions, peppers, and mushrooms for 3 to 5 minutes in a large pan with just 1/2 cup of water (and some salt if desired). The onions and peppers should still be a little crunchy. Using a slotted spoon to drain any excess water, and the veggies to the pot.
Add beans, corn, and Worcestershire sauce to the pot. Mix Well. Everything should now be in the pot.
Cook on low heat for about 2 8 hours, stirring every 20 minutes or so. Chili is done when carrots have lost their crunch.
Makes 10 servings.

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Each 1 cup serving is 147 calories, That’s a hell of a bargain. I served this over fluffy white rice and topped with sour cream and shredded cheddar.

A great freezer friendly meal, and nearly effortless to put together.

We liked the meat free night… but we are true carnivores!