Mom's Chili

This chili recipe can be made either with or without the meat. I've made the vegetarian version for many years, and can testify that it's delicious! In fact, I've made this without meat so often, that when someone asks me for my chili recipe, I just figure they must want the vegetarian version. This comes together very quickly, as most of the ingredients come right out of the pantry.

Ingredients:

1 tbs. olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced (1/2 tsp. garlic)
1/2 cup green or red pepper, diced
1/2 cup celery, diced
1/2 cup onion, diced
1 lb. ground turkey (or ground beef)
1 can stewed tomatoes
1 can pinto beans
1 can chili beans
1 bay leaf
1 tsp - 1 tbs. chili powder
cayenne pepper (optional)

Directions:

Saute garlic, pepper, celery, and onion in the oil. Add ground meat, if using, and cook. Drain fat from pan. Stir in the tomatoes, beans, and seasonings. Cover and simmer for about 1 hour. The long simmer time really melds the flavors.

4-6 servings.

Stealthy Cooking Tip: Even if you purchase a very lean grade of meat, be sure to drain the fat from the pan after cooking the meat. This step significantly reduces the saturated fats that are present in meats. Do taste the chili before serving, and adjust the seasonings for your palate. Fat carries flavor, so you'll want to make sure you've added enough seasoning to compensate for less fat. Spicy dishes like this are perfect for cooking with less fat!