MMM...MMM...GOOD!

Tonight I made a killer pot of homemade chili! 

It has finally started to get chilly outside, and as a new tradition, the past few years I've started making chili when the weather turns colder for the fall. My favorite so far is made with Bob's Red Mill 13 Bean Mix. I use the mix and add the basics, plus whatever I have around that sounds good. It's chili! You can have fun with it!

I started it with a cup and a quarter of dry beans yesterday, today it became a delicious and nutritious meal. 

I know people feel like this is a lot of effort to make something like this, but really it isn't any harder than boiling pasta or something. The planning and prep takes more time, but the actual cooking doesn't take long at all. After my beans had soaked overnight, I simmered them for a few hours (not any more difficult than sitting around the house). I then browned the ground beef, chopped my vegetables, and opened a couple cans of tomato sauce and diced tomatoes. At the end, add in your favorite seasoning. All of that took about 30 minutes, at most. Then you simmer it all together until your veggies are tender (another effortless task). Yum! 

I even got the seal of approval from someone who doesn't even like chili of any kind, can or not.

Really, things like this are so much more satisfying than opening up and reheating some store-bought meal-in-a-can. Once in a while taking the time to create a meal entirely from scratch like this will make you feel better all around. It is simple enough, and you will know everything you are eating. No preservatives, no extra dyes. Nothing but good food. Plus, you can personalize it to your own tastes! I find myself running my own at-home test kitchen at least once a week.

Plus, there is nothing better than the smell of chili simmering on the stove to make a house feel more homey. :-)

Let me know if you want the recipe or have any questions!