Sweet Potato and Quinoa Chili

So, as my Mama used to say, it is time to "get back in the swing of things."  Summer is coming to an end! My wonderful vacation in Charleston was just what I needed to transition to this busy time and my time away was fabulous. In Charleston, you can always count on great food, a beautiful beach and amazing weather. But this time, it also included meeting awesome, new people.

Like most of the rest of you, my life is about to become busier, but that is not bad. I am a girl that kinda loves a good routine. For years, I saw patients on a set schedule and taught school at given times. I kinda prosper in that schedule and if nothing else, it makes fun times more appreciated and anticipated.

For me, with that more regular schedule comes more organization and preparedness. Most nights, that includes a lunchbox ready the night before. This recipe is one of my go-to lunch staples!! It is so healthy and full of veggies and protein and it freezes so well!! I also have to note that you will not miss the meat in this chili! It is hearty and delicious! If you are a bit more of a healthy, traditional chili eater (what???) give my Turkey Pumpkin Chili a try. I will admit, I have slipped that one by several chili afficiandos and they had no idea it was good for them! What they don't know.... I won't name names!!

I have to admit, I have been making this recipe for about 3 years and have not shared!  Shhh... Shame on me!!!!  (And some of my vegetarian meals are my most popular!)

Sometimes a girl needs a secret!

Sweet Potato and Quinoa Chili

As usual, I made this recipe in a large quantity and plan on eating some in the next few days, but also will freeze smaller quantities for lunches. This will serve multiple purposes: I have an awesome homemade lunch and I have a built in ice pack! Heat, eat, (check teeth for spinach) and back to work!!!

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, diced

1 hot pepper, diced or one can of chopped chilis

1 green bell pepper, diced

1 yellow or red bell pepper, diced

5 – 6 garlic cloves, pressed

2.5 tablespoons chili powder

2 tablespoon cumin

1 teaspoon dried oregano or a handful of fresh oregano
salt and pepper, to taste

1 can (6 oz) tomato paste

1 can (15 oz)  diced tomatoes or 1 1/2 cup diced fresh tomatoes

4 cups (32 oz) vegetable broth, more as needed

1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained
1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained 

1 can (15 oz) garbanzo beans, drained
1 and a half large sweet potato, peeled and diced 

1 cup dry quinoa

A bag of fresh spinach or large bunch of kale, washed and chopped

In large pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add onions all peppers, cook until soft (about 7 – 10 minutes). Add garlic, cook for another minute or so. Add the tomato paste, chili powder, cumin, oregano, cook for 2 more minutes stirring constantly. Add tomatoes, broth, beans and sweet potato, stir until combined. Add quinoa, bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover slightly ajar and cook for 30 -35 minutes, stirring often as this may stick. At this time, add spinach or kale and cook until wilted. No more than 5 minutes. Chili is ready when sweet potatoes are tender and greens are soft. Add additional water if chili is too thick for your liking. This chili is great right after it is finished or you can use in later in multiple ways. As I stated, I like to freeze individual portions for lunches. I have also used it as a side dish with fish or chicken.

Moroccan Lamb Chili with Kale, Chickpeas and Sweet Potato

As most people know, I am a craft beer enthusiast. I love all things about craft beer. The atmosphere of the breweries, the people and the laid back culture. I am a huge fan of several of our local breweries here in Greenville, SC and the neighboring Asheville, NC. I am excited to try new places, new beers and new flavors. Just this past weekend, I spent a Saturday with my best friends in Asheville, giving them a brewery tour of some of my favorite places. Of course, we had to kick it off at the brewery that I am obsessed with, Burial Brewery. We then moved on the several others including Green Man Brewery and the new Funkatorium which opened in October. It was a great tasting event and a great time out of town with my BFFS. I was so appreciative that they came out to celebrate me in a way that I adore!

 

A little fun at Burial Brewing with my girls.

Enough about Asheville, lets talk about the best brewery in Greenville, SC and one that I support often. A few weeks ago, my girlfriends and I went to Quest Brewery for their chili cook off. This is my favorite brewery here in my Greenville, SC area. We all had an exceptional time. The event took place in the actual brewery right under the fermenters. I was going to enter with my Turkey Pumpkin Chili but since the event was only a day after I returned home from my big Pennsylvania excursion, I decided to just go and enjoy and imbibe rather than putting a bunch of work into it. As it turned out, there were several great chillies to sample. They had everything from venison chili to an awesome spicy sausage chili with handmade sausage ravioli floating in it, to chili that featured some of the porter that is made by the brewery.  Some impressive cooks were represented. 

A Smoking Mirror Smoked Porter last Friday Night  when we came to see Zac Parks. Check him out!!

I have to admit that I got this recipe idea from there. This chili was the chili that my friends and I loved! The unfortunate part is this was one of the employee submissions so we could not vote for it. When I got home, I scoured the web for the recipe and found this one, which is spot on. And what better way to celebrate it than with a Quest Smoking Mirror Smoked Porter. 

Cheers!

Spicy Taco Soup

I love soup!! As you can probably tell. I always have but now I have more of an opportunity to eat it whenever I want. I love the versatility of soup with a salad, a sandwich or alone. It is simple and one pot can feed one person for a very long time. One of my favorite thing about soup is the fact that most of them I can freeze into single serving containers and pull out as needed. With my busy work schedule of teaching and seeing patients, some days I want to come home and have no prep or cooking time. I want to plop down on my couch with a bowl of soup in my lap and watch nonsense TV. Yes, here is my confession: I will watch Real Housewives of Anywhere. Watching these tucked, coiffed and bedazzled "reality" (loosely stated) stars have cat fights and party till their wigs fall off , makes me feel grounded and amazingly intelligent. And best of all after a day of decision making and being responsible, these shows do not require me to think. These modern day "soap operas" are one of my secret obsessions, but a girl has to draw the line somewhere right??  Never, never will the Kardashians be seen on my screen. Sorry, just saying: even tacky can be taken too far!!



Turkey Pumpkin Chili



Turkey Pumpkin Chili

Where have I been? I bet you are thinking I have gone into winter hibernation. Well that is kind of true! We are moving into my least favorite season of the year.... COLD! I hate Cold Season. LOL! No really, I have been busy cooking, but not baking so much. I have been on a 21 day cleanse and for those of you out there who have cleansed you know energy is at a minimum. But.... I AM BACK! And while Cold Season is my least favorite time of the year, I have a tons of comfort food recipes for this time of the year as well as holiday recipes from my family. So.... with any luck, for the next few months, you will be reading so many recipes from me that you will wish I was hiding in a cave somewhere!

So, when we were on our 21 day liver purification, we were restricted to only veggies and fruit for the first 10 days and then thankfully after day 11 we were allowed to eat lean meat. In the fall, on Sundays, there is nothing I love more than to put a pot of chili on in the afternoon and watch football (GO STEELERS!) While on the first 10 days of veggies, I kept saying I want chili, but I was restricted to what ingredients I could use. On day 11 the challenge was on: I was chili or bust.!!  I have had this recipe in my book of tricks for sometime and while it intrigued me, I was a little leery of whether or not it will WOW! me. Boy, am I glad I gave this a try. I think that this will be "my go to chili recipe" now. I have tried so many healthy chili recipes in the past and all were mediocre. This one is fabulous and you don't even realize that is is ground turkey or pumpkin for that matter. When I made this chili and told my friends it had pumpkin in it they looked at me like my cleanse had also erased my common sense but after the first taste they realized that this healthy, vitamin A and C packed chili was Pumpkin-licious!