It might be warm out side but it's "Chili" here! - Vegetarian (and meat lovers) Sweet Chili

Okay readers; please don't hate me for this recipe. I will warn you in advance that this is a "William Original" which means no measuring on the spices. So, it's "to taste" when you get to the spices part of it. Trust me, I know, try living with him. :) On a positive note this chili won second place in a chili cook off several years ago at Will's work. Still to this day he is so proud of his second place finish and dollar store ribbon which he received as his prize. It's the little things in life people...

What makes this chili different is in the fact that is it sweet - but after visiting this blog, would you expect it to be anything less than that? I will type it out both ways for either our vegetarian counter parts or our meat loving friends as well. Either way you go, you won't go wrong with it! But on a side note, I will say that Will's second place award winning chili was made with the Morningstar Farm Crumbles and only AFTER they ate it and voted did they find out who made the chili (as the crock pots weren't marked) did they realize that they weren't really eating meat. The other nice thing about using the crumbles is that it makes it lower in fat, BUT like I said either way - vegetarians or omnivore, I will love you all the same either way you try it, it's not trying it at all that will make me give you the evil eye. :) Okay enough of the mindless chatter and poor attempts at humor, on to the recipe!



Ingredients:

1 pkg of Morningstar Farms Crumbles (ground beef substitue) or approx 1 pound of groud beef *NOTE* I say approx. because I have obviously never cooked with it but on our vegetarian substitute it states that one bag of meatless crumbles is the equivelent of 1 pound of ground beef.

1/2 jar of chili sauce (12 oz jar)- approx 3/4 of a cup

2 TBSP of Extra Virgin Olive Oil

2 or 3 strips of sweet roasted red pepper strips (approx 1/4 cup finely chopped)

2 TBSP of ketchup

1 Can (15 oz) of red kidney beans - drained

1 Can (15 oz) of black beans - drained and rinsed

1 3/4 Cup of crushed tomatoes

1 can (4 oz) of diced green chilies - drained

1 1/2 TBSP of minced garlic

1/4 cup of finely chopped green bell pepper

1 can (15.25 oz) of Whole Kernel Sweet Golden Corn - drained

5 tsp sugar

Cumin and cilantro to taste - (I warned you!)

Mexican Style Shredded Cheese blend - Optional

Directions:

*In a medium sauce pan brown meatless crumbles or ground beef in 2 TBSP of olive oil

* Finely chop sweet roasted red peppers and green bell pepper. Add to ground beef mixture

* Add chili sauce, ketchup, kidney beans, crushed tomato, green chilis, minced garlic, black beans, corn and sugar.

* Cook on medium to low heat for 30-40 minutes.

* Sprinkle top with Mexican Style Shredded Cheese Blend - optional

ENJOY!