Veggie Chili

This morning after shoveling the heavy wet snow, I was STARVING and watching the early show. They were showing Chili recipes and the showed "Texas Chili - with Beef", "Turkey Chili" and "Veggie Chili". The chef said with veggie chili you can put whatever you like, so here is my adaptation of "Veggie Chili"... Share & Enjoy!

Olive Oil
1 onion, diced
2 cloves of garlic, minced
4 small russet potatoes, cleaned and diced in 1/2 inch dice
1 yellow pepper, diced
1 orange pepper, diced
1 red pepper, diced
1 cup baby bellas, sliced
1/2 bag dried Great Northern Beans
3 stalks celery, diced
1 large can diced tomatoes
1 small can stewed tomatoes with garlic & onion
1 small can green chiles
1 can chick peas, rinsed
2 cups veggie stock
1 cup water (+ more if needed)
1/8 cup chili powder
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
1 tsp paparika

Add all the ingredients except the water to a slow cooker. Stir to combine so that all the flavors meld together. Add the water if there is not enough liquid. Remember with the dried beans you will need a bit more liquid. Put the lid on and cook on high for 6 hours or so until the beans are soft.

I would put it all in before work and it should be good to go when you get home!
1 tsp dried cilantro
S&P

Veggie Pasta Bake with Italian Sausage

1 lb italian sausage (I use turkey(
1 lb box of Ziti
1 jar pasta sauce
1 28 oz can of diced tomatoes with basil
4 oz cream cheese
1 small onion diced
3 garlic cloves minced
1 red pepper diced
1 container of mushrooms chopped
1 bunch of asparagus tops
1 container fresh spinach
S&P
1 c shredded mozzerella cheese

Brown the sausage, onion and garlic with S&P. Boil the pasta for 8 minutes. Chop the pepper, mushrooms and asparagus tops. Put in a LARGE mixing bowl. Add the pasta sauce and diced tomatoes to a pot and heat thru. Then add cream cheese and sausage and onion mix. Heat until the cream cheese blends. Drain the pasta and rinse with cold water. Add the pasta to the bowl with veggies. Add spinach. Mix with your hands until combined. Add the pasta to 2 9X13 baking pans and top with the sauce and sausage mixture. Top with shredded cheese and bake for 30 min on 350.

** This makes a LARGE portion of pasta. You can cut in half and use half a box of pasta. **

Green Beans with Onion and an Apple Cider Reduction

1-2 lbs of fresh green beans - washed and ends snipped
1/2 medium onion - diced
3/4 bottle of Woodchuck Apple Cider
1/2 tsp ground sage
1 tbsp minced garlic
S&P

Blanche the green beans for about 3 minutes and remove.

Add onions, garlic, sage S&P to a pan (sprayed with Pam) . Saute for 2 or 3 minutes. Add 3/4 of the bottle of Apple Cider to the pan and reduce for about 10 minutes or so. Add the green beans and toss.

** You can use regular Apple Cider if you can find it. **

Sausage, Peppers & Onions

6-8 Sausage Links

2 large sweet onions (peeled)

2 large yellow bell peppers (seeded)

4 large red bell peppers (seeded)

2 tbsp minced garlic

S&P

1 tbsp parsley

1 tsp Italian seasoning

1 tsp crushed red pepper

1/4 c balsamic vinegar

Sear the onions and peppers on the grill for about 3 minutes on each side. Remove from the grill and add the 6 -8 sausages. Cook the sausages on the fire for about 3 minutes then turn and cook 3 more minutes. Remove from the heat and finish cooking about 10 -12 minutes (depending on how large your sausages are). Slice the onions and pepper and add to large pot on medium with a dash of oil (to keep from sticking). Once everything starts getting soft add the S*P, parsley, Italian seasoning and crushed red pepper. Stir and turn down to medium low for about 10 minutes. Add the balsamic vinegar and continue cooking about 15 more minutes.

Serve either on hoagie rolls or plain.

This is an easy recipe that can be manipulated for more or less people.