Hearty Vegan Chili:

Since I was snowed in yesterday, I decided that it was finally time for me to make some chili. This is  hearty and comforting, just as chili should be. It kept me warm on my long post-meal snowmobile ride too! Hope that you're all staying warm! I'm heading back to Florida next week, and hoping that it warms up there so that I can get a tan. I'm looking ghostly.

If you like  your chili spicy, feel free to add more cayenne and/or hot sauce. This chili can be done in 20 minutes, but the flavor develops more the longer you cook it.  

Ingredients:

1 28oz. can diced tomatoes

1 15.5 oz. can kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1/4 cup tomato paste

1 1/2 cups water

1 bell pepper, diced into 1/4 or 1/2 inch sections (I used yellow)

1 cup yellow onions, diced

1/3 cup fresh parsley, chopped

4 to 5 cloves garlic, minced or crushed

2 1/2 tbsp. chili powder (or to taste)

1/2 tsp. salt (or to taste)

Dash of paprika

Dash of cayenne (to taste)

Dash of oregano

Dash of thyme

Dash of black pepper

1 1/2 tbsp. olive oil, divided

1/2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar

Serves 6.

Total Cook Time: 1 hour. 

Instructions:

1. Add the garlic, bell pepper, onions, and 1 tbsp. of the olive oil to a large sauce pot. Sauté on medium heat until the onions are translucent, about 7 minutes.

2. Pour in the diced tomatoes, kidney beans, and water. Stir in the salt, chili powder, paprika, cayenne, oregano, thyme, and black pepper. Bring to a boil, and cook for 7 to 10 minutes.

3. Stir in the fresh parsley and remaining olive oil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for another 35 minutes, tasting and adding more seasonings (if desired) half-way through cooking.