Wednesday, January 7, 2015

on the table....vegetable chili

When it is negative 25 degrees outside (with the wind chill) it's a good day for chili!  I learned how to make this chili from my older sister.  She came to my house when I was pregnant with bean number one and we made a giant pot.  This chili freezes fantastically so there is always some in the freezer.




Veggie Chili...
~2 cans of black beans
~2 cans of kidney beans
~1 bag of frozen corn
~2 red peppers
~2 green peppers
~3 green onions 
~1 small yellow onion
~2 jalapeños
~chili powder
~a pound and a half of ground turkey (or you can use beef)
~45 oz of caned diced tomatoes
~45 oz of canned tomato puree 

The first thing I do is pour all of the tomatoes in a big pot.  Next I slice up all the veggies (except the yellow onion) and heat the corn up in the microwave.  Make sure when you're chopping those jalapeños that you don't get any seeds in the mix!  Dump all the veggies in with your tomatoes and don't forget the beans.  Then slice up your yellow onion.  Add some olive oil to your pan and throw in your onions.  When the onions are looking a little colorful add your meat and season with chili powder.  Last pour your meat into the pot.  Cook your chili on low for 3-4 hours and there you have it!  


My sister, as some of you may know, is a photographer.  Her ability to capture the essence and beauty of the world around her is quite extraordinary.  








Can you tell I'm proud of her!?!  


And with the brutal cold outside today I reworked the mantle after taking all the Christmas decorations down.  I left the vintage candle sticks but added some jars of pinecones and some old books.



And then came a bit of lounging in the kitchen.  The beans love to cook with me so this a typical scene.




 End of the night fire with cookies and all is good. 


Stay warm friends and a happy week to you!  


39 comments:

  1. I love your fireplace! It is gorgeous. When I read posts about it being -25, I feel like I am living on a different planet. I was out planting bulbs today! Well that is nothing to brag about (I think they'll do fine even though it is a really late planting) but the weather was glorious. It felt so warm this afternoon and I can't wait to get out again tomorrow and finish up. I'll bookmark your chili recipe. You are so lucky all your kids will eat it. I have one who loves chili and one who doesn't. Have a great day!

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  2. Beautiful pictures, Nicole. That chili looks delicious!

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  3. The chili looks great! The photos above look really nice!

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  4. That chili looks like the perfect cold weather comfort food! My husband loves chili so I'll have to save this recipe to try. Thanks for sharing! And also for showing us some of your sisters' beautiful photos. It's obvious she has a wonderful view of the world through her lens. So sweet to see your beans cozying together. That's the perfect thing to do when it'd cold. Hope you're staying warm through these frigid temps and having a splendid week Nicole!

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  5. Your sister is a terrific photographer - wonderful photo's. Stay warm and the chili sounds great, wish I had some right now.
    Mary

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  6. Thanks soo much for your chilli recipe, we are all chilli fans here and I love hot peppers!! Honestly it's the best winter food!! Both you and your sister are crazy good talented women!! You both capture such great moments with your cameras. Cooking with the beans, super fun and cookies by your fireplace ( love your fireplace!!!) is truly the best. Have a good week, stay warm and stay well kiddo!!!

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  7. I had no idea your sister was a photographer. Those shots are awesome and I especially love the cow.
    Negative 25!?!? That's just crazy talk. Chili weather indeed! I LOVE the rug in your kitchen and the chair pulled up to the counter screams home. Love it. I envy your fireplace. What a cozy spot to end the day. Stay warm!

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  8. Chili looks delicious. Judy loves to make soups in vast quantities so she can fill the freezer. Your kids looks very cute there in the kitchen. Both our boys liked to cook with us. They still do, actually, and are both pretty good cooks. Their future wives owe us a debt of gratitude.

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  9. How cold there! But I'm sure the warmness of your family will keep you warm and happy. Yummy recipe, I would like to try it soon.

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  10. Dear Nicole...

    Your vegetable chili looks sooo great! And it is right to have something hot when it is very cold outside there. Your beans are so lovely with the fire, it is nice to see it :)

    You must be so proud of your sister, her photographs are great!

    Happy week to you and fam, Nicole..

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  11. 25 degrees below zero??!!!! I thought it was cold here at minus 3!! Well, at least you all are warm and cozy in your home. Your living room, with the fireplace,(?) looks so warm and inviting and so does that chili. It sounds like the perfect supper for such a cold day. Stay warm, my friend!

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  12. I love those photos of your beans, all snuggly by the fire! A bowl of warming chilli sounds like just the thing in your part of the world at the moment.

    I didn't know your sister was a photographer - that photo of the calf is to die for! I had a quick flick through her FB profile - no wonder you are proud of her! Her images are stunning :-)

    Happy New Year Nicole!
    Stay warm!
    Sarah xox

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  13. Your chilli sounds delicious; although, I'd have to replace the meat with some sort of veggie substitute. That calf photo is adorable - as are the photos of your little ones. Great idea to use old books as a decoration, it had never occurred to me; I might have to get a few off the shelves and have a play. Have a very happy week and keep warm! x

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  14. Your veggie chilli looks yummy.. What an amazing photographer your sister is! Wonderful pictures. It must b be nice to have your beans lounging in the kitchen with you while cooking. Have a fantastic new year. Cheers:)

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  15. The veggie chilli looks so attractive and colourful. Yes,certainly a dish to brighten up a cold and miserable day...we get minus15 most nights...I should stop complaining as you get it even colder and still manage to call everything GOOD! It's a joy to see what wonderful team you have in your kitchen too:) I particularly love the photo of the lady hanging her bags of goods. Artistic genes definitely rans in your family:)

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  16. Minus 25! That is soooo cold. Love the look of your chilli and your beans cosy around the fire. I will save the chilli recipe and try it come winter. Stay safe and warm lovely xo

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  17. Wonderful photos!

    Thank you for the recipe, it looks delicious!

    You have so cold there! Here in southern Finland we are having a very mixed weather this winter. One day it rains water and the temperature is +1, on the other day we have sun and temperature is -16.

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  18. Beautiful photos indeed, you're right, she's very talented. I love your photos too, especially the beans in the kitchen, what a lovely home scene. The chilli sounds good, a great idea for a cold day, I think I might make a veggie one for tea, thanks for the suggestion. CJ xx

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  19. Ooh, minus 25?!! It's a balmy 5c today, where I am! That chilli sounds just the thing to keep the cold at bay. Your sister's photographs are fab, I especially like the one of a little bean doing a forward roll! Take care and keep warm xx

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  20. Your chilli recipe sounds delicious, so nice to have something hot on these cold days. I can imagine you are proud of your sister, I had a look at facebook and saw some wonderful family pictures.

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  21. I do love a good chilli and yours certainly looks good. The house looks bare when the decs come down doesn't it - nice to see what you have done with your mantel. And I love that picture of the beans helping in the kitchen - I expect there is never a dull moment in your house. Love your sisters pics too - especially that tumbling bundle on the grass - delightful. Enjoy the rest of the week my friend.

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  22. The chili looks delicious! There's nothing like chili on a cold day. It's been way too long since I've had a bowl of my Grandma's famous chili.

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  23. dear nicole,
    the recipe for the chilli sounds good.....and it's perfect for a cold winter day. i love your mantel decoration!!!
    you must be so proud of your sister,the photos are amazing.
    love the photos of your kids.
    Happy New Year!!
    stay warm my friend,
    love and hugs,
    regina

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  24. Good morning Nicole sounds like a perfect day with the Beans. Your chili looks really delicious I would never thought to add some sweet corn-I will remember that-Your sister is amazing-hugs

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  25. Oh the vegetable chili looks so good. And your sister is an amazing photographer! I love photographers who can really capture the right moment :)

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  26. Precious shots and a yummy chili....your sister is gifted in how she captures life.

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  27. So jealous of your fireplace! You cant beat a good chilli when it's cold outside, there will definitely be one bubbling away here soon & yes your sister is an amazing photographer. xx

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  28. It looks so warm and inviting and lovely at yours Nicole! Thanks for sharing the recipe and gosh your sister does take gorgeous photo's! Hope you are all having a wonderful week xx

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  29. That chili recipe sounds super easy and super tasty, just the kind of thing I love to cook, thanks for sharing it Nicole! It looks as though you're having a wonderfully cozy start to the year... long may the good times continue! xxx

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  30. Your mantel is fabulous!! I love the jars of pinecones and the different candlesticks, it reminds me of one of those fabulous old New England Colonial homes for some reason! In a good way that is! The best way in fact!!!! I love chilli too, your recipe sounds fabulous!!! I will have to try and remember to write it down as I need to cook a chilli in the next week and this would be a great variation on what I normally do. Love the idea of adding corn to it. Your sisters pictures are fabulous and I can totally see why you are proud of her!!! Stay warm and safe and enjoy the chilli! xx

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  31. Oh yum! The chili looks amazing! I have been craving chili for the last few weeks so maybe I will give your recipe a try. Thank you, sweet friend, for sharing your recipe. Hugs to you!

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  32. So glad to see you're keeping warm with good, spicy food, a crackling fire, and heart-warming company :) Your mantle is looking lovely, Nicole. Hope your week-end is blessed!
    Diana

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  33. I love chili, too, and make it often in the winter. So delish! Your kids are just beautiful. :o)

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  34. The chilli looks so good and those photos are all so beautiful, other than look at them you can feel them.

    Have a wonderful weekend Nicole!

    Lluisa xoxo

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  35. Love the photo of the beans all cooking in the kitchen. That's a lot of cooks in the kitchen, but I bet they love it. The chili looks delicious!

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  36. Ooh...I love a hearty bowl of chili. Yum! Your beans are adorable in the kitchen! :) Love the vintage candle holders. Lovely everything here Nic! xo Jen

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  37. Yum....I haven't tried chili with turkey. Is there a big taste difference? Wow such talent in your family. Your sister's photos are stunning. Cheers, Beckie

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  38. You have lovely blog and a lovely home. I, too, love gardening! We're still buried in snow here, but I'm dreaming and scheming and making my lists, getting ready for spring planting.

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