Thanks for Chili

and cookies and jam and scones and roast beef.  I am thankful for food.

I love making food.
I love eating food.
I love that my job is all about food.

I love recipes.  And I really love when people ask for my recipes.  So here is one of the recipes I have been asked for a lot recently  -- it's a combination of several recipes into one we really like.  Low fat, low-ish sodium, high protein and fiber!  Yippee -- nutritious and delicious!

Georgie and Clay's Turkey Chili

Servings:  probably 10-12

Ingredients:

3 pound lean ground turkey
2 large onions, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
6 Tablespoons homemade chili seasoning (recipe follows this) or 2 (1.25-oz.) envelopes chili seasoning mix
3 cups chicken broth (low-fat, low-sodium, if you don't make your own)
3 cups frozen corn kernels
4 bell peppers of various colors (the more colorful, the better!), cleaned and diced into 1/2 inch squares
2 (28 oz.) cans diced tomatoes, drained and rinsed
2 (15 oz. ) cans black beans, drained and rinsed well
2 (8 oz.) cans tomato sauce
1 teaspoon salt (or more to taste)
2 teaspoons sugar, optional (this is my personal addition, deemed unnecessary by Clay)

Directions:  Brown the turkey together with onion, garlic and seasoning mix in a large skillet (or in the soup pot) over medium-high heat, stirring often, for 10 to 15 minutes until turkey crumbles and is no longer pink.  Stir in a cup or so of the broth and cook for a few minutes, scraping the bottom of the skillet to release all the brown bits.  Transfer to a soup pot and add all other ingredients.  Bring to a boil, then reduce to low and simmer for at least an hour.
(You can also make this recipe in the crockpot, but only use half of the ingredients so it won't overflow -- after browning the meat on the stove, add all ingredients to crock pot, cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours.)

Good all by itself, but extra good finished with some fresh lime juice, some lowfat sour cream and a little chopped cilantro.

Homemade Chili Seasoning

Usually, making your own seasoning mixes is a great way to save money, long-term.  The investment in the spices may be expensive, but buy them in bulk if you can, make a great big bunch of seasoning and freeze the spice mix to keep it fresher and help it to last longer.

2 Tablespoons chili powder
1 1/2 Tablespoons paprika
4 teaspoons cumin
1 Tablespoon onion powder
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon cayenne

Mix all together (I like to whirr it up in the blender) and store in an airtight container.  Unlike the packaged chili seasoning, there is no salt in this recipe, which is good for those on low-sodium diets, but bad for my salt-loving Clay -- adjust the salt as you desire.  There is also no flour, which makes it good for gluten-free diets.  This recipe is easily multiplied.

Peace.