Homemade Beef, Bean and Vegetable Chili
Topped with Colby Cheese and Plain Yogurt
I am LOVING this warm weather!!! We had the patio door open all afternoon and I love the smell of spring coming into the house 🙂 I am feeling much, much better (whether it’s Advil or I cured, I am not sure). I lucked out and the husband made dinner tonight while I prepared for my super-annoying hated Chem lab tomorrow. I HATE chemicals – they are so. boring.
The chili was made with the following:
- 8 oz ground beef (frozen and thawed and browned on the side)
- 1/2 a bag of frozen bell peppers
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- 1 can tomato paste
- 1.25 cups of dried pinto beans, soaked and simmered this afternoon (you could easily just use canned!)
- 1 can kidney beans
- 3/4 cup frozen okra
- 3 slices pre-cooked bacon
- Cocoa, cinnamon, hot sauce, etc. to taste
Cook bacon. Brown meat. Add all ingredients to pot. Simmer to taste, about 30 minutes.
Recipe makes 4-6 servings for 1400 total kcal – portion as you please!
A few of my favorites on the side – I can’t have soup without ’em! Something about the dryness goes so well with a thick soup.
This dinner was about 330 kcal.
Tonight
I am off to take another bath and read in bed. I need a little R&R!
jenna says
It must be a chili kind of week! Ironic since the weather is so unbelievably warm!! Well its always warm here but really randomly warm for y’all this time of year (you knew I went to school for a year at Elon, right?)! Your chili looks delish…wish we lived closer so we could taste eachothers 🙂
Matt,
I’ve actually never made crackers before! I would love to make some really good cheddar crisps or something..that sounds amazing. I start my new program (baking & pastry) in 2 weeks and I’m sure crackers will be included somewhere in the curriculum. I’ll keep you posted!
ps- mba?? You need to go to culinary school! 🙂
jenna says
Oh my gosh. We just posted comments on eachothers blog at the EXACT same time. we are dorks! I bought little individual packets of ground flax tonight at the health food store based on your recommendation…never tried flax before but it sounds good! Can’t wait to try it with b-fast tomorrow!
VeggieGirl says
haha, how fun that you and Jenna both had chili for dinner :0D
you DEFINITELY deserve the R&R – have a wonderful, restful night, Kath!!
Kath says
Jenna,
Hilarious we both posted simultaneously!! I had NO IDEA you went to Elon for a year!!! I wonder if you know any of my high school friends? I grew up in Hillsborough – right over in Orange County. You ended up at College of Charleston, right? Enjoy the flax! If you like nuts, I’m sure you’ll like it. Just don’t put too much in on the first go-around until you know you like it. Sometimes it can dry out the oats if you add too much.
K
Jennifer says
I hope you feel better soon, the flu is going around in the Lake Norman area. Get some extra rest. Quick question what kind of turkey do you use for your sandwiches. I think I am going to look into Winthrop. I will let you know.
Take Care
Kath says
Jen,
Let me know if you have any Winthrop questions!!! The turkey was Dietz and Watson honey smoked – the husband got it this time so I’m not 100% but that’s what he says it is. We try to roast whole turkey breast, but we don’t have one and I wanted turkey!
K
jenna says
Were you in a sorority at Davidson? I was an alpha chi omega at Elon. I left after my Freshman year because it was just too small for me…I went to a private high school and Elon was one of the most popular colleges for kids to go to. I think half my graduating class went there, too! It was sort of like 13th grade…haha! THEN I went to university of alabama but that was too big…so THEN I went to college of charleson for my junior + senior year and it was absolutely perfect. 🙂
My family actually lived in Chapel Hill for like 8 years too when I was little…small world!
Karen Downing says
Glad to hear you are feeling better. I would have never thought to put okra in my chili, good idea!
Ruby Red Vegan says
UGH! Chem lab! I have mine on Thursdays, and it’s my least favorite class… Can you believe they don’t even give us chairs in the lab? We have to stand up for two full hours mixing boring chemicals!
A bath sounds so nice. I usually have crusty bread with my soup, but crackers sound yum.
Kath says
J,
You lived in Chapel Hill!?!?!? We could have been friends! Davidson didn’t have sororities – just these social clubs, which were kind of lame. But I LOVED the school overall. It was small and liberal artsy – perfect for me. I’ve heard College of Charleston is super fun, but I haven’t been. I love Charleston in general though. We went for a trip last year and always have fun there and Savannah for romantic getaways 🙂
K
BethT says
Kath, just curious – did u get your frozen peppers at Trader Joe’s? I just found them there and they were SO cheap for a mix of red, green and yellow.
Molly says
How much cheese did you use? It didnt say in the ingredients. Thanks 🙂
Sharon says
Hi Kath,
Just wanted you to know I am a fan of your website and think you will be a great RD. You have such enthusiasm for food. What area of dietetics are you interested in? By the way I am MS, RD, LD. Good luck in your studies. It seems like forever but it will be worth it if it’s something your passionate about!!
jenna says
I’m taking up your comment area. Haha. 🙂 How far are you away from Charleston? It might be fun someday in the future to meet there for a fun (food filled) weekend! Its my favorite city in the entire world…..
sp says
I have the metal drinking bottle, you will love it. It keeps the water so cold for so long, and the water does not taste like platic when you drink it.
You guys must try the new baked chalupa shells. 45 Cals a piece, a little no fat refried beans, turkey, chile powder, veg, salsa, whatev.
A low calorie party in your mouth is what it is.
Hint: buy a can of chopped green chiles and mix into no fat refried beans…spicy and good!!
BethT says
SP, what brand are the Chalupa shells?
Tina says
I’m glad you’re feeling better, Kath! Thanks for your comment this afternoon! 🙂
Emma says
Im taking Chem too! I agree…lap prep= pain in the bum!
Megan says
LOL, I just have to make a comment about chemistry…I am finally finishing my PhD in organic chemistry in the next couple of months (It takes about 6 years) and couldn’t agree more with how boring mixing chemicals together can be:)
Alicia says
I majored in chemistry during university and hated organic chemistry because chem practicals took 12 hours. My favourites included physical and analytical chemistry as lab work were the shortest. Unfortunately I found physical chem really tough as I think that you need to be good at physics in order to understand it.
rachel Rebman says
just a thought on where all the negative comments are coming from…the food blog on self.com had a lot of people who were leaving very nasty comments on it, and people refered other blog readers to THIS site, so i’m guessing that it’s the same group of self conscious people who feel the need to bring others down with them.
besdies the side note, this blog is great! i love the pictures!
Aimee C. says
oooh Kath…I love Chemistry.
I am jealous that you get lab prep.
Wow…I sound a little like a loser…HAHA 🙂
Kath says
Beth,
The peppers were Harris Teeter brand, but I’ll have to do a price comparison at Traders!
Molly,
It was about 1 tbsp of cheese, which is about 1/4 an oz. I never need much to get the cheesy fix.
Sharon,
Thanks for your comment! I wish I were finished with all this Chemistry, but for the most part I am enjoying the journey to becoming an R.D. Being a student is fun!
Jenna,
We are definitely doing this trip – the question is when!! It will be funny for the readers when we post meals from the same restaurants 🙂
Megan,
6 years of Organic!!? You poor thing. I haven’t taken it yet but I’m looking forward to seeing what it’s all about. Want to be my online tutor!?
Rachel,
After some IP address research that we SHOULD have done many days ago, we found that 90% of the mean comments were coming from a small group of women at the same location trying to make up drama. That makes me feel so much better that real women didn’t think I was such a horrible person! Hopefully we fixed the problem….
Kath
BethT says
Are you serious? THE SAME IP ADDRESS?
That makes me both laugh and cry at the same time. Lame!
HokieShelley says
(edited my name so you dont’ think I’m the Shelly who was posting rude comments)
if you think chem lab is bad, you should try geology lab! 3 hours of poking at rocks, looking for properties of different minerals. UGH. my stupid advisor signed me up for geology my freshman year since I was a communication major. I guess she assumed all comm majors were dumb.
and that’s really funny (in a sad/pathetic way) about the women/woman trying to stir up trouble…
hope you’re having a great hump day 🙂
Megan says
I would love to be your online tutor for chemistry!! I had 4 years to get my BS in chemistry and then another 6 to get my PhD here at Stanford, and then yes there is more, 2 years for a post doc at Yale. It would be nice to help someone out that does so much for me everyday by blogging!!
Kath says
Megan,
I saved your email if I ever get super-stuck. Thanks for the offer!
K