Meatless Monday Meal: Chipotle Corn Chili

It's been a blustery few days here in Southern California. We have swapped our warm, sunny weather for rain, wind, and just down right cold temperatures. As much as I love to eat raw, when it's this chilly my thoughts turn to, well, chili (sorry I couldn't help myself, it was just right there). It's also Monday, so that means many of you readers are looking for a Meatless Monday meal to make. With the two big meat stories of last week, you might find yourself looking for a way to: 1. Make a meal with no "pink slime" meat, 2. Make a meal that can help lower your risk of degenerative diseases (Harvard Nurses Study), and 3. Make a non- meat meal that won't break the bank.

Well, great news! This recipe delivers on all three. For less than the price of a value meal at a fast food restaurant, you can feed you and your family with something hearty and healthy! I give you Chipotle Corn Chili, taken from Poor Girl Eats Well:

4 c cooked brown rice
2 can dark red kidney beans, undrained
1 can sweet corn
1 can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 yellow onion, diced
2 T olive oil
1 T chili powder
1 t cumin
1/2 t salt
1/2 t granulated garlic
1 chipotle pepper and its adobo, finely chopped (add additional for more heat and smoky flavor)
Small handful of cilantro (optional)

Heat the cooking oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sautee for about 2 minutes, until they begin to soften. Add the beans, tomatoes, chipotle pepper and all the spices, and stir together. Cook over medium heat for a couple of miuntes then reduce heat to medium low and simmer for about 10 minutes.

Serve over brown rice or on its own. Garnish with chopped cilantro to cool the heat of the chipotle a bit. If you are making this recipe for little kids, always start with minimal amount of peppers and add more if your kids are like my 6 year old nephew who eats Tapatio hot sauce like its Ketchup.

The great part about this dish is that it can be thrown together very quickly or can be thrown into a crockpot to cook if you are gone all day. Very versatile and very tasty. Now, off to find out why my kid is being so quiet!! Enjoy :)