Recipe Challenge

Are you up for a challenge? Well, even if you aren't, I'm going to tell you about the one I'm doing. I realized today that the Farmer and I eat the same thing. Over and over. And over again. To put a little spice in our life (literally), I've decided to do a Recipe Challenge and try a new recipe every day this week starting on Sunday. I'll share those recipes with you and tell you how they turn out for us. Feel free to join in! You know you all have cook books on a shelf somewhere (collecting dust like mine). So dig them out and join me!

NOTE: If you haven't noticed, the Farmer and I are vegetarians. Therefore, all of our meals will be meatless. If you are a meat eating reader, feel free to add meat where you'd like OR! Add a few new vegetarian recipes to your life! I promise you'll still get the protein you need.

To start us off I've decided to post our chili recipe. 1) For fun! and 2) because I made it today and it was so yummy that I wanted to share it with you!

Hungry Vegetarian Chili (makes 6 servings)
2 tbsp minced garlic
2-3 tbsp olive oil
1 medium-large onion
1 c celery
2 cans diced tomatoes (or fresh from the garden when in season!)
2 cans chili beans
2 cans kidney beans (I use one can of light, one of dark)
2-3 cans of water (I use the chili bean or tomato can)
1/4 c TVP (textured vegetable protein, if you've never had this, it's great!)
1 tbsp flax seed
1 tsp salt
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp red pepper flakes
2 tsp cumin
(Feel free to add extra spices to taste)

Saute olive oil, garlic and onions in a large pot. Once onions are transparent, add celery, cumin and chili powder. Cook about 2 minutes. Add tomatoes and 2 cans of water, bring to a boil. Add all beans and one more can of water, bring to boil. Add TVP, flax seed and other spices. Allow to simmer (partially covered with a lid) until thick or until most of the water has boiled out. Serve with brown rice, crackers, corn chips, etc. You can also used dried beans as well, just remember to set them out the night before to soak.