Outnumbered

Vegetarian Chili recipe

I am in the mood for FALL! Anyone with me? Summer is my favourite season, but fall is a close second.

I wanted to make chili last week after our apple picking, chip truck lunching, village market shopping day.

I was in the mood for fall and felt like making chili.  I wasn't, however in the mood for beef.  So, I decided to make a veggie chili in my crockpot.

This is a vegetarian chili recipe that is FULL of delicious & healthy ingredients and full of fibre too! (You'll thank me the day after you eat - just drink lots of water too!)
I made enough for an entire meal & then set aside the remainder to freeze for another day.   Just cut my recipe in half if you don't want all that food leftover. It is a large recipe, FYI.

The meat subsitute I used is "bulgar" (not vulgar, but bulgar).
Bulgar is made from soft wheat kernels that have been cooked, dried and then cracked. Therefore, you don't actually have to cook it, it's more "rehydrating" it!

Step One:

Cook bulgar - about 2 cups of bulgar wheat. Cook as per directions. (you can buy it at Bulk Barn or health food stores) While you're cooking the bulgar, you can get the crock pot ready.

In crock pot add:
2 chopped onions
1 red pepper diced
1 yellow pepper diced
2 celery stalks, chopped
3 cloves of garlic
fresh parsley
oregano
basil
2 large cans of diced tomatoes
1 or 2 can crushed tomatoes (or cheat and add marinara spaghetti sauce - depends how saucy you like it!)
2 cans mixed bean medley (I like PC organics) with liquid
1 or 2 cans of chick peas (PC Organics) without liquid
1 can kidney beans (optional)
1 small can corn (optional)
3-4 tbsp chili powder
3-4 tbsp cumin (or to taste)
salt and pepper to taste
Hot sauce optional

Add the bulgar to the crock pot to make the chili to the consistency you like.
Cook on low for 4-6 hours, high if you want to eat it sooner.

Grate cheese and put it on top....Enjoy!

: ) Keri

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If I win, I might just have a giveaway on the blog...cause free stuff AND breastfeeding AND my blog ROCKS!

Boys just wanna have fun?

I've come to a conclusion:
My boys make me so much more fun than I would ever be without them.

I had started co-coaching soccer with Brian a little earlier in the summer.

My true friends are chuckling, for they know that my athletic prowess is...despicable....less than desirable to put it nicely.  I'm a little lanky, uncoordinated and have never really been one for organized sports.

However, as with bug hunting,frog catching, fishing, playing soccer baseball and other boy-ish type activities, I am now somewhat becoming an expert. I did even did some research on the game of soccer...how to be a good coach with age appropriate games, and training.  Trains, hot wheels, trucks, NASCAR....you name it. I love it.  I'm also getting to be an expert Lego builder. Star Wars, here I come!

I was talking with my brother one day and said, yeah it's pretty cool what having these boys has made me do and try.

Crazy rides at the amusement park, insane water slides that I probably would never have normally even considered trying.   But I couldn't say NO to my oldest sons pleas - PLEASE mom, you gotta try it with me!  Of course I tried it with him.

The other day when we were out on the lake fishing at the cottage, I felt a taptaptap on my shoulder....I turned around and saw half of our bait (WORMS!) sitting on my shoulder. My little guy was grinning ear to ear as I picked up the worms and brushed the dirt from my shoulder.  "Ewwwww" I squealed, much to his delight. I think he figures this is all part of the desensitization process for his very girly mother.

After further discussion with my brother, it was discussed that this is just par for the course with boys.... As in, do you think you'd be doing all these things if you had sweater wearing Jack Russells instead of sons? 

Of course the answer is NO.  My boys make me a better person, bottom line.

I realize that kids, no matter their gender, will change your life. Lately, since we've been discussing the "no more babies" as a final decision,  I have those moments when I'm admiring the dressed-in-pink-frilly-hair-in-pig-tails girls in the grocery line-up and wistfully daydream about what life would be like with a daughter.  I then, of course  think of my sons, what they've taught me & always quickly remember how blessed I am to have three wonderful boys.

The best part of it is, I'm so thankful for them because they've made me a better mom.
I've had some great experiences and tried things I never would have tried without them....they've taught me a lot about being a well-rounded mom...and I'm now a more well-rounded worm-touchin' girl too.

: ) Keri