My son decided to take up snowboarding this year. Considering the winter we are having in Southern Ontario, the conditions have been great. Cold, (actually more like bitterly cold) but great!
He has been going with 3 other friends so we have been taking turns driving (only 1/2 hour away) so we end up driving every other week which is not too bad. On the weeks I drive I like to take them in the late afternoon so we can be home for a late dinner which is usually a crock pot meal so its ready for when we get home.
Tonight not only am I taking the boys, and its forecast to be -34 with the wind chill, but I also have a 10pm soccer game so we need something warm filling and quick. Just when you think “that sounds easy enough”, I don’t eat meat so I am usually making two meals or adding meat after the dish is cooked. Sounds complicated but with this yummy chili dish it really isn’t.
Fortunately I have two crockpots so I generally make the same basic recipe and make substitutions for the meat. I may end up having a lot of left overs but I usually freeze the rest in lunch sized portions that can easily be taken out of the freezer in the morning and heated up mid afternoon.
Usually when I am cooking fast and furious I just throw stuff in as I go but this recipe is one I have been using for ever. It is convenient as I use canned beans, tomatoes and the lentils that don’t have to be soaked. I usually put everything out on the counter the night before. Chop all vegetables and cook the meat so everything is ready to just throw in as I don’t have time in the morning to do prep.
Be sure to rinse the canned kidney beans before adding them to the crockpot. Rinsing canned beans can reduce the amount of sodium by half, and also reduces the amount of complex sugars.
You can also use different ground meats such as chicken, turkey or even pork if you are looking for variety. The meat version is 10 Weight Watchers points plus and 32.7g net carbs (but a whopping 42.4g protein). If you choose to make the vegan/vegetarian version the nutritional values will be as follows. (keep in mind beans and legumes are higher in carbs where as meat is carb free) Calories: 418 | Fat: 1.6g | Protein: 25.7g | Carbs: 79.5g | Fibre: 25.9g | WW Points: 9
Serve this with tortilla chips or basmati rice. Enjoy!
Mid Winter Cozy Chili Recipe
By Published: February 25, 2015
- Yield: 8 Servings
- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 6 hrs 0 min
- Ready In: 6 hrs 15 mins
Ingredients
- 1 can red kidney beans well rinsed and drained
- 1 can baked beans in tomato sauce
- 1 can diced tomatoes chili flavour
- 1 cup corn frozen
- 1 lb lean ground beef fried and drained
- 1/4 salt or to taste
- 1/4 pepper or to taste
- 1 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp chili powder
Instructions
- To prepare the meal the night before fry ground beef drain and allow to cool. Place in refrigerator.
- Dice onion, pepper and crush garlic. Place in zip bag and store in fridge till morning.
- When you are ready to put the chili together drain and rinse red kidney beans well and allow to drain while you add the other ingredients.
- Place all ingredients in the crock pot and mix well seasoning with salt and pepper.
- If you prefer a vegetarian/vegan option replace the fried ground beef with 1 cup red lentils and 1 cup split green peas.
