Chili Recipes

Black Bean/Butternut Squash Chili
1 small butternut squash, peeled and cubed
2-3 cups black beans (cooked or canned) (sorry, I dont' measure)
1 onion, chopped
spices - chili powder, cumin, etc (orig. recipe mentioned cocoa powder!)
garlic, lots
tomatoes, fresh or canned
1 lime, zest and juice
cilantro
chipotle peppers (canned, with adobo sauce)

Sautee onion in small amount of oil until limp. Add chopped garlic and spices and let that cook for a few minutes. Add the grated zest of lime and squash cubes, cook for about 10 minutes.
Add beans, tomatoes, water if it needs it, and as many chipotle peppers as you can stand (they're hot) and some of that yummy sauce. Cook until the squash is tender, at least a half hour, but it won't hurt it to go longer. Serve with cilantro and lime juice.

Cincinnati Empress Chili
2 tsp olive oil
2 medium onions, chopped finely
4 cloves garlic, minced
3 C vegetable stock
2 Tbs apple cider vinegar
1 large bay leaf, crushed
5 whole allspice berries
2 tsp salt or herbal substitute
3 Tbs chili powder
1 tsp carob powder (or cocoa)
2 C low sodium tomato sauce
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper, or to taste
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp cinnamon
2 C cooked pinto beans
2 C tofu, frozen, thawed, and crumbled

In large heavy pot, over medium-high heat, heat oil and saute onions for 8 to 10 minutes.
Add remaining ingredients.Bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer for 1 1/2 hours.

Kidney Bean/Pinto bean and Plantain Chili/Sweet Potato
2 lbs. Pinto Beans or kidney beans, dry
5-6 Plantains, ripe ( or use 2 lbs sweet potato)
1 - 28-oz. can Crushed Tomatoes
2 Onions, medium size
5-6 Garlic, cloves
1-2 Chipotle Peppers
1/4 cup Molasses, mild, unsulphured
2 tbsp. Chili Powder
2 tbsp. Cumin, ground
2 tbsp. Paprika
1 tsp. Cinnamon, ground

Place the onions, the garlic and the chipotle peppers (if you like your chili less spicy, use fewer chipotle peppers) in the container of a high speed blender, cover and run at "high" until the veggies are turned into a puree. Empty the contents into a microwaveable dish or pot and precook for about 5 minutes. Add to the slow cooker and mix.Open the can of tomatoes, and preheat in the pot or dish until it just begins to boil. Add to the slow cooker. Add all the other ingredients except the plantains, and mix well. About 2 hours before you are ready to serve the chili, peel the plantains and cut into small pieces (3/8 inch or 1 cm.). We slice the peeled plantains lengthwise into quarters, and then slice them across. Add the plantain pieces to the slow cooker and mix well. Cover. Turn the heat down to "low" and allow to simmer for about 2 hours.

Thick and Hearty Pinto Bean Chili
3 large dried New Mexico chiles (see note above)
1 1/2 cups water
1 medium onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 bell pepper, chopped
1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes
1 8-ounce can tomato sauce (no salt added)
3 cups cooked pinto beans (or 3 cans, rinsed and drained)
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon oregano
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon smoked Spanish paprika
2 teaspoons cocoa powder
1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
1 teaspoon sugar (optional)
cayenne or other red pepper, to taste

Remove and discard the stems from the chiles. Place them in a small saucepan and pour the water over them. Bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes. Allow to cool. Put the chiles and the water into a blender and puree until well-blended. Pour into a strainer, pressing lightly on the pulp to get out all the flavor. Throw the pulp away and reserve the liquid. In a large non-stick pot, sauté the onion in a little water (1 tablespoon to start) until it's beginning to brown. Add the garlic, bell pepper, and a little more water and sauté for 3 more minutes. Add the reserved chile sauce, tomatoes, tomato sauce, beans, cumin, oregano, black pepper, and paprika and bring to a simmer.In a small bowl, mix the cocoa powder with 1/4 cup hot water until it is well blended. Add it to the chili. Taste for seasonings and add salt and red pepper to taste. If it seems bitter add sugar. Cook on low for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to blend.

Makes 4-6 servings.