vegetarian chili

my go-to chili recipe now. i've actually got it memorized. what am i going to do when the weather really turns warm...

(check out that steam action.)

vegetarian chili

original recipe found here

ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil (i use water instead)
1/2 medium onion, chopped
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon ground cumin
2 tablespoons dried oregano
1 tablespoon salt (i don't use)
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 green bell peppers, chopped
2 jalapeno peppers, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 (4 ounce) cans chopped green chile peppers, drained
2 (12 ounce) packages vegetarian burger crumbles (i don't use)
3 (28 ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes, crushed (i use the chili ready kind or the green chiles kind or the fire roasted)
1/4 cup chili powder
1 tablespoon ground black pepper
1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, drained
1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained
1 (15 ounce) can black beans
1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn

directions:
heat the olive oil (water) in a large pot over medium heat. stir in the onion, and season with bay leaves, cumin, oregano, and salt. cook and stir until onion is tender, then mix in the celery, green bell peppers, jalapeno peppers, garlic, and green chile peppers. when vegetables are heated through, mix in the vegetarian burger crumbles (i don't use).
reduce heat to low, cover pot, and simmer 5 minutes.
mix the tomatoes into the pot. season with chili powder and pepper. stir in the kidney beans, garbanzo beans, and black beans.
bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer 45 minutes.
stir in the corn, and continue cooking 5 minutes before serving.

*notes: i just saute the veggies like it says then put it all in a crockpot on low for as long as i can. this stuff gets hotter on day two and it freezes well.

p.s. happy birthday to my girl sarah!!!