Chili Inspired

Perfect to warm you from the inside on a bone chilling day!  Lightly sweet and savory with unique flavor combinations of cayenne  &  cocoa with cinnamon & cumin.  If you are looking for something a little different this recipe is for you.

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic minced
1 medium onion chopped into small pieces
1 pound ground beef (90% lean)
1 med red pepper chopped
1, six oz. can tomato paste (no salt added)
1 med tomato chopped into medium pieces
1 cup water

1 Tbsp chili powder
1 tsp cayenne
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp cumin
½ cup water

1 tsp cocoa (natural unsweetened)
1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 can black beans (drained and rinsed)
1 can corn
2 med baked sweet potatoes chopped into medium cubes (~1 cup)

Directions:

Pour olive oil into large skillet on low-med heat. Add garlic and onions. Cook until onions are soft. Add ground beef. Break into small pieces with spatula while cooking. Cook until there is no pink. Add red pepper and cook with meat mixture until soft. Add tomato paste, tomatoes and water and stir into even mixture. Add in spices (except cinnamon and cocoa) and additional water. Stir until mixed. Cover and simmer 45 minutes on low heat. Add additional water as needed to keep from drying out.

Add cocoa, cinnamon and stir to mix. Add in beans, corn and sweet potatoes and stir to mix. Add additional water as needed. Cover and simmer for an additional 30 minutes on low heat.

Makes about eight, 1 cup servings. Top with cheese and sour cream as desired and serve hot with cornbread. I used the jiffy cornbread box mix which requires only the addition of an egg and some milk. You can find it in the baking isle of many grocery stores.

Nutrition Information:

Serving Size: 1 cup
Servings per recipe: ~8
212 kcals, 16g pro, 24g carbohydrate, 7g fat, 4.5g fiber, 223mg sodium (calculated via packaging info and USDA Nutrient database: http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/)

This healthy little recipe packs in the  nutritients with a variety of fresh veggies. It also has good proetin and fat content which will keep you full longer. One jiffy corn muffin adds 150 calories. With the low calorie content you can feel free to double up on servings, add toppings or save room for dessert afterwards!