Crock Pot Queen

Soooo....I decided to pull out the old Crock Pot and create a fab meal for me and the kids. Now I know how you super-vegans are. Vegetables are best Rare! But, a slow cooker brings such a nice aroma through the house. Winter is here. And I'm putting the slow-cooker back on duty. Here is a great recipe for busy vegetarians...
Zoe's Vegetarian Chili

Ingredients:
3 cups cooked kidney beans, with 6 cups cooking liquid
OR: 3 cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed, plus 6 cups water or soupstock
1 cup bulgar or cracked wheat
One 6 oz can unsalted tomato paste
2 Tbsp olive oil
Optional: 1 can crushed or chopped tomatoes
Optional: Hot sauce to taste
Optional: 1 medium red onion, peeled, quartered and diced
1 red pepper, diced

1 green pepper, diced
1 medium carrot, diced
2 stalks celery, diced small
1 jalapeno peppers, halved, seeded, and minced - approx. 1 Tbsp ((add another for more heat)
1 - 2 Tbsp fresh ginger (2 - 4 thin slices) peeled & minced, OR 1 tsp dried
2 - 4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced (approx. 1 Tbsp)
1/2 tsp chipotle chili powder to make it mild, 1 tsp to make it hot, more to make it fiery
2 bay leaves
1/2 cinnamon stick
2 tsp each: paprika, gr. cumin, coriander
1 tsp each: dried thyme, basil, oregano
1 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels
1/2 c. minced parsley or cilantro
2 Tbsp Braggs Liquid Aminos, or low sodium soy sauce
Fresh ground black pepper to taste
Cooking Kidney beans:
1 cup dried dark red kidney beans
Soak 4 hours in hot water, or overnight
Drain, rinse, add 6 cups unsalted water
Bring to a boil, skim foam, cover and simmer 2 hours

Chili Directions:
Add bulgar & tomato paste to kidney beans + cooking liquid or water
Add bay leaf and cinnamon stick
Return to boil, cover and simmer
Preheat sauté pan or frying pan on medium-low and add oil
Prep veggies
Sauté minced garlic, ginger and jalapeno on medium heat for 5 minutes
Add remaining veggies and sauté 5 more minutes
Add remaining spices, sauté another five minutes
Transfer the veggies to the bean + bulgar mix, cook another 30 minutes
Add corn, parsley or cilantro, and braggs or soy sauce to taste
Cook for a few more minutes and serve
Slow Cooker or Crockpot Chili Directions:

Turn an 8 - 10 qt crockpot on high
Add cooked beans, cooking liquid or water, bulgar or cracked wheat, tomato paste, bay leaves, and cinnamon stick to the crockpot
After sautéing the veggies & spices, transfer them to the slow cooker
Reduce crockpot heat to low, cover and cook 4 - 6 hrs
Add corn, minced parsley or cilantro, Braggs liquid aminos or soy sauce to taste. Cover and cook for another 1/2 hr on high heat.

Vegetarian chili is a great vegan meal by itself, or with salad and cornbread. Good with sour cream or parmesan cheese - non-dairy or dairy. You can also use black beans in this recipe, or a mixture of red chili beans & black beans.

N-Joy!