resolution update

Hey y’all!

So far keeping up with the “blogging more often” resolution is a total FAIL, but I’m happy to report that I have not eaten any meat (with the exception of seafood) the whole month of January!

I think it helped me really think about what to order and to not just go for the usual. To continue this type of eating, I have decided that I will try to limit my meat to once a week. Also, I have decided to start weight watchers again. I feel like I was able to shed some pounds on it, but I did not like the low fat aspect of it. So, for this go around, I’m sticking to “real” food – food that is not processed or has a lot of other things that I can’t pronounce. If you are up for some vegetarian options at home, try the following recipe from the Best Light Recipe cookbook.


1 tablespoon cumin seeds (i used cumin powder)

1 med. onion minced

1 large red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded & chopped fine

9 med. garlic cloves, minced or pressed thru a garlic press (about 3 tablespoons)

3 tablespoons chili powder

1 tablespoon veg. oil

1/4 teaspoon cayenne

salt

3 cups beans drained & rinsed (i used pinto, black, red kidney)

2 cups water

1 (28oz) can crushed tomatoes

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1 cup frozen corn kernels

1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves

1 tablespoon of lime juice



1. toast cumin seeds in a large Dutch oven over med.-low heat, stirring constantly until fragrant, 1 minute. stir in the onion, bell pepper, garlic, chili powder, oil, cayenne & 1/2 teaspoon salt. cover & cook, stirring often, until veggies have softened, about 8 to 10 mins

2. stir in the beans, water, tomatoes, oregano & brown sugar, scraping any browned bits. bring to a boil over med.-high heat; reduce the heat to med-low and simmer until the chili is slightly thickened, about 25 mins

3. stir in the corn & continue to simmer until heated thru, 5 to 10 mins; off the heat, stir in the cilantro and lime juice and season w/ salt to taste



*the chili can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days