Follow your nose...dinner for six is served.

Today is the holiday of *love.*  {But love in my house is everyday.}  Every stinking day!! So lucky I suppose.  Are YOU lucky in love?  Do you love to love? What about that secret ingredient that goes into the tastiest meals....yes LOVE? Tasty, isn't it?

Well today I am meeting up with my husband and our two girls for a Japanese dinner but before we do, this is our lunch.  I actually made it to eat for tomorrow's lunch, but this chili will be lucky to survive the night in my house.  It is filling, healthy and very delicious.  Give it a try, it will become a favourite in your family too.

Part of loving someone is feeding them well, to the best of your ability.  Making healthy choices where possible.  Nurture yourself, by preparing lean protein & high fiber meals.  Your body will thank you.  Then your husband's body will thank you ;)

Drawing a winner soon through the Random Number generator for the One World One Heart prize.  The prize I'll shop for in about two weeks.  Good luck to those who entered and thank you for reading my blog!

So that you can all be winners, I've posted the recipe for the chili.  Because things are only good when you share.  I wouldn't dream of keeping this to myself, that would be so selfish, yes??? xo

Vegetarian Chili-Serves Six

Ingredients;

2 tbsp cumin seeds (Toast them in a pan over medium heat until you can smell them, then remove and set aside.)

2 tsp extra virgin olive oil

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

1 large red bell pepper, chopped

1 large carrot, peeled and grated

1 head roasted garlic (I used 2 cloves chopped garlic, turned out fine)

3 tbsp chili powder

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (I like my chili hot so I used double this amount)

sea salt & freshly ground pepper

1 cup canned white kidney beans (for all the beans please rinse and drain)

1 cup canned great Northern beans

1 cup canned red kidney beans

1 cup canned black beans

1 cup corn kernels (canned is fine, fresh is better)

2 1/2 cups low sodium vegetable stock or water (I used veggie stock, yum)

2 tsp dried oregano

2 tsp dried basil

4 squares of 75% or higher organic chocolate

28 oz (the big one) can of tomatoes

Juice of one fresh lemon and one fresh lime

Prepare;

1. In a large saucepan, very large, warm olive oil over medium heat and add the onion, carrot & red pepper...stir until onion is transparent.  Stir in chili powder, cumin and sea salt & pepper, and the red pepper flakes.  Cook ten minutes covered, stir occasionally.

2. Add everything else.  Blend well, cover, and cook on simmer for 20 minutes.  Done! Eat it! With brown rice or whole grain rolls.  You will LOVE this chili xo

From my favourite cookbook and lifestyle bible....:)

Comments

[Jeanne]

Much love and many blessings
Happy Valentine's Day
Love Jeanne♥

[Tara Bradford]

That chili looks fabulous! Must get my chef to whip some up soon. :) Enjoy your Valentine's Day celebration(s). And yes, love is around us every day...xoxox

[Randi]

Nice post! Thank you for sharing the yummy recipe. Happy Valentines Day Gillian! I had a nice time cathing up on your posts today.. always a happy ray of sunshine! :)

[shelagh]

Yum! Thanks. Always on the hunt for delicious and nutritious and tasty recipes:)
Enjoy your Japanese treat. Happy Love Day!

[Rochambeau]

Hi Gill,
Your receipt for chili looks super delish ~
Happy Love Day.
Yes I too feel love. What is the secret?
One thing you mention, I agree with. Treat your self with love and respect by eating nutritious foods. Exercise is VERY important for a happy outlook mentally. Love is a practice. And the more you practice and give, the more you feel it take over in the inside.

Love,
Constance

[Jeaux]

Must try your chili. Chocolate! Perfectly in keeping with the New World ethos, but who'd a thunk it?

From my heart to yours:

Cucumber dip

8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 medium cucumber, cut inot chunks
1 clove chopped garlic
1 tbsp chopped onion
big pinch of dill weed
big squirt of lemon juice
fresh ground pepper to taste

Salt the cucumber well and let it sit in a strainer for a couple of hours to leach out some of the water. Combine the cucumber with the other ingredients in a blender and blend. You may have to prod the curds of cream cheese while it's blending to get them to fold into the mix.

Chill.

There's something about the flavor of cucumber that breathes refreshment. It's good as a dip for whatever you're dipping these days. Or as a garnish for grilled fish or chicken.

xxoo

[Relyn]

I'd love to do dinner with you someday. Yum.

So, here it is Valentine's Day and I had to stop by and wish you a great one.

a wish from me:

On this day, may you know, really know how much you are loved. May you recognize love in all it's forms. May you be grateful for the love of children and pets, old friendships and new. May your heart swell with all the beauty this life brings. Happy Valentine's Day to you and yours, my friend.

[vineeta]

I must say it looks good ;)

[Lisa P]

Only 9am and I'm drooling ovah here!!! I will definitely be making the chile. Anything with chocolate in it gets 2 thumbs up from me!
Cucumber dip also looks fab!! I will be trying both very soon!
Happy Love to you my friend.
xo

[Sherry]

This just sounds so amazing and I'm going to try it this week while my Uni son is home for reading week. He loves to try new food and bless his heart, unlike his younger brother, he will eat anything and everything I put my hands to. xo

[pam aries]

Gracias for this recipe! I love veggie chili. Have you ever benn to this website? www.smittenkitchen.com great recipes and a cool blog!

[Dinners & Dreams]

It looks yummy!

[gillian]

thank you thank you thank you!!!! I'm going to try this out and I shall post the results ;)

I love dips :)xoxo