It’s Chili Time! Recipes and Cook Offs

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When the weather cools, I love to make chili.  I love that it gets tastier over time, you can make a lot to last for days, it freezes well, and while the purists may disagree, there are SO many ways to make it you really can’t go wrong! The nutritionist in me loves to feature leaner proteins in my chili, which could be lean ground beef (90% or leaner), lean ground turkey or shredded chicken, plus a variety of beans.  I like vegetarian versions as well with beans, carrots, peppers, and zucchini.  It’s fun trying different peppers like dried chipotles in my chili to create a complex flavor and ever since I discovered smoked paprika, I always add a pinch.

Turkey chili nearly ready in my crockpot
Turkey chili nearly ready in my crockpot

Ready to Make Chili? Recipes

Smoky Pulled Pork Chili

While I have yet to use pork in my chili, pork tenderloin is a lean choice and my friend and fellow Registered Dietitian, Kristen, says I MUST make this Smoky Pulled Pork Chili.  It does sound great!

My Basic Recipe

To me the beauty of chili is that I can add “a little of this a little of that” but here is my base recipe (with enough for leftovers).

Ingredients:

1 onion chopped

½ Tbs. olive oil

2 lbs. lean ground turkey or 90% or leaner ground beef

2, 28 ounce canned crushed tomatoes (I love Muir Glen Fire Roasted Tomatoes)

1 dried chipotle pepper

1 Tbs. chili powder (for the little ones, use just a pinch)  

2 tsp. smoked paprika

1 tsp. cumin

¼ tsp salt

½ tsp brown sugar

1 Tbs. white wine vinegar

1 can black beans and 1 can pinto beans, rinsed

In a large pan over low-medium heat, add olive oil.  Add chopped onion and cook until translucent.  Transfer to a large pot over low heat, or a crock pot on high heat.  Add tomatoes, chipotle pepper, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, brown sugar, white wine vinegar and continue to heat.

Turn your pan back up to medium heat. Add turkey or beef, cook until no longer pink while breaking up the meat with a heat resistant spoon or spatula as you cook.  Add cooked meat and beans to your pot or crock pot, stir and taste. Adjust seasonings as needed.  The longer you heat the more the flavors will develop.

Great events: Want to taste some great chili?

Because the combination of tomatoes, variety of peppers, protein options, and spices can vary the flavors so much, I really enjoy chili tasting and chili cook-off’s.  We have done our own cook offs with family and friends around Halloween-time and we are looking forward to going to the Stamford Museum and Nature Center Chili Cook off on Sunday, November 2nd  We attended last year (the event is combined with a Touch-a-Truck event) and donations are for the Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County.

The Rowayton Historical Society organizes a chili cook off which features local restaurant and home chefs.  The event is at Pinkney Park, Oct 18 from 12- 3 and also features live music, a pumpkin decorating contest and guess the candy corns in the jar contest.

What’s your favorite chili recipe? Do you know of any chili tasting events this fall to add to this list?

 

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Elysa Cruse
Elysa Cruse is a Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist, Certified Personal Trainer and is the Manager of the Corporate Wellness Program for Pitney Bowes (www.pbprojectliving.com). She moved to Fairfield County after college and has been enjoying great ways to be active and eat well in the area ever since, including teaching exercise classes such as Stroller Strides, Pilates and Boot Camp. She is mom to an adorable 3 year old boy and loves getting outdoors whether hiking, biking, or running (really anything as long as it's not weeding). Elysa is still working on the ultimate in work life balance and she's okay if she never quite finds it. Connect with Elysa on Twitter @ElysaCruseRD

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