Healthy Recipe of the Week: Are you Chili?

This is by far my biggest accomplishment in my effort to learn how to cook healthy meals. I made chili! Who would have known that the girl who once claimed that Ramen noodle soup was her signature dish would one day make chili from scratch. It was very easy to do, if you haven't made chili before, try this recipe. I found it on the Weight Watchers site and made a few tweaks here and there to make it my own. I promise you'll love it! Bonus, it's healthy for you!

Mangonett's Homemade Hearty Chili

Source: Weight Watchers

Cooking Time: 50 min.

Prep Time: 25 min.

Serves: 6

Serving size: 1 cup

1 tsp. olive oil

Olive oil cooking spray

1 large onion, chopped

2 med. garlic cloves, minced

2 med. carrots thinly sliced into rounds

1 pound lean ground beef, 10% fat preferred

2 Tbsp. chili powder

1 Tbsp. paprika

1 tsp. ground cumin

1 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

2 med. tomatoes, chopped

1 cup canned tomato sauce

1/2 cup Healthy Choice traditional pasta sauce (optional)

1 cup fat free chicken broth

1 1/2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar

1 1/2 cup cooked kidney beans, rinsed and drained

1 med. green pepper, chopped

1/2 tsp salt or to taste

1/8 tsp black pepper or to taste

1/4 cup scallions, chopped

1. Heat a large pot coated with cooking spray on med-high heat. Add oil and onion, saute onion until soft (5-7 min.).

2. Add garlic and carrots, cook until garlic is softened. Add your ground meat and brown the meat, about 5 minutes. Stir it to break it up.

3. Add chili powder, paprika, cumin, and red pepper flakes, tomatoes, tomato sauce(s), broth and vinegar. Stir well. Bring it all to a boil, then lower the heat and let it all simmer for 30-45 minutes covered.

4. Next, add your beans and green pepper, simmer uncovered about 10 minutes until peppers are done, season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve in a bowl with scallions as your garnish. *You can add some non-fat sour cream or skim shredded cheese as an extra!