Drunken Veggie Chili

I love to cook and I love to alter other people's recipes, but I rarely come up with anything on my own. This recipe, though? All mine. It actually happened by accident: B had a chili cookoff at work and, procrastinators that we are, we didn't even try to think of a plan until the night before. We threw a bunch of stuff in a pot and it worked like a charm. Chances of that ever working out again: 0%.

Ingredients: 

• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 medium onions, diced
• 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1.5 Tbsp chili powder
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes
• 2 Tbsp tomato paste
• 2 cans (15oz each) diced tomatoes
• 1 Tbsp light brown sugar 
• 1 tsp each salt and pepper
• 1 cup APA beer (we used Schlafly) 
• 3 cans (15oz each) of beans (we used kidney, pinto, and black beans)
• 2 cups water (plus or minus)
• Optional: shredded mozzarella cheese and Greek yogurt.*

Directions: 

1. Warm olive oil in a dutch oven over medium heat. 
2. Add onions, garlic, and bell peppers. Let saute until just short of caramelized, about 5 minutes. 
3. Add chili powder and red pepper flakes, let cook for another minute. 
4. Add tomato paste, diced tomatoes, brown sugar, salt, pepper, beer, beans, and enough water to reach desired thickness (we used around 2 cups). Bring chili to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until the beans are tender, about 30 minutes. 
5. Serve with mozzarella and a dollop of Greek yogurt. 
6. Optional: refrigerate overnight to thicken. Reheat next day. Win cookoff. 

We used McCormick Chipotle Chili Pepper instead of regular chili powder. It's amazing and a little spicy. Use regular chili powder or a mixture of the two if you're worried about the heat.

If I'm not crying, gasping, and choking, then it's not hot enough

Full disclosure: I hate beer. Luckily, the alcohol cooks off so the beer just adds a nice deep flavor that is so often missing from vegetarian chili. My first attempt at a meatless chili (from a real recipe, even!) tasted like chewy, barely-spiced beans...not good when you want a warm, comforting bowl of yum.

Do you want a picture of the finished product? Let me answer that question with a question. Have you ever tried to make a bowl of chili look appetizing in a picture taken at 8PM with an iPhone? (Hint: it's impossible)

What's your favorite recipe, vegetarian or otherwise?  I have too many to choose from (I know, that's a cop out)
Do you like spicy foods? YES. I have yet to meet a buffalo wing that is hot enough for me, much less too hot.

*Note that this recipe is vegan if you don't serve it with cheese and yogurt and pick your beer carefully.