Habanero Veg-Head Chili and Corn Muffins

Who doesn't love chili? We do miss the veg chili at Vortex in Atlanta (and the $2 PBR)we haven't found a place in Tampa with a good veg chili yet lucky for us Monica is really good at making a bean chili, and we decided to spice it up with some hab peppers from our garden (hardly a garden 2 potted plants on a patio in downtown!)

Habanero Veg-Head Chili

Ingredients

1 habanero pepper minced (seeds or not you decide)

1/2 green pepper (bell pepper) chopped

2 cans no salt added diced tomatoes

1 can black beans drained and rinsed

1 can red kidney beans drained and rinsed

3 handfuls of frozen corn

Oil to coat bottom of pot

1 onion chopped

1 clove garlic minced

1 bag morning star meat starter (or you can leave this out entirely and have a bean chili)

1 tbs cumin powder

1 tbs cayenne pepper

1 tbs taco seasoning

salt and pepper to taste

1 shot of of Mexican hot sauce (cholula, tapatio, etc.)

Toppings: shredded cheddar, sour cream, cilantro, green onions

Side note if you don't have the cumin and everything mccormick hot chili seasoning is a good sub if you don't have all the spices

What we did

1. In large pot heat oil, and then add habanero, onion and garlic cook until onions are translucent

2. Add meat starter (or if your a meat eater add 1.5 lbs of chuck) stir and let cook through in oil garlic onion mixture

3. Add tomatoes, beans and all spice seasonings including salt and pepper add water if needed (it shouldn't be thick) cook covered for 20-30 minutes on simmer

4. Taste for seasonings and spiciness, then add chopped green peppers and corn; cook for another few minutes until corn is cooked through top with your toppings..........and serve!

Corn Muffins:

We use the Jiffy! Throw in a handful of chopped jalapenos and a handful of shredded sharp cheddar into the batter, bake as directed and you are in it to win it my friend!

WDWD?? (what did we drink?)

Leinenkugels honey weiss, representing Mo's home state of WI!