Recipe: Christmas Chili

Bonjour!

Happy Festivus! The holidays season is upon us. My family celebrates Christmas, and every year we kick off the celebration the day after Thanksgiving by making a big batch of chili and watching National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. (“Don’t throw me down, Clark!”)

Today’s post shares my secret family recipe for chili, a dish I grew up eating in Alabama that I continue to enjoy not only as part of the inauguration of the holidays but as a comfort food that gets me through the cold, long Vermont winter (le sigh).

But first, check out 20 good things that happened in 2020. Thank you for sharing, Stephanie!

Les Ingrédients

• 1 T. canola oil
• 1 bell pepper, seeded and chopped
• 1 lb. ground turkey (the original recipe calls for ground beef)
• 1 (28-oz.) can low-sodium crushed tomatoes
• 2 (15-oz.) cans low-sodium red kidney beans
• 2-3 T. chili powder
• 1-2 dashes red pepper flakes
• 1-2 dashes paprika
• 2-3 bay leaves

La Recette

• Place canola oil in large pot or Dutch oven. Heat oil over medium-high heat. Add bell pepper and cook until soft.
• Add ground turkey (or beef) to pot. Crumble and cook until no longer pink. (I don’t drain my meat, but you could do so here.)
• Add beans, tomatoes, spices, and bay leaves to pot. Stir to combine.
• Bring to boil, stirring occasionally. Once boiling, turn heat to low and simmer 2 hours, stirring frequently.
• Serve chili with cornbread, shredded cheese, sour cream or Greek yogurt, hot sauce, what have you.

Tasting Notes

• I often double this recipe and freeze the leftovers for easy-to-prepare dinners on cold winter nights!
• I use low-sodium beans and crushed tomatoes and don’t add any salt, but feel free to season to your taste.
• Since I have IBS and try to eat a low-FODMAP diet, I occasionally try gluten-free options in baking mixes (check out my gluten-free brownies and quick bread!). Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Cornbread Mix is délicieux and tastes amazing, whether you avoid gluten or are simply gluten-free curious.
• Yes, I am rocking a Christmas dachshund apron. No big. Thank you, Megan!

This is my last post of 2020. I hope you and your family stay safe this holiday season and wish you all a happy and healthy 2021. If you are celebrating Festivus today, enjoy the Airing of Grievances and Feats of Strength! And thank you for reading!

What are your special holiday foods and traditions?

Merci for reading and please subscribe and share!

À votre santé,

Katie