Chilly day. Chili recipe.

There was finally a hint of fall in the air today. It was a day that called for jeans, a big comfy sweater and boots. The perfect amount of chilly. 

I typically plan out meals on Monday and chili was not on the list but with the cold air and overcast day, a bowl of chili was exactly what I needed. And it was just what I needed. 

What you need:

1 tbsp olive oil

1 sweet potato, peeled and diced

1/2 an onion, diced

1 small green pepper, diced

3 garlic cloves, minced

 2 bay leaves

1sprig fresh oregano 

1/4 -1 tsp cayenne pepper ( depends on the level of heat you want)

3 tbsp paprika

2 tbsp dried oregano 

1 tbsp Penzeys Arizona Dreaming seasoning (you can sub chili seasoning)

1tbsp cumin

 2 cans fire roasted tomatoes

1 can garbanzo beans

1 can black beans

1 can red kidney beans

2 ears of corn, cut from the cob 

Toppings: sour cream, shredded cheese, chopped green onion, radish slices, etc. 

Heat oil in a a large soup pan on medium heat.  Add sweet potato and cook for 5 minutes or until starts to soften. Add onion and cook for a few minutes. Add green pepper and cook until veggies have cooked through. 

Add garlic, bay leaves, fresh oregano and cayenne pepper. Stir for a minute. Add remaining seasonings, tomatoes and beans. Add 1/2 cup water. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce to simmer. Simmer for 45 min to an hour. 5 minutes before serving, add corn and heat through. 

Serve hot, top with your choice of toppings and pair with a delicious glass of Trader Joe's Apple Cider (another item that I wasn't intending on having this week but I couldn't resist) for a perfect cold day meal. 

And because I was far too hungry to grab the camera. You get a lovely phone photo.