Chili, With Or Without The Meat

Total Time: 1 hr 45 mins Preparation Time: 1 hr Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• 2 lbs ground chuck (optional)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium diced onion
• 2 cloves minced garlic
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano
• 1/4 cup cumin
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 tablespoon tabasco sauce
• 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup catsup
• 1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon gravy master
• 1 medium diced zucchini
• 2 cups minced carrots
• 1 medium diced green pepper
• 1 medium diced yellow squash
• 1 (42 ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained,with juice reserved
• 1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained
• 1 (15 ounce) can black-eyed peas, drained, and mashed smooth
• 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained
• 1 medium diced hot pepper

Recipe

• 1 (for optional chili with meat: saute ground chuck in a large pot until all pink is gone. put in a sieve to drain and put aside).
• 2 in the same pan, saute onion and garlic in the olive oil until onion is soft.
• 3 mix in the remaining ingredients except for reserved tomato juice.
• 4 (if using meat, add it now).
• 5 bring to a boil, reduce heat, and cook for 45 minutes. it doesn't look like there's enough liquid to come to a boil, but there is more than you think.
• 6 add tomato juice, while cooking, if needed. if it gets too watery for you, add some dried bread crumbs. taste and adjust seasoning to your desire.
• 7 serve with sour cream and shredded cheddar cheese.
• 8 if you can make this a day ahead and reheat it, it's even better.