Tag Archives: chili

Wendy’s Chili

Posted in Soups & Chilis by

Whether or not this is authentic, it’s become my favorite chili, and the one I make over and over. I found the recipe years ago on a site that purportedly had the recipes for favorite restaurant dishes. Like I said, I’m not sure it’s the real thing, but it works for me every time.

Makes about 12 servings

1 Tbsp. olive oil
2 lbs. ground (minced) turkey, lean if possible
14.5-oz. can tomato puree
14.5-oz. container tomato passata, like Pomi
29-oz. can kidney beans (with liquid)
29-oz. can pinto beans (with liquid)
1 medium onion, diced
1/2 cup diced green chili (or try 1/3 cup chopped jalapenos)
2-3 stalks celery, diced
3 medium tomatoes, chopped
2 tsp. cumin powder
3 Tbsp. mild chili powder
1 1/2 tsp. black pepper
2 tsp. salt
2 cups water

Heat the oil and brown the ground turkey in a pan over medium heat.

As the turkey browns, put the remaining ingredients in a pot. Begin heating the pot to a simmer.

When the turkey is browned, drain off the fat and add the meat to the pot.

Cook, stirring every 15 minutes, for 2-3 hours.

Melissa’s Black Bean Salad

Posted in Salads & Dressings by

I just came up with this recipe after testing two others that had been in my cookbook for years — and deciding I liked neither. What I wanted was a black bean salad that focused on the beans, with a little bit of of crunch and a lot of flavor, so I just mixed together the things I liked and wound up with a winner. I should have done it that way all along.

The flavor is a bit Tex-Mex (I seem to be on a southwestern kick lately). Adjust the chili powder to your liking — I accidentally made mine hotter than I intended, but I love it, and that’s the amount represented here. You can also add whatever other ingredients you like to make it your own — onion, chopped chicken, grated cheese, tortilla chips, or lettuce would all be very nice.

Serves 2 (easy to double)

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 tomato, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1 1/2 red peppers, chopped
About 10 sprigs of cilantro (fresh coriander), finely chopped
1 tsp. grated lime zest
Olive oil
Lime juice
2/3 avocado, peeled and chopped
1/4 tsp. ground cumin
1/4 tsp. chili powder or cayenne pepper
Black pepper
Salt

Mix all ingredients together and enjoy!