Vegetarian Chili

Ingredients:

• 1 can kidney beans
• 1 can garbonzo beans
• 1 can black beans
• 2  4oz cans of diced green chiles
• 1 can whole kernel corn
• 3 28 oz cans whole peeled tomatoes
• 2 12 oz packages vegetarian meat crumbles 
• 1/2 yellow onion
• 2 jalapeños 
• 2-4 cloves garlic
• 2 celery stalks
• green onions
• 2 green peppers
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 tablespoon pepper (or to taste)
• 1/4 cup chili powder
• 2 tablespoons oregano
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• optional: vegan cheddar cheese (the one I got I later realized has casein in it, so I would recommend a different one)

Directions:

• Chop up peppers, onion, celery, jalapeños, and garlic

• Over medium heat, heat oil in a large pot and then add onions, salt, cumin, oregano, and bay leaves. 

• After onion is cooked, add in celery, green peppers, and jalapeños, green chili peppers, and garlic.

• After vegetables are hot, add in vegetarian crumbles and cover pot to let it simmer for about 5 minutes. 
• Add the tomatoes, chili powder, and pepper.
• Add in black beans, garbanzo beans, and kidney beans. 

• Bring chili to a boil, and then reduce to low heat and let simmer for 45 minutes. 
• Add corn and cook for five more minutes ( my pot wasn't big enough, I know, but it was the biggest one I had!)

                                    Serve and enjoy!!!! :)

Good Luck!!

Recipe adapted from allrecipes.com: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/the-best-vegetarian-chili-in-the-world/

Chocolate Owl Cupcakes

I made these in the fall, but for my first post I wanted to put something fun!

Cupcake Ingredients: 

• 1 cup soy or almond milk (or milk of choice)
• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup canola oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract, chocolate extract, or more vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup cocoa powder
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt (I omit this because there is salt in the milk I use)
• Oreos and m&ms for the eyes and the beak (you don't have to eat these, but they make them so cute!)

Directions:

Mix dry and wet ingredients separately then combine

Chocolate Frosting ingredients:

• 1 cup sugar
• 6 tablespoons cornstarch
• 4 tablespoons cocoa 
• 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

• Directions: 
• Mix sugar, cornstarch, salt, and cocoa in a medium sauce pan.
• Whisk in the water.
• Slowly heat over medium until it gets thick and starts to boil.
• Boil for 1-2 minutes. (Make sure you don’t boil too long, or it will set like taffy.)
• Remove from heat and stir in oil and vanilla.
• Cool and spread on cooled cake.
• Good luck and enjoy!