The Fall is here and with it the desire for warm, comfort foods! A seasonal favorite of mine is a vegetable and black bean chili. It’s the perfect meal for a cool night and leftovers are always an added bonus! Yesterday was the perfect day to whip some up so I thought I’d share the recipe in case any of you have a hankerin’ for a tasty dish that’s easy and full of fresh, healthy ingredients.

VEGETABLE CHILI

• 1 large onion, chopped

• 1 Tbsp. of vegetable oil

• 1 28 oz. can of diced tomatoes – not drained

• 2/3 cup picante (I like it spicy!!)

• 1 1/2 Tsp. ground cumin

• 1 Tsp. salt

• 1/2 Tsp. dried basil

• 1 12 oz. can of black beans

• 2 medium peppers (I usually do a combo of red, yellow or orange)

• 1 yellow squash

• 1 zucchini

• Cooked Rice

• Shredded Cheddar cheese

• Sour Cream

• Fresh Cilantro

1. Cook onions in oil – use a large pot and cook over medium-high heat. Stir until tender.

2. Add the tomatoes and the next 4 ingredients; stir well.

3. Bring the mixture to a boil – then cover and reduce heat.

4. Simmer for about 5 minutes. Next, stir in beans, peppers and squash.

5. Cover and cook until vegetables are tender – approximately 25 minutes over medium-high heat. Stir occasionally.

6. Serve over rice. Top with cilantro, cheddar cheese and sour cream. YUM!