(Forgive me for the generic picture this week. The nephews had me so busy that I forgot to take pictures. I’m sure you can imagine what your standard chili looks like. Just more orange.)

Everyone should have a basic chili recipe. It’s one of those recipes that you can pull out and feed a crowd if you need to. It’s also something that you can make that most people will like. That’s huge. I am cooking for my brother and sister-in-law and their two kids. We spent the day playing “Dance Party”. All this was kid friendly electronic music and we all danced in the living room. Both love trains and we visited the local railroad museum. They see the same stuff every time, but they still love it.

I can’t make something as unique as I usually make for Tony and I. Kids are notoriously picky, but I’m not serving food that we can’t eat. Chili is hard to beat with comfort as well as healthy. My basic recipe is a not hugely vegetable heavy dish, since not everyone is into that. I do have beans and meat with a pumpkin base in it. It ticks all of our boxes and tastes good to others too.

Here are the stats:

Here is the recipe:

Kerry’s Basic Chili Recipe

Serves 6

• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1 tablespoon mild chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 can low sodium black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can low sodium kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can pumpkin puree
• 1 quart low sodium chicken broth

Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat.  Add the onion and bell pepper and cook until the onion turns translucent.  Add in the chili powder and cumin and cook until fragrant.  Add in the ground turkey and cook until well browned.  Add in the broth, pumpkin, and beans to the pot.  Bring to a simmer and cook for at least 30 minutes or until it reaches the desired consistency.