Eggplant Chili

For this week's lunches, I made a pot of chili.

I have made chili a 1000 ways, like most people, but this is my all-time favorite.

I start out with a box of Shelby's chili mix. I'm not a fan of mixes but this is an exception. If I try to get the same flavor on my own, it falls short. They've got just the right seasoning mix for my taste buds.

Instead of the ground beef, I brown finely diced eggplant in peanut oil along with diced onions. When good and brown, I add the rest of the ingredients per the box instructions, plus black beans.

I eat it with a hunk of whole grain bread and some New York white cheddar cheese. Mmmm....can't wait for today's lunch!

Easy Black Bean Soup

I pureed fresh lime juice, oil, onion, chile, and cooked black beans for a delicious soup that literally took me 10 minutes to make. So delicious, healthy, and fast!!

New Old Fashioned Dishes

While eating an absolutely delicious plate of portobello parmesan at Delmonico's Restaurant, I began to wonder if there were other traditional favorites I could make over to be vegetarian.

I decided to try making Tofu Francaise.  I think I'll make it with vegetable broth and extra firm tofu.

I'm taking the long weekend off from cooking...it's Columbus Day...so I'll be back to post pics later on.

Felice lunedì senza carne!