Dinner #3 - Grass-Fed Organic Beef Chili

This is another quick and delicious dinner option for busy evenings. We make sure to use healthier, more ethically raised, 100% grass-fed, organic beef. We also try to use ingredients in cans as sparingly as possible, since most cans are lined with plastic containing BPA. In this recipe, that means soaking dried beans and cooking them before adding them to the chili, and using tomato sauce that comes in glass jars, available at most health food stores.

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
6 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 jalepeno, finely diced (optional)
1 pound ground beef
4 cups cooked red beans
2 cups tomato sauce
2 cups water
2 teaspoons sea salt
½ cup chopped cilantro

• Heat a 6 quart pot over medium heat. Add the oil, then the onions. Saute for about 10 minutes or until very soft and beginning to change color. Add the garlic, cumin, chili powder, red bell pepper, jalepeno pepper, and ground beef. Sauté for a few minutes.
• Add the cooked red beans, tomato sauce, water, and salt. Cover and simmer for about 35 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in chopped cilantro. Taste and adjust salt and seasonings if necessary.

Makes 6 servings

From Nourishing Meals by Alyssa Segersten and Tom Malterre