I know you’d just be heart-broken if you had to go one week without a slow-cooker recipe coming from this blog!
Continued props to Jenn for hosting the shindig!
Breakfast:
Peanut butter and banana on a whole-wheat English muffin. I also had the rest of the banana with some extra peanut butter on the side. I need to find some bigger whole-wheat English muffins … these miniature ones just don’t cut it for me. I was hungry about 2 hours later … not cool!
Snack #1:
Another Luna protein bar. I need to eat them while I can … Brandon keeps stealing them from me. I guess he hasn’t figured out yet that I don’t like sharing my food.
Lunch:
Sliced kiwi + a combination of shredded rotisserie chicken, brown rice, black beans, and a little Mexican cheese. I also added some salsa after taking the picture. So good and so easy!
Snack #2:
Organic vanilla yogurt, topped with Kashi Go Lean Crunch and blueberries.
Dinner:
I didn’t get my green veggies in that day, but I sure got my orange ones! I “baked” a sweet potato in the microwave, and topped it with a little butter and brown sugar and lots of cinnamon. I added some chopped carrots on the side.
Dessert:
I finally broke down and bought some Peanut Butter & Co. peanut butter at the store the other day. They didn’t have the white chocolate version, which is my favorite, so I decided to try the dark chocolate instead. It’s delicious, but I think I’ll be able to show restraint with this jar … whereas with the white chocolate peanut butter, restraint doesn’t exist! 
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So I know it’s May and it’s about hot out and so we all want to eat nothing but salads, right? Well, too bad. Because I am not a girl who can just eat salads all day, every day. So turn up the air conditioning, break out the fuzzy gloves, and let’s all enjoy a nice, hot bowl of vegetarian chili!
Slow-Cooker Vegetarian Chili
Makes 6-8 servings
(Modified from this recipe)
Ingredients:
- 2 tsp. vegetable oil
- 1 large onion, diced
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 2 tbsp. chili powder
- 2 tsp. ground cumin
- 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
- 3 cups butternut squash, peeled and diced
- 1 (29 oz.) can crushed tomatoes
- 2 (15 oz) cans red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and rained
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 1/2 cup water (or use vegetable or chicken broth)
- Brown rice for serving (optional)
- Shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
Directions:
- Chop up your onion, celery, carrots, and green pepper (Note: I did this the day before I made the chili, because I knew I wouldn’t have time the following morning).
- Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, celery, and carrots. Sauté the vegetables until they start to soften (4-5 minutes). Then add the garlic and green pepper and sauté for another couple of minutes.
- Add chili powder, cumin, and red pepper flakes to the pan. Stir everything together. (If you’re preparing your ingredients the day before, pour the contents of the pan into a storage container and stick in the fridge. Otherwise, it will go straight into the slow cooker).
- Dice up your butternut squash (I used Meg’s technique for easy cutting … I highly recommend checking our her vlog!).
- Put the butternut squash, sautéed vegetables, tomatoes, beans, and corn in the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for about 6-7 hours.
- Serve over rice with shredded cheese on top, if desired.
This was a super flavorful and filling alternative to traditional meat-based chili.
I loved the subtle sweetness that the squash added … so good!!
Question for ya …
Best thing you’ve eaten this week?
Hands down, my meal at Flip Burger. Specifically, that Nutella Milkshake!
Most boring thing you’ve eaten this week?
Ever cooked with butternut squash? Any favorite ways to prepare it?
I ate fro-yo yesterday. That’s been the highlight of my week so far
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Emily @ Perfection Isn’t Happy recently posted..WIAW #4: Lack of Veggies, Lots of Fro-Yo
I dont think its EVER too hot for chili. I am constantly craving chili in a bread bowl. Its like the ultimate meal for me!
Kat recently posted..Quick Lemon Protein Muffin
I’m pretty sure I’ve said this before, but I want you to cook for me haha. And I currently have the pb and co white chocolate pb and have no idea how I am showing restraint haha. That stuff is AMAZING!! The two best things I’ve eaten this week were the ice cream I got the other day with two flavors – peanut butter oreo and oreo cakebatter
and a sushi roll that had crab, avacado, cucumber and a peanut sauce!
Lindsay @ In Sweetness and In Health recently posted..#PhotoadayMay Part 1
Where did you get that ice cream??? Oreo cakebatter? Peanut butter Oreo?? Oh my word!
your WIAW posts always look similar to what i eat. it’s good to know that you + I are ever stranded on an island, as long as we have some chicken, beans, tons of veggies, + protein-rich snacks, we’ll be good to go. oh, + fro-yo, of course. =)
amy @ fearless homemaker recently posted..fresh strawberry whole grain donuts
Oh yes … we can’t forget the fro-yo!
oh boy, both white chocolate wonderful and dark chocolate dreams don’t stand a chance around me. i don’t have any restraint around them!
Ashley @ My Food ‘N’ Fitness Diaries recently posted..WIAW #33: A Sleepy Day
ahhh i think i love the dark chocolate and white chocolate PB equally…they are both dangerous. i love them best when mixed into oatmeal–so good in the winter!
best thing i’ve had so far this week was my s’mores bake. ummm most boring is an interesting question! ill see my almond butter and banana sandwiches
Theresa recently posted..Pretty sure I’ve learned my lesson
I tried looking around on your site a little for that s’mores bake recipe … am I missing it? Link it up!!
Best thing I’ve eaten this week? One of those new frappucinos at Starbucks. The cookie crumble mocha frap. So terrible for you. So amazing.
Yellow Haired Girl recently posted..A Quiet WIAW
Um for real? I hadn’t heard about that frap yet! I need to try it!
Chili is good year round so great recipe! I love roasting chunks of butternut squash and adding it to homemade pizza. So delish!
Laurie @ Love, Laugh, Laurie recently posted..Monitoring Milo
Never too warm for soup if you ask me, especially something like this, yum
I like the idea of adding squash to it, tasty and bulks it up of course. Thanks for the recipe mam
Tessa @ Amazing Asset recently posted..WIAW- An {Overeating} Lesson Learned
That chili sounds great! My husband would even love that, meatless or not!
the best thing I ate this past week was either chicken fajita tacos on Cinco de Mayo or a Greek hummus with Kalamata olives and chunks of feta. Amazing with some Stacy’s pita chips!
Jana @ Newly Wife Healthy Life recently posted..WIAW: Boxed Lunch
Brandon liked it, despite the lack of meat! I think he would have been even happier with some ground beef in there, but he’ll live!
I made chili yesterday as well. It was about 90 out, but that’s what the AC is for =) I put a couple tablespoons of cinnamon in mine for a bit of a kick.
Oooh I like the cinnamon idea!
its so weird u mention that because the last week its been so nice out but ive been in major comfort food mood. like craving chicken pot pie, hearty soups, lots of cheese, etc. haha
Ive never seen those luna bars before! yum!
Eric has been gone for work all this week, so my meals have all been rather boring. Cooking for one just isn’t much fun:P He gets home tomorrow night and I’m planning on making a delicious meal Friday evening…now I just have to pick my recipes:)
I’ve got taco soup in the crock pot right now for tonight’s dinner so I’m with ya on crock poting even in nice weather!!
I haven’t tried the white choclate PB, I need to get on that. I love the dark chocolate so much!
update for you…I made KALE CHIPS!! HA! they came out great. I will post about them soon. Thanks for the suggestion!
Cinnamon @ eatpraytri recently posted..I’m back for round #2- WIAW!
Yahooo! Glad they were a success. I can’t get enough of them right now … I make them with almost every meal!
I found saw a recipe on Pinterest for a butternut squash and black bean soup, but of course I ran with the idea and re-invented it into my own recipe. It was awesome, but I made it before I was blogging so I don’t have the recipe
I also lurve Butternut squash risotto…and of course chili especially on a rainy day!
Amber with Slim Pickin’s Kitchen recently posted..Banana Pudding Cream Puffs
I had fresh crabcakes last night with roasted asparagus. It was DELICIOUS!
I love butternut squash, and I think my favorite way to use it is roasted butternut squash fries with cinnamon, chili powder, and cayenne pepper. SO GOOD! I also like to use it over the holidays for something that’s kind of like sweet potato casserole.
natalie @ southern fit foodie recently posted..My garden, y’all…
I just roasted some in the toaster oven last night … with a little olive oil, cinnamon, and cumin. It was really tasty, but I”ll have to try the chili powder next time!!
I love making butternut squash fries. Just roast them like any other veggie and they taste like sweet potato fries!
Happy Wednesday!
Alyssa @ fit and fun in third recently posted..W.I.A.W
My boyfriend was at a bodybuilding competition this past weekend and someone left their bag of goodies at his table.. When no one claimed it at the end of the night he brought it home. Mostly free samples, nothing too awesome. EXCEPT a jar of THAT peanut butter. Its staring at me right now. Begging me to attack it with a big ass spoon.
Meg recently posted..Why I could not just food blog
Well don’t deny it! Just grab that spoon and enjoy!!
I love crock pot meals… so easy… and so good! (: Thanks for sharing!
Danielle recently posted..WIAW 5.9.12
i love those cookie dough luna protein bars! I always think people will wonder why I’m eating a candy bar so early in th morning.
your lunch and afternoon snack look delicious!!
kristen @ verbs and vignettes recently posted..favorite meals so far
Im new to your blog! Love it!!
My favorite way to prepare butternut is to just dice and roast it with some olive oil and cinnamon! YUM!
most boring eat? Plain ole raw broccoli.. (not my fav) must be steamed!
Candice recently posted..Portion Sizes
Thanks for commenting, Candice!!
I just roasted some butternut squash yesterday with cinnamon and cumin … it was delicious!
Pingback: Completely worth spoiling my lunch. | Confessions of a (Not-So) Domesticated Newlywed
I make chili and soup all year round. Chili is one of my favorite meals. LOVE it. Yours looks really good. I didn’t see any meat so I’m thinking you might be a vegetarian?
Jenn @ Girl Heroes recently posted..Movement Matters : Week Two Results and Why I’m Not Writing a Workout Plan This Week
I’m not completely vegetarian. But I’ve tried to start eating more meatless meals recently, after watching a couple of movies (Forks over Knives and Food Inc.) that opened my eyes a bit.
But I still don’t bat an eye over having an occasional burger or piece of chicken!
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