sweet and spicy red pepper chili, ftw!

Yesterday, cute and cuddly Mayor Nutter gave us another reason to vote for him, or at least guarantee that 2 lucky people will... Tickets to join him in the Mayor's Box for a World Series game!!! Just email your name, phone number and address to phillymayor@gmail.com before 5:00PM today. Philly residents and nonresidents are welcome, you just can't be a Yankees fan.

In an attempt to sweeten the deal for the mayor, you might want to offer to provide the beer, chips, or some comfort food like this vegetarian chili:

Sweet & Spicy Red Pepper Chili: 45-60 minutes, 8-10 hearty servings, $1.50/serving

Ingredients:

• 2 large carrots
  
• 1 medium onion
• 2 stalks of celery
• 4 cloves of garlic
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 large/two medium red bell pepper(s)
• 1 28 oz can of tomato sauce (store brand works)
• 2 14.5 oz cans of diced tomatoes with green chilies (store brand is a must)
• 1.5 cups of Bulgar Wheat (check in the ethnic food aisle)
• 2 16 oz cans of your favorite beans, or whatever is on sale. I like kidney, black or cannellini.
  
• 1 Tbsp Ground Cumin (spice stores are the cheapest place to find this)
• 2-3 pinches of red pepper flakes
  
• salt & pepper (to taste)

Preparation: I like to chill in the kitchen and pump up the jams with And the Moneynotes while the chili cooks...

1. Heat olive oil in a large pot.
   
2. Dice the celery, carrots, onion and red pepper. Toss in pot, cover and cook for 8 minutes. Stir at LEAST 5x.
3. Mince Garlic and add to pot. Cook 1-2 more minutes.
4. Add a few fat dashes of salt and pepper, stir.
5. Add the tomato sauce and diced tomatoes (with the liquid) and stir.
6. Bring to a boil, but be careful not to get sauce on your shirt! Use a long wooden spoon and stand back when stirring.
   
7. Add bulgar wheat (weird looking stuff, but soaks up the liquid and gives the chili great texture), red pepper flakes, Cumin, more salt and pepper.
8. Turn heat to LOW and cover for 20 minutes.
   
9. Check every 10 minutes or so and stir, especially once the bulgar wheat starts doing its magic and the chili gets thick.
10. Add the beans, stir it up, and cover for 10-15 minutes.
    
11. Taste, add more cumin and some more red pepper flakes if necessary. Should be a sweet and spicy thing going on...

-PH