Skip to main content

Trick-or-treat! and Pumpkin & Black Bean Chili

Here in the Bean Town, trick-or-treating does not take place on Halloween. This is so strange to me. Trick-or-treating is tonight, from 6 to 8pm. How is Thursday night any better than Monday night? I could see maybe moving it to a weekend, but this just makes no sense.

Anyways, when I was growing up, every Halloween my mom made chili. She still does. It was the Halloween tradition. A warm bowl of chili was the perfect dinner to warm you up before heading out into the chilly night.


So, even though I'm not trick-or-treating tonight, I still made chili. It's the tradition! Although I switched it up a little, and instead of a traditional chili, I made a Pumpkin & Black Bean Chili. (It is Pumpkin Thursday, after all.)


Topped with a blanket of cheese.
The pumpkin is not too overpowering in this chili; it mainly acts as a thickening agent, with just a slight pumpkin taste. The chili is filled with black beans, yellow pepper, and shredded chicken, and is a bit spicy. This chili packs a nutritional punch, too.




I served it up with some Parmesan biscuits. (Made from a Tastefully Simple mix.) These tasted just like Red Lobster biscuits! If not better. And the box says it serves 6 - not true. Definitely only serves two, haha.


And the best thing about chili for dinner? Leftovers!


I'm off to pass out candy for the last few minutes of trick-or-treaters... hope we don't run out! No worries, I stashed a couple of my favorites in a hiding spot so I won't miss out...




Pumpkin & Black Bean Chili

Servings/Yield

6-8 servings

  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 yellow pepper, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 3 cups shredded chicken
  • 15-oz. can pumpkin puree, (1 3/4 cups)
  • 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 14.5-oz. can diced tomatoes , undrained
  • 2 teaspoons parsley
  • 1 heaping tablespoon chili powder
  • 1½ teaspoons oregano
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Method

Saute onions and yellow pepper in olive oil until tender. Add garlic and cook one more minute. Add remaining ingredients and simmer 30 minutes. Enjoy!


Source: adapted from Taste of Home
Labels:

Comments

Have Your Way said…
I want some chili now!! haha
Our trick and treating is on Monday!!

I did those strength workouts this morning, and my hips are sore already! haha
October 27, 2011 at 8:18 PM
Paige @ Running Around Normal said…
I just ordered those biscuits!! Are they good?
October 28, 2011 at 6:25 PM
Rachel said…
We made this last night for supper. Such a hearty soup! It'll definitely be made again!!
October 30, 2011 at 8:53 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Day 7: Buried Cherry Cookies

I don't remember where my mom & I got this recipe... we started baking these about 8 years ago. And haven't stopped since! The name says it all - there is a 'buried cherry' in each cookie. The cookie itself is chewy and chocolatey, and inside there's a surprise cherry! It's all topped with a unique type of frosting; it is poured over the cookie before  it's baked. It's like a cookie version of a chocolate-covered cherry! (Without all that nasty sweet white goo inside...) Here's a step-by-step break-down: Roll the dough into 1-inch balls. Make an indentation in each ball. Place a cherry in each indentation. Make the frosting. (And don't forget to lick the spoon. And scrape the sides of the pan.) Top with the frosting. Bake! And then wonder what to do with the leftover 1/2 can of sweetened condensed milk. (What kind of recipe only calls for 1/2 cup?) I guess I could be like my friend Jen , as she tol...
1 comment
Read more

The Arrival of Something New...

Woo hoo for the last Friday of the school year! And only one more day of school next week. (And then a couple teacher workshops...) Another reason to be excited? Our fridge came today!! Isn't she a beauty? It is so nice to have a fridge again. You don't realize how much you miss a full-size refrigerator until you go a couple weeks without it. A bit bare... but that can be solved easily. Bottom-drawer freezer, containing the essentials: moose tracks & Diet Dew trying to get cold asap. Anyways, I'm just popping in to share my beautiful new appliance. The baking monster has taken over, and I'm in the midst of making 150 cupcakes for a graduation party tomorrow.  First big baking project in the new kitchen! I'm loving all the counter space. Mmm... chocolate buttercream! Making good use of the baking nook! :) Adios!
65 comments
Read more

Samoa-what?

So. Last night I did some baking. For my Business Man. Leaning tower of... cookie bars? Before I tell you all about it, let's rewind a bit... Last week when I was gone traversing the Midwest , our order of Girl Scout cookies came in. (finally!) They got here on Monday. When I spoke with my Business Man Tuesday night, he informed me that the box of Caramel Delights was gone. Gone! I would have been shocked and horrified and disappointed if I actually liked coconut, but alas I just shook my head and laughed. Those cookies didn't stand a chance with my Business Man locked in the same apartment for any length of time. The real deal. Just to prove his love for Caramel Delights even further, let me tell you this little story. L ast year  I came out to visit one weekend and take the oh-so-enjoyable Praxis tests. We stopped at Family Video after the tests to pick up a few movies for the afternoon/evening. There happened to be some cute lil' Girl Scouts trying ...
7 comments
Read more