Andrea's Killer Santa Cruz Turkey Chili

My best friend did Weight Watchers a few years ago and turned me onto Turkey Chili as a great high-fiber, high-protein, low-fat meal that is easy to make, easy to store, and always a crowd-pleaser. Over the years I have been experimenting with the mix and I think I have a real winner here! I use organic and local ingredients when I can (for the canned stuff, Trader Joe's has inexpensive organic canned beans, tomato sauce, corn, etc.). It is easy to do a veggie variation, too. Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 1 lb of ground turkey or chicken (for veggie, sub 1 cup each cubed zucchini and carrot)
• 1 large yellow onion diced large
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced or crushed
• 1 tbsp ground cumin
• 1 tbsp cayenne pepper
• 2 tbsp dried oregano or Italian seasoning mixture
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 2 x 16 oz cans of tomato sauce (1 chunky and 1 smooth)
• 2 x 16 oz cans of whole black beans
• 1 x 16 oz can of yellow corn
• 1 x 4 oz can of green Ortega chiles, diced
• 1 x 4 oz can of chipotle (fire roasted jalapeño) chile in adobo sauce (You will not use this whole can! Just 1 – 2 chiles is all this recipe needs - this stuff is hot!)
• 1 beer (light beer or Mexican beer is best)
• 1 tbsp of dark molasses
• 3 tbsp cornstarch
• salt and pepper

Accompaniments

• Avocado, Sour Cream, Cheese, Green Onions and fresh cornbread are great accompaniments! (For calorie counters, use light sour-cream, reduced calorie cheese...etc).

Directions

1. Open your beer, pour yourself half into a glass to enjoy.
2. In a large soup pot, heat oil over medium heat.
3. Sautee onions and garlic until onions start to clarify.
4. Add a tsp each of salt and pepper * add ground meat (or fresh veggies, if that is your choice) * mash the meat up with the onions, sprinkle with cumin, cayenne pepper, and oregano.
5. Sautee 5 minutes or until meat begins to brown.
6. Pour the other half of your beer into the pot and stir for another minute or so.
7. Add in green chiles.
8. Take 2 chipotle chiles from the can, and dice them up.
9. Start by adding one chile plus about a teaspoon of the adobo sauce, and reserve the other to add later if extra spiciness is required. The rest of the can can be saved in a ziploc in the fridge. These keep well for future dishes.
10. Add the corn, beans, and tomato sauce, and another tsp of salt.
11. Stir in the molasses.
12. Cover and simmer at medium-low for about 30 minutes.
13. Add cornstarch to thicken, and then taste.
14. If you want it spicier, add more of the chipotle chile.
15. Salt to taste.
16. Enjoy!