Sorry we're late, we've been having some rather annoying techy issues this weekend!!  All is okay now though, so take a look at this fabulous recipe, have a go, its full of all the good things and make sure you post a pic and tag us in! 

This is a fantastic example where if you are missing one ingredient you can easily adapt - I'll be adding a little sweet potato in mine and I've no kidney beans so I'll be using pinto beansinstead!

As you may be aware I love plant based dishes, and whilst not a vegan, I do enjoy meat free dishes once or twice a week and it’s wonderful to not hear my family bemoan ‘where’s the meat?’  It took a while, but they have slowly become accepting that not every meal must have a portion of meat on the plate!

Dishes like the one below, have helped enormously.  My friend Sophie has been vegan for a few years now, and it is always a treat if I know she’s cooking!  This weekend Sophie has been kind enough to write the blog and share her delicious chilli recipe!

Check out Sophie's @sunseaandsalutations on instagram she is truly the most positive and inspirational person I know!

CHILLI SIN CARNE

 Hi I’m Sophie, and Susan and I have been friends for a 100 years or maybe even longer .. We both share a love for food and discuss recipes and meals we have enjoyed at length, as we pound the seafront exercising our right,  with one other from another household .

Along with food we love & discuss books we’ve read or wish to read , our families, open water swimming , gardening ,yoga and dance ... we can talk and there is something truly wonderful in these shared moments x We are currently also sharing a love of winter, and how to make it feel special, sacred and magical. When  she asked me to share my Chilli recipe I was excited , as to me there is nothing more wintery and satisfying than a big bowl of goodness and flavour , simplicity and spice that is a Chilli Sin Carne .

Here’s my recipe hope you enjoy it feel free to adapt and adjust flavours to your taste, as I know, in the words of the great Marilyn Monroe  ‘ Some like it hot ‘

Serves six ...

1 tbsp olive oil

4 cloves of garlic .. crushed

1 small onion -chopped

1/2 green bell pepper - chopped

1/2 red pepper- chopped

Large handful of mushrooms - chopped

Large handful spinach - washed

1 fresh red or green chilli - chopped

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp dried oregano

1/2 tsp paprika

1/4 tsp ground black pepper

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp cayenne flakes

2 Tbsp tomato purée

2 Tins chopped tomatoes

1 cup cooked/tinned kidney beans

( drained and rinsed)

1 cup cooked/tinned lentils (drained and rinsed)

1 tip of sweetcorn

2 cups vegetable stock

Bunch of chopped coriander to serve .

Put leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge and this chilli can last for a few days. I like to bring it out, heat  and serve on top of a jacket potato or nachos for a quick and easy meal.

METHOD

Heat the oil in the pan .. nice big heavy pan with a lid works best !

Add the veggies and cook over a medium -high heat for about 5 minutes stirring occasionally.

Add in your spices - I add my garlic a bit later in the process as I like the way it infused the sauce and makes it sing ...

Add all remaining ingredients  along with 1/2 tsp sugar to balance out the acidity in the tomatoes .. stir and bring to a simmer.

Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for about 30-40 minutes. Adjust seasoning to taste.

Add the chopped coriander to serve with whole grain rice or a big hunk of wholemeal bread ! Mmm delicious simple, nutritious and satisfying.. perfect for that winters day

Love the food you eat and eat the food you love Namaste

 Love, Sophie x

@sunseaandsalutations

This week, we are looking at making some healthy changes, I'm fed up feeling sluggish and know that my excuse of comfort food has become gluttony - enough is enough!

Again my apologies for the technical difficulties sending our email at the weekend, but it has given me the opportunity to cook this fantastic recipe - I made it for the entire family last night from 3 - 83yrs and everybody cleaned their plates, which is no small feat, because there's always one who's difficult! 

I'll be honest I don't mention anymore if a dish I'm serving is plate based or not, I have no idea why for some it is an instant turn off, but as I've mentioned, slowly my family are more acceptable to meatless dishes which makes me feel we're doing a tiny bit to help the planet and help look after our health too.

If you ever miss a recipe, just send me a message here at susan@leighonseasupperclub.co.uk or and I'll re send or help you in any way I can - that's what I'm here for!

And when you cook, let me know with a tag or message, your photos always make my day!

Photo by Marcos Paulo Prado on Unsplash photo of peppers and chill