Healthy Beef and Black Bean Chili and Homemade "Healthified" Cornbread

With fall approaching and the cooler temps, we have been making lots of soups and chili the last few weeks. I've been experimenting with all sorts of different kinds of chili. I've made regular beef chili, white chicken chili, and now beef and black bean chili. This recipe is one of my favorite chili recipes. It is extremely hearty and filling, so one bowl is usually all you need for a meal. If you want a little splurge, make some homemade cornbread to go with it.

One of the best things about this recipe is that it only takes about 10 minutes or so to prepare and then you just let it simmer for about 30 minutes, so it's a perfect meal for a busy week day.  You can make your cornbread while the chili is simmering. :)


Beef and Black Bean Chili
Serves 6-8
Adapted from: http://www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com/2011/01/healthy-spicy-beef-and-black-bean-chili.html

Ingredients:
1 pound lean ground sirloin
1 cup frozen corn or 1 can corn drained
1 packet McCormick's Lower Sodium taco seasoning or chili seasoning
1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
1 can black beans - do not drain
1 can petite diced tomatoes - do not drain
1 can Rotel - do not drain
1/2 cup beef broth
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Optional: Fat-free sour cream, reduced fat shredded cheese, scallions, diced red onions, or cilantro

Directions:
-In a large pot, season and cook your ground sirloin until it is completely cooked. Drain well and put back into the pot.
-Add corn, taco or chili seasoning, bell peppers, black beans, both cans of rotel, beef broth, and black pepper. Stir until the chili is completely mixed.
-Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to low and cover the pot with a lid.
-Simmer for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
-Once chili is done, pour desired amount of chili in a bowl and top with any of the optional toppings listed above.

*Suggestions
-If the chili looks very thick, you can add more beef broth to make it less thick.
-Feel free to use ground sirloin, ground beef, ground turkey, or ground chicken for this recipe.

Homemade "Healthified" Cornbread
Serves 6-8
Adapted from: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/excellent-and-healthy-cornbread/detail.aspx

Ingredients:
1 cup white whole wheat flour or all purpose flour
1 cup cornmeal
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup plain nonfat yogurt
2 eggs, beaten
2 tablespoons honey

Directions:
-Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
-In an 8x8 baking dish, spray nonstick cooking spray.
-In a large bowl, mix flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking soda, and salt together. Stir in yogurt, eggs, and honey and mix just until blended.
-Pour batter into baking dish and bake 20-25 minutes.

Enjoy! :)