Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Splatter Chili

Hello, everyone!  Sorry about the extended absence.  I've been caught up in a lot of personal stuff, and I've been hit really hard with a startling lack of energy.  I haven't done anything for about a month, which has led to the destruction of my garden, the shambles of my home, the boredom of my Blessings, the backlog on my computer, and all the guilt that goes along with that.  I've since bought some vitamins that G and I think I may be lacking in, and I've forced myself to start exercising again after taking the month off.  So, hopefully, this will pass.  I apologize for not being here and for not commenting on your amazing blogs.  But, I am coming near my 200th post, which means another giveaway, so I'm going to try very hard to keep up on posting.  I hope all has been going well with all of you.  Now, on with the food!

I first made this dish when G and I were first married eons ago.  His workplace had a chili cook-off, and he wanted to show off his young wife's chili culinary skills...to a bunch of carnivores...that worked at a sewage treatment plant...yes.  Oh, don't worry, this gets better - I have yet to post my spaghetti recipe that G had me make for a fundraiser at said place of employment - mine was the only dish, by the way: the sole source of fundraising.  Oh, the faith he had in me as a newlywed.  So, anyway, he named my home-famous chili Splatter, called me the Veggie Vixen, stuck an apron on me, and said, "Make!"  Sadly Splatter did not win there that day but has since won the hearts of many people at church and in my homeschool group that have had various meal needs over time.  As a matter of fact, every single time I've made this chili for someone, all of whom have been decidedly non-vegan, they've wanted the recipe.  It is thinner that most chilis; that's because I added the liquid from the cans directly in the pot - you can always drain them for a thicker meal.  I've also slightly updated my original recipe for you.  Instead of writing "half a bag of frozen corn," leaving us to wonder what size bag I was using, I changed it to "one cup."  I also just apparently eyeballed my spices because they are listed by name with no amounts.  That has been modified as well.  I've thawed frozen tofu for the recipe: if you don't know it, doing that creates a crumbly texture, which I like here.  I mentioned some time ago that years before I started the blog, I created a cookbook for my loved ones in Word, so that is where this recipe has been culled and updated for the blog.  Sniff, Splatter's growing up.  Hope you enjoy it!


Splatter Chili

Ingredients:

1 Tbs. olive oil
1 - 1.25 or 1.5 oz. packet of vegan chili seasoning mix, such as by Lawry's or McCormick in the spice section of the grocery store
1 pkg. extra-firm tofu, water-packed, frozen and thawed
2 - 15 oz. cans tomatoes with green chilies
2 - 15 oz. cans pinto beans with liquid
2 - 15 oz. cans black beans with liquid
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 yellow bell pepper, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
6 - 10 large mushrooms, sliced
2 green onions, sliced
1 cup frozen corn
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 Tbs. dried basil
1 and 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. cumin seed
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper

Directions:

In a large pot, heat the oil over medium heat.  Squeeze water from the tofu, put in pot and mash.  Cook for ten or so minutes, stirring occasionally, until tofu just starts to brown or all the liquid has evaporated.  Add the chili packet and stir.  Add the remaining ingredients.  Continue to cook over medium heat until it comes to a boil.  Turn down to medium low and cook for one hour.  Can top with vegan cheese, vegan sour cream and chopped red onions, if desired.  Serve alongside some crackers for a comforting meal.  Splatter on!  Serves five hungry vegans.


25 comments:

  1. This is a great story and receipe. Have you thought about doing a cookbook one day. I think it would be well received.
    On another note. I sorry you have had a difficult month. I hope the vitamins and exerise help. You have such a loving and supportive family. If you need to talk. Call or we'll get together. BTW I go through periods of lack of energy and boredom with blog. We women have all those dang hormones to deal with.

    (thanks for the comment. back and shoulders are a tiny bit stiff, but otherwise just fine. Hopefully camp is paid off. Sales are down.)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh this looks lovely. Love the colours. My partner would love this as he loves chilli. Me, I'm a law upon myself, I can't eat chilli. We've never tried tofu, what is it like? I'd love to try this and sub the chilli with garlic or something making 2 variants. Thanks for sharing.

    -Lisa.
    Sweet 2 Eat Baking

    ReplyDelete
  3. I hope everything is ok, Email me! I think your chili looks grand! I am glad you are back! I'm glad I am too! Now we can share recipes!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Lynette, I have thought about a cookbook, but I think that market would be terribly hard to break into. I'm feeling a bit better now. Glad to hear you didn't hurt your arm doing all that moving. See you at church! :-)

    Lisa, I think your partner would like this. It's very flavorful, and the tofu picks up all the flavors. If you've never had tofu, I would recommend trying it four or five times before you make up your mind. It can be prepared in so many different ways, that you really need a variety to see how it is. It doesn't have a flavor all on its on: it picks up the flavor from the food that it's cooked with. It's the texture that throws some people off, so that's why I would recommend trying it in several different ways.

    Foodie Girl, thanks! Glad you're back too. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm sorry to hear about your lack of energy... must be frustrating for you. I hope you start to feel better really soon though!

    That chili looks great! What brand of chili seasoning do you generally like to use? Do you have a preference?

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sometimes we just have to experiment to see what happens when we don't maintain aspects of our life. Now you know.

    Looks like an excellent Chili recipe.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Someone told me it's better to drain the tofu before sticking in the fridge, but I don't know how true that is, since I have only cooked with tofu one time, and that didn't go very well. Would draining it before freezing keep it from having a crumbly texture?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Lisa, thank you, I'm feeling a bit better. I use ordinary packets that I find at mainstream stores or at health food stores. As long as they're vegan and don't have msg or other things we don't eat, I'm good to go.

    SV, yes, an unplanned experiment. The chili is pretty tasty, I think.

    Nellie, I wouldn't drain the tofu before freezing or refrigerating. You'd have to open the package to do so, and that would shorten its life in the fridge. It could get freezer burn in the freezer if opened. Drain or press after refrigerating. If freezing, thaw and then squeezing it between your hands actually gets a tremendous amount of water out, more so than when just refrigerated.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sorry you've been 'off' lately, I've been experiencing the same thing! Hoping to feel renewed after a family vacation, although I'm worried that my lack of energy will interfere. The chili looks delicious. I hope your energy level picks up!

    ReplyDelete
  10. This chilli looks and sounds delicious. Will have to try it soon.

    Hope you feel back to your usual self soon.

    ReplyDelete
  11. That looks delicious and the recipe sounds perfect. I just sent it to Evernote so I will always have it. :)

    I hope that you get your energy back - it sounds like maybe some kind of virus. Or have you had your blood levels checked?

    ReplyDelete
  12. Erin, good luck to you, too. Hope the vacation energizes you.

    Mandy, thanks...to both. :-)

    Diane, Evernote? Must be like Favorites or Bookmarks, right? I thought of having my blood levels checked. I'll look at that soon.

    ReplyDelete
  13. This chili looks delish. I love tofu, so I think it is a nice addition. My husband doesn't like it so much... hmmm maybe if I make some he'll try it. ;) I said a prayer for you. I'm sorry you've been feeling like that. I too had been a little under the weather but I am on the mend. I am trying to make myself exercise everyday as well. And recently I've started adding wheat germ oil to my smoothies and I do believe that gives me a bit of an energy boost. Also juicing and eating as much raw as possible and taking the right vitamins! :) Take care and God bless! :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Great recipe Veggie Vixen (ha ha!). I have flagged it in my reader, and I am definitely going to try it, but probably not till cooler weather sets in. One question: what is the "packet of chili seasoning?" Is that something that's sold in the Mexican section of the grocery store or could I just substitute chili powder?

    I hope your energy comes back soon.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Angel, thank you so much for the prayers! I thought I was feeling better, but I'm still not shaking it. I'm determined that today is going to be a productive day. Thanks for the tips, as well. :-)

    Miss Rachel, good question! I guess I just thought everyone would know what I was talking about. :-) But, I think someone up above had a similar question. I'm adjusting my recipe ingredients to make it clearer.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I love the story behind the chili and it looks great! Mike loves chili so much, so I'll have to show this to him. :)

    I hope that the vitamins help!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Molly, I love the story, too, thanks. :-) I betcha Mike would like this! I'm hoping the vitamins and plenty of rest will help, too.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hope you're feeling better. The chili looks delish but it's been so hellishly hot here (in Wisconsin) that I'll have to wait until I'm back in Seattle before I attempt to make chili. We haven't cooked a thing all week and I'm beginning to think I've forgotten how.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I'll have to check out your latest post and see why you're in WI. Hope it's fun!

    ReplyDelete
  20. I love chili and Ritz crackers, especially in the heart of Winter during the football season. Great meal for the body. I noticed you've added mushrooms. Yummy.

    I had no idea you were a homeschooler - mad respect.

    ReplyDelete
  21. sorry to hear your not feeling well...ish we lived closer to give you some of my energy. I must say that chili looks great and I bet it was delicious. I would chow it down with garlic bread. YUMMY!!!

    I just finished painting & decorating my grabd-daughters bedroom. I posted photos on my vegan blog after my food info...check it out sometime.

    http://nuestracena-vegancuisine.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  22. Don, thank you! :-)

    Millie, Congrats on the energy! I'll drop by your blog in just a sec.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Really glad to see you back and posting again - I was hoping it was just a break and to see some more of your lovely recipes again! Hope you find whatever it is you need to give you your energy back.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Oh what a chili! Sounds so good! I've never added tofu in my chili before, will try this next time! But this is definitely making me drool! :P

    ReplyDelete
  25. I could have written the first paragraph of this post myself!!! Just know that I KNOW exactly what you mean. It's so hard when I just need a few days break - and then if I take it, everything falls apart. I really don't know how to conquer this.

    I love your story. I've always wanted to enter a chili cook-off/pie contest/whatever. So sweet that your husband was proud of you.

    ReplyDelete