Express Black Bean Chili

We can all appreciate quick, right? And this cold snap makes it feel like we skipped fall and went directly to winter, correct?

Chili is a great category for this time of year. There are so many ways to make a chili recipe and for the most part, most of them are pretty nutritious due to all the vegetables that go into a chili.

This one is no exception. It's a great low fat chili, originally was vegetarian, but I through in some ground turkey because I have a meat-o-saurus at my house.

1 lb ground turkey, browned and crumbled
1 C chopped onion - only if you need onion
1 C coarsely chopped bell pepper
2 T finely chopped jalapeno*
2 T snipped cilantro
1 t oil
2 garlic cloves pressed
2 cans (15.5oz each) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (16 oz) refried beans, fat-free
1 can (14 oz) fat free vegetable broth**
1 T lime juice
1 t ground cumin

Cook turkey if you plan to use it. Chop onion, bell pepper and jalapeno. Snip cilantro.

In a 3-4 qt. saucepan, heat oil and saute onions, peppers and garlic. Cook about 2-3 minutes. Add black beans, refried beans, broth, lime juice and cumin. Bring to a boil, them simmer for about 10 minutes.

Remove from heat and stir in cilantro. Ladle into bowls. Sprinkle with shredded cheese if desired.

* Wear plastic gloves when working with jalapeno. The juice from the peppers can cause your hands to sting/burn.
**You can substitute chicken broth if using ground turkey and wanting to enhance the meat flavor.

Serve this with a fresh batch of cornbread of you have time! YUM!.