Chilly, Chilly, Chili!

No school today! Sometimes I wonder who is more excited about days off, me or Diva. It's cold - beyond cold actually. It's a "wrap yourself in a bunch of blankets and take a nap" 18f. Diva curled up on the sofa next to me with a book. I suspected there wasn't much reading going on when I started hearing snoring...

I was talking to a friend of mine this morning and she gave me a recipe. Perfect for the cold, chilly weather. I won't make it until the weekend (mostly because I don't have a car or canned tomatoes right now) but it sounded like the perfect thing to pass on. I don't know where it came from originally, she got it from a friend, who most likely got it from a friend...

Chunky Veggie Chili

3/4lbs browned ground beef or cooked cubed chicken (I'm going with the chicken)
2 cups sliced mushrooms
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup diced bell pepper
3 cloves of crushed garlic
2 1/2 cups diced zucchini
1 cup diced carrot
2 1/2 tbs chili powder
1 1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp hot sauce
32 oz black beans, rinsed and drained
28 oz whole tomatoes, chopped
16oz tomato sauce
~ Combine in slow-cooker, cook high for 1 hour and then low for remainder of cooking time