Crock, the pot not the shoe. October, as in the month we're currently in. Fest/Feast, because the fall harvest is in full swing which is truly cause for festing and feasting.
If you've read the latest Green City Growers newsletter, you know we tend to get a little zaney leading up to Halloween - a favorite holiday in this office. Be wary of the puns, goulish references, all things ridiculous as we share a new office favorite courtessy of intern Hannah: Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili (or is that "chilly"?) garden recipe, in a cauldron (ehem, crock-pot). Sorry!
Ingredients
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium-large sweet potato, peeled and diced (we think this one looks like a small intestine)
1 large onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons chili powder
4 teaspoons ground cumin
Turn up the HEAT: 1 minced jalapeno pepper (or chipotle, etc)
2 1/2 cups water
2 cups dried black beans (we used Scarlet Runner beans) soaked overnight
2 cups diced tomatoes (or use food processor)
4 teaspoon slime juice (teaspoonS LIME!)
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Salt and pepper to taste
Avocado, sour cream and/or shredded cheese for topping
Preparation
Add olive oil, onion, garlic, spices, beans, sweet potato, peppers and tomatoes to a crock-pot. Cook on low for 6 hours. Add lime and cilantro at the end. Garnish with avocado, shredded cheese and sour cream.
Done! How easy is that? This is why we love this time of year and all of the one-pot meals it offers. And we were able to prepare the chili using our own sweet potatos, tomatoes, peppers, beans and cilantro from the raised bed office garden, before we top the beds with cold frames to keep Jack Frost's deadly grip off our vegetables (AKA season extension, if you prefer). Happy, happy, joy, joy!
Want to start growing your own ingredients for a favorite seasonal crock-pot meal? It's too late for the fall crop planting, which happens in early to mid September, but not too late to get started for spring! Take advantage of our October deal (one 4x8 raised bed with two 4x4 cold frames at a 5% discount, including installation and irrigation) to be the only one in your neighborhood harvesting in time for Easter.
