A GUIDE TO FOODOLOGY

I guess before I start giving stunning recipes with bad pictures, I should tell you about why I started this vegan journey. Now note, not all recipes will be vegan, and maybe not every blog post will even have a recipe in it. BUT, I want to share some of the creations I've been making in the kitchen, and some of the disasters I've been making as well.

First, I haven't always been a health nut. Yes, I stopped eating fast food as soon as I turned old enough to know better. Fast food is so bad for you, and honestly I've never really enjoyed the food. I had more mishaps at fast food restaurants more than anything. Most being them getting the order wrong, or the food just not being noteworthy enough to enjoy.

I've worked in the restaurant industry for a bit, some high-end joints, and when you work for five-star resorts and see the way these top chefs handle food, fast food becomes unappealing very quickly.

I've always been not so talented in the kitchen, and I wanted to change all that. I was tired of eating out for every meal, and wanted to start making food at home.

Seriously, every day was a chore to find food to eat. I'd wake up, jump on the computer and get busy working and not look up until around 3pm or 4pm when I would be dying of hunger. Then, I had to debate on where I wanted to eat or if I just wanted to order in. By the time I ate it was usually around 5pm or 6. And never a healthy option. Pizza, subs, order take-out from a restaurant, Chinese food, or more pizza. If I did cook at home I would make pizza, or Mac and cheese. Like I said my eating was atrocious. Fruits? Vegetables? Unless they come on pizza I didn't eat them.

So, one day I was looking for things to watch on Netflix, and came across a movie titled, "What The Health." I said, sure why not.

And after watching it I wanted to give it a go. I wanted to do what a ton of my friends were doing and jump on the vegan band wagon lol, so to speak. So, I decided I'll try it.

Now, I didn't plan on cutting meat and dairy out completely, but once I started researching I thought...I don't want to half-ass this thing. So, one day I decided I'm vegan now. And away I went.

It's been about 5 or 6 weeks so far, and let me tell you this is by far the healthiest food I've ever eaten. I'm trying new things, new foods I would have never tried before, and I'm loving it. I'm scouring the internet (mainly instagram) for recipes, and making some shit up as I go along.

So far, I've enjoyed the whole journey.

I started making chili on Sundays, and it lasts me throughout the week as a snack or meal. I sometimes eat it with chips and salsa and guac. Or with rice as a meal. Either way, this chili is really tasty and extremely easy to make.

Another thing I've been making a lot of are smoothies. What a wonderful way to get all that protein (powder, yes) and all the other things you may not want to eat all at once.

So, I'll be sharing many smoothie recipes.

Again, I am not a photographer. Repeat: not a photographer. SO the pics aren't going to be these most amazing things you've ever seen. If you're looking for that, go search on instagram, there's some amazing pictures over there.

Thank you for taking this journey with me, and the first recipe I'll be giving you is the VEGAN CHILI.

CHILI RECIPE

INGREDIENTS

2 cans of Black Beans

2 cans of Kidney Beans

(if you'd like other beans to add feel free, just no lentils as it will make the chili gritty)

Diced Onion

Diced Jalapeno

Diced Carrots

You can add celery, I don't because I don't like it, but you can add it. 

Dice green and red pepper

can of corn (or corn husks ...watch the knife while chopping)

can of tomato paste

2 cans of crushed tomatoes

2 tablespoons of brown sugar 

salt and pepper to taste

2 tablespoons of chili powder

1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon of cumin

pinch of garlic powder

pinch of onion powder

paprika (smoked paprika if you have it) to taste

1 cup of vegetable stock

DIRECTIONS

Logan's easy directions....throw it all in the crockpot and cook it on low heat for like 6 hours, adding the corn near the end. 

Makes a lot to feed a bunch, or leftovers. I personally serve mine with rice and topped with guacamole and blue chips. YUM.

Leave a comment and let me know if you plan on making this chili. Enjoy.