5 Pepper Vegetarian Chili with Roasted Veggies

If you love chili, and especially spicy chili, then you are going to LOVE this recipe! I’ve been stewing on this one for quite some time (get it?), and finally decided to give it a try. I felt so happy about the end result that I almost cried (if only this were an exaggeration): it was thick; it was just the right color; it lit our mouths on fire; and it was perfect. I, of course, called my mother immediately to brag…er…I mean express my joy (it’s quite possible she thinks I’m having a life crisis; that’s how good it was), then we enjoyed it with freshly baked cheddar corn bread, and a dollop of sour cream. The only thing missing, as my dad pointed out the next day during taste tests, was the fire extinguisher ;)

Figgy Oatmeal with Cinnamon and Nutmeg

Oatmeal has been a breakfast staple in my house as far back as I can remember. My mom used to make it for my sister and me before bundling us up and sending us out to wait for the school bus on cold winter mornings. When I didn't want to go to school, it often worked to my advantage; I would feign fever, knowing that the hot oatmeal I had just consumed would skew the thermometer reading in my favor…I thought it was genius, but it didn’t take my mom long to figure that one out!

Back then I liked my oatmeal with butter, mainly because I liked to watch it melt into all the nooks and crannies, and lots of sugar. Today I opt for healthier additions such as fresh and dried fruit, chopped nuts, a drizzle of honey or tsp of brown sugar, and a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg. Recently I bought a package of dried figs for some muffins I attempted to make (I don’t want to talk about it), so I decided to use some of the leftovers. It turned out sweet, chewy, and really yummy!