Greek Chili and Cornbread

Now, this recipe is not "gourmet" but it is delicious, so healthy, and affordable. This meal usually costs less than $3 a serving (depending on where you shop.) At work, I run a group teaching clients with disabilities how to cook healthy and affordable meals. (Many of them have very limited incomes, and I often have to prove that you can cook delicious healthy meals cheaper than fast food.) This is one of the recipes I use for that group. In-fact, the chili and cornbread in this picture was made in group. I hope you give this recipe a try, I really love it!

Greek Chili

2 tsp olive oil
1 package ground turkey
1 chopped red onion
1 diced zucchini
1 chopped red pepper
1 cup chopped mushrooms
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 TBSP chili powder
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1 ½ tsp each cumin, and oregano
1 can diced tomatoes
1 jar of your favorite tomato pasta sauce
1 can sliced black olives
1 can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 can mixed beans, drained and rinsed
1 TBSP packed brown sugar
1 TBSP lime juice
¼ tsp each black pepper and salt
2 TBSP minced fresh cilantro
½ cup crumbled feta cheese

Heat oil over medium heat in a large non-stick pot. Add ground turkey and cook until no longer pink, crumbling with a wooden spoon. Add onion, zucchini, pepper, mushroom, and garlic. Cook until vegetables begin to soften, about 4 minutes.

Stir in dried spices and cook one more minute. Add canned tomatoes with their juice, pasta sauce, olives, chickpeas and beans, brown sugar, lime juice, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer 30 min, stirring occasionally.

Remove from heat and stir in cilantro. Ladle into bowls and top with feta cheese.

*note- this gets even better after a day in the fridge! It also freezes really well in individual serving containers for future lunches.


Sweet Cornbread

3/4 cup cornmeal
1 cup milk
1 cup whole wheat flour
4 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1/3 cup oil

Preheat the oven to 400F and lightly grease a 9-inch square pan.
Mix the cornmeal and milk in a small bowl so the cornmeal can soak while preparing the rest of the ingredients.

In a large bowl mix together the flours, baking powder and sugar. Mix the egg and oil together well and stir into the cornmeal. Add the cornmeal to the flour and stir to moisten.

Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center of the pan.