Turkey Chili

Although I love to cook, sometimes after a long day of work and school I want to come home with dinner ready and waiting for me. Which brings me to one of my all time favorite kitchen tools... the crock pot! This little baby is highly underrated. You can literally make anything in a crock pot. I have seen recipes for everything from cakes to soup to bread.
Today, I went with a fall favorite, one of my stand by recipes...Chili. Now, chili may not be the most gourmet recipe in the world, but it's easy, hearty, and in this case super healthy! That's more than enough for me!

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground turkey
• 1 onion, chopped 
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped 
• 1 large or 2 small cloves of garlic, minced 
• 1 can tomatoes with green chilies 
• 2 cans chopped tomatoes 
• 1 can stewed tomatoes 
• 2 cans corn 
• 1 can black beans 
• 2 cans red kidney beans 
• 2 tbs chili powder 
• 1 tbs cumin 
• 1/4 tsp red chili flakes (add more if you like it spicier!) 
• Salt and Pepper to taste(S&PTT)   
• 1 tbs olive oil 
• water

Directions

1. heat a large saute pan to medium-high heat, add olive oil, add turkey and brown (To ensure good carmelization, do not crowd the pan!)
2. Drain turkey if you are not using lean, then add the onions and bell peppers to the saute pan with a pinch of salt(it brings out the sugars/moisture in the veggies) Saute until translucent. 
3. Add the dried spices to the veggies. (When they hit the oil, the flavors are heightened) 
4. Deglaze the pan with 1/2 cup water. Make sure to scrape up all of the fond (brown bits), which is where the flavor is.
5. Transfer to a slow cooker or large pot.
6. Add the canned veggies, water to the consistency you like, and S&PTT *Don't forget to drain and rinse the beans
7. If using a large pot, bring to boil and reduce to simmer. Cook on low for 45 minutes to an hour. 
8. Serve with shredded cheddar, green onions, sour cream... whatever you prefer!