Did you know that frontier women often kept a pot of chili or bean soup constantly boiling on the stove? The constant simmering kept bacteria from forming and made it so that nothing went to waste. As they had extra meat or vegetables, they were added to the soup.

In times like these when we are without modern conveniences like electricity, water, and wifi, I often think of the difficult lives these women lived and feel grateful for the many things I do have.

What a gift an electric stove and a refrigerator are when they work. May we never take them for granted!

Here’s my healthy chili recipe:

2 lbs ground meat (turkey, beef, or beef less grounds)
3 cans organic mixed beans (black, pinto, red)
1 large can organic diced tomatoes
1 large onion chopped
2 cloves garlic chopped
1 bunch tomatoes chopped
2 packets siete farms taco seasoning

Cook ground beef and onions, add garlic and tomatoes, then everything else. Stir and cover, lowering heat to simmer and simmer for at least 2 hours or as long as all day. Keep adding broth or water if it gets too thick. You can serve this with cornbread and I won’t tell 😋

I added vegan cheddar cheese to mine and it was the perfect final touch!