Hot chili while anticipating the snowpocalypse

The blog is being revived!  It turns out that 2010 was a bad year for Torchy as she blew her ACL at Women's Flattrack Derby Association's (WFTDA) Western Regionals.  Beer created all kinds of problems for Torchy (which we will get into at a later date.)  Bess also had a tough year in 2011 and the blog and its fun fell aside.  That's going to change.  However, we're not just going to talk about beer in this blog - we're also going to write about food.  As two people who love to eat as much as we love to drink beer - we're also both slightly fitness obcessed and this is the magical place to bring it all together.   So on to ... chili.

The Snowpocalypse is coming.  It usually comes once a winter and brings chaos to snow-novice Pacific Northwesterns (who seem to forget they have snow covered mountains year round.)  The weathermen and women forecast 10" of snow and then we get a light dusting with some ice.  Or we actually get the 10" and are screwed.  The slippery, steep hills of Seattle and the surrounding communities make for dangerous situations as the city's 8 salt trucks often have a hard time keeping up with snow that retains its PNW properities and falls like rain..

In honor of the Snowpocalypse - I made my favorite vegetarian chili from Eating Well Magazine - Zesty Wheat Berry - Black Bean Chili.  I stumbled on this recipe years ago and find that it's simple, cheap and very hearty.  If you aren't a fan of wheat berries, you can put in other things like ground beef or turkey.  Pair this with cornmeal muffins and your favorite IPA - or in this case - Firestone Walker's Union Jack American IPA - you have a cosy evening ahead while you're waiting for the snow to come - or not.