Vegetarian Chile: A Favorite Recipe of Late

We've enjoyed this fantastic vegetarian chile a couple times the last three weeks. A little cheddar and a slice of warm corn bread...lets just say yum!

The recipe is very flexible and I'm really looking forward to trying it out this summer once the farmers market gets up and going. (Really, really hoping I get to move somewhere with a good farmers market!)  Fresh picked tomatoes, zucchini and peppers would really make this all the better. I've done this in the crockpot and on the stovetop. I'm going to say this will serve six to eight people...when I've made it for just two of us I've ended up eating it for lunch all week. (Not a bad thing at all!)

The recipe:
The do ahead:
  1 cup dry black beans
  1 cup dry kidney beans
Cook beans until soft. You can soak them over night, rinse and boil for about two hours or, a method I've just come to love,boil the beans on the stove for about ten minutes then toss them in your crockpot with fresh water and cook on high for about six hours. When using the crockpot method I start the beans right before work in the morning and finish the chile (or whatever other recipe I'm working on) after I get home. Canned beans are also an option. I believe the equivalent it's about 2-3 cans per cup of dried beans.

Once your beans are cooked:
Drain and rinse the beans. Return them to the pot then add:
  3 bell peppers, sliced (different colors if possible)
  1 anaheim pepper, minced
  1 small onion, sliced
  Several cloves of minced garlic
  2 small zucchini, diced
  1 can of diced tomatoes, with juice
  1 small can of tomato paste
  About 3 tablespoons cocoa powder (I know what you're thinking...trust me just do it!)
  Enough water to just cover everything
  Vegetable bouillon, salt, black pepper, chile powder and cayenne pepper to taste.
 
Simmer until the veggies are tender. If using the crockpot this will take about 3-4 hours on high.

Near serving time, add half  a small package of  frozen corn or one can of corn drained.

Enjoy!

Let me know if you have any questions about the recipe and if you enjoy it!!