Serious Winter Chili (vegetarian)

Mmm-kay.  Where do I start?  I've been down and out for a variety of reasons lately most of which are health related.  I know.  The irony.  But one thing's for dang sure.  I am more thankful for good health (generally speaking) now than I've ever been.  I took a little trip to the emergency room last weekend after a nasty run in with food poisoning.  And even though it was a miserable experience (praise morphine), I spent the whole time thinking about the many many people who are forced to venture into that building far more frequently than anyone would ever hope to.  And for far less pleasant kinds of treatment. And just for a moment, I felt lucky.  But then I called Jenny and I was all like, "Baaaaaaah, I'm siiiiiiiiiick, and my husband is out of towwwwwn."  And what did she do?  Of course she was like, "let me take your kids, let me bring you dinner, let me buy you a Hummer."  What?  Your friends don't do that?  Sucks to be you.  


Seriously though.  What a gal.  Thanks m'love.


Anyway, let's focus here.  So by the time I felt up to making dinner for the first time in a month, I knew I was going to need to make something phenomenal.  I had a hankerin' for some thick, hearty, chili.  And so it was.


You're most likely going to read this recipe and think that I'm NUTS.  But rest assured.  I'm not nuts.  I'm just hungry.


Serious Winter Chili

3 Tablespoons olive oil or grapeseed oil
1 1/2 cups (about 2 small) chopped onions
8 large garlic cloves (yes, 8)
2 19-ounce cans red kidney beans
2 19-ounce cans dark kidney beans
1 envelope taco seasoning (you can use chili seasoning too)
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon thyme
3 cups vegetable broth
1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
1 6-oz can tomato paste
3-4 Tablespoons cocoa powder


Heat oil in large sauce pan over medium heat.  Add the onions and garlic and saute until translucent.  Add beans, taco seasoning, basil,  oregano, and thyme.  Stir 2 minutes.  Mix in tomato sauce, tomato paste, vegetable broth, and cocoa powder.  Simmer until thickened to desired consistency.  I sprinkle a little rice cheese and cilantro on the top and serve with some avocado slices.  It wouldn't hurt to throw in a chunk of crusty wheat bread too.