Disappointment!

It's gotten to the point at the Field house that we really should go grocery shopping soon. Running low on food. Which ultimately inspires creating concoctions out of what is left in an attempt to make it to the end of the week and the next paycheck. I know you know what I am talking about. Fortunately for me, I had the ingredients to make black bean vegetarian chili (well the majority of the ingredients anyway). I was feeling pretty good about myself, I have to admit. It's been awhile since I have made this chili, this time I thought I would improvise some. Like substituting a can of kidney beans for the second can of black beans. We didn't have frozen corn, so obviously I had to leave it out.

I have a confession though, I am not sure how "good" a lot of the ingredients were. In particular the garlic. I thought maybe they had been frozen because they have been hiding in the back of the fridge for a little bit, but I still added what the recipe called for. While I had it simmering for 20 minutes I really became distracted tracking my nutrition for the day online. When the timer went off and I skipped downstairs, the chili was starting to burn to the pan. But, I really wasn't too worried. I had done that before and everything turned out fine.

Sadly... the chili just does not taste as good as I remember. It's rather bitter actually. And I can't quite figure out what went wrong. It has turned out to be more of a really thick bean and tomato stew with a strong flavor of chili powder. I am hoping that after sitting in the fridge for the night, that tomorrows leftovers for lunch will taste better. The picture added really doesn't make the chili look any more appetizing. Perhaps there is a reason why it's been awhile since I have made this recipe... But again! It has always tasted great in the past. Not today though. :( Sigh... I am... defeated... :(