Mindy's favorite slow cooker vegetarian chili

Ingredients:

2 cups of mixed dried beans (navy, black, great northern, pinto, whatever you have hanging around in your cupboards)
1/2 cup lentils
1 red pepper, seeded and diced
1 green pepper, seeded and diced
1 onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 - 28 oz. can of stewed or diced tomatoes (or 3 large fresh tomatoes, diced)
2 tablespoons oregano
2 teaspoons cumin
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon coarse black pepper or Mrs. Dash
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon ground chipotle pepper
4 vegetable bouillon cubes (or 4 teaspoons vegetable broth base)
1/4 pound salt pork (optional for "truly" vegetarian)
water, for soaking and cooking

Instructions:

1. Rinse beans and pick over for nasty ones or stones.
2. Cover beans with about 5 cups of cold water and soak over night (or at least 6 hrs.) in your 6-quart slow cooker crock.
3. Add bouillon cubes, tomatoes, both peppers, onion, garlic, and seasonings -- stir.
4. Add cold water to cover ingredients, if needed.
5. Cover, cook on low setting for 6-8 hours.
6. Halfway through cooking process add lentils and top with more water, if needed.

Almond Joy Low-Fat, sugar-free, high protein Muffins

Ingredients:

1 C Splenda (or sugar)

1.5 C Old fashioned oatmeal

.5 C Oat bran

1 C Coconut flour

.5 C Almond flour (or meal)

.5 C Whole Wheat flour

2 t baking powder

.5 t salt
.5 C unsweetened coconut
.33 C vanilla whey powder
1 t vanilla extract

6 eggs

3 C milk (divided)

1.5 C chocolate chips

.5 C slivered or chopped almonds

Directions:

• 1.       Combine first 12 ingredients in mixing bowl with 2 cups milk.
• 2.       Let mixture rest for .5 to 1 hour.
• 3.       Add remaining cup of milk and mix well.
• 4.       Stir in chips & nuts.
• 5.       Heap into a greased muffin tins and bake @ 350° for 30-35 minutes until plump and slightly browned.
• 6.       Cool, wrap, & refrigerate.
• 7.       Yield: 12 large muffins or 24 small.
• 8.       Muffins are dense and filling!