My wife is an outstanding cook. I’ve been trying to lose twenty pounds, but I can’t seem to do it. I’m convinced it’s all this delicious food she makes.

One of my favorites is her chili. She never makes it the same way twice, but every time it’s delicious. Lately she’s been making it with lower fat, but I haven’t noticed. I still stuff myself silly. Here’s the latest version:

• 1½ lbs. ground turkey
• 1 green pepper
• 1 medium onion
• 2 cans of tomatoes (28 oz.) – 1 diced, 1 crushed
• 3 cans of beans (15 oz.) – pink kidney beans, white kidney beans, black beans
• 4 tbsp chili powder
• 2 tsp salt
• ¼ tsp paprika
• ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
• 4 bay leaves

1. Brown meat
2. Cook chopped pepper and onion until soft
3. Put all ingredients in Crock Pot on low for 4 hours

I enjoyed this latest concoction yesterday while watching the NFL’s opening Sunday. There were an awful lot of upsets yesterday, which screwed up my picks in the office pool, but, an afternoon spent watching football, eating this delicious chili, and enjoying a tasty pilsner is an afternoon well-spent (even if my Giants shot themselves in the foot).