Recipe(tried): Dinner for a Cold Winter Evening - Veggie Chili, Bread Sticks, Blackberry Coffee Cake

Its really a cold and snowy evening here in Ohio, hopefully, Spring is not far behind and I will soon be puttering out in my herb garden.I made my favorite pot of Veggie chili, breadsticks and blackberry coffee cake for dinner this evening.

Veggie Chili
Serves 16 so I made l/2 recipe

l/4 cup olive oil
4 zucchini l/2-inch diced
4 onions l/2-inch diced
5 cloves garlic finely chopped
4 red bell peppers l/4-inch diced
1 (#10) can plum tomatoes
3 lbs ripe tomatoes diced
4 tbsp. Chili powder
2 tsp. dried basil
2 tsp. ground cumin
2 tsp. dried oregano
2 tsp. black pepper
2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. fennel seed
1 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 cups red kidney beans, drained
2 cups chick peas, drained
1 cup chopped fresh dill
4 tbsp. lemon juice

Heat 1 cup oil. Saute zucchini, reserve, saute onions, garlic, bell peppers in remaining oil. Add canned tomatoes, fresh tomatoes, chili powder, cumin, basil, oregano, pepper, salt, fennel and parsley. Cook 30 minutes, stirring often. Stir in kidney beans, chick peas, dill and lemon juice. Cook 15 min and adjust seasoning to taste. Add zucchini. Serve with dollop of sour cream. May be served over rice if desired.

Bread Sticks

1 1/3 cups water
1 tbsp. margarine
1 1/2 tbsp. sugar
1 l/2 tsp. salt
4 cups bread flour
2 tsp. yeast

raise on the dough cycle on the bread machine. When raised roll the dough into bread sticks. Cover and let rise 20 min. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 min or until golden.

Brush with margarine and sprinkle with garlic salt when they are done.

Blackberry Coffee Cake
Makes 9 servings

1 l/2 cups blackberries (I used frozen ones)
(you can also use chopped peeled apples, apricots, peaches, pineapple, blueberries or raspberries)
1 cup sugar (divided)
2 tbsp. corn starch
l l/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
6 tbsp. butter or margarine
1 beaten egg
1/2 cup buttermilk or sour milk
l/2 tsp vanilla
l/4 cup all purpose flour

In saucepan combine choice of fruit and 1/4 cup water. Bring to boil, reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 5 min or until tender. Combine 1/4 cup sugar and cornstarch.
Stir into fruit mixture. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir 2 min more. Set aside,

In a mixing bowl stir together 1/2 Cup sugar and l l/2 cup flour, baking powder and baking soda. Cut in 4 tbsp butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Combine egg, buttermilk or sour milk and vanilla. Add to flour mixture. Stir just till moistened.

Spread half of the batter into an 8x8x2-inch baking pan. Spread fruit mixture over batter. Drop remaining batter in small mounds on top of filling.

Combine the remaining 1/4 cup sugar and 1/4 cup flour. Cut in the remaining 2 tbsp butter till mixture resembles fine crumbs. sprinkle over batter. Bake at 350 for 40-45 min or until golden brown. Best served warm.

Serve warm.