Vegetarian Chili

I made this one for my papa a couple of times. You might as well prepare a ton and freeze much of it, though I guess you could scale things down and cook for one or two.

1 large chopped onion
fake ground beef (if you so wish) (1/2 pound)
1 large can crushed tomatoes
1 large can tomato sauce
1 large tomato, chopped
2 cans of kidney beans (i like the dark red kind)
garlic powder
chili powder (be prepared to use a whole cannister!)
salt
pepper
cayenne

Instructions

• saute the onion in olive oil/water mix
  
• put in a large pot with the beans and tomatoes (all the canned, crushed and chopped products), bring to a near-boil and lower heat to a gentle simmer
  
• add the spices to taste. keep a couple of small cans of tomato sauce nearby in case you overdo it. if it tastes like thick tomato soup you need to add more chili powder. for a batch this large i often will use a whole container of the spice (i get them at the dollar store for fifty cents a pop)
  
• simmer for about a half hour, tasting on occasion. if adding fake meat include it in the last eight minutes of simmering to preserve the texture (my favorite is smartground "hamburger" crumbles, but lately i just make this with beans)
  
• serve with warm tortillas, saltines, sour cream, chopped lettuce and tomato, or however it is that you prefer your chili. i've found that folks are often quite particular when it comes to this dish
  

This is great comfort food. Perfect when coupled with a crackling fire when there's a slight chill in the air.