Three Bean Chili and a Petro

When I look out of my window there is the most beautiful blanket of white.  We are so pleased to get some snow, just enough so the kids can play and the city isn't paralyzed.  We are having a winter blast, but it takes lots of energy to fuel the fun.

Enter in the chili..what is a good snow shower without some warm and yummy chili.

Our chili recipe is easy, healthy, and delicious.  This vegetarian Three Bean Chili recipe is a family secret, well not really.  It's not like we tried to keep it secret, but the recipe just never had a proper unveiling.

Three Bean Chili....


3 cn of beans (Kidney, Pinto, Garbanzo or you can substitute Black)
1 Medium Onion
2 cn 14 1/2 oz Diced Tomato
1 Green Bell Pepper
1 tbs Olive Oil
2 ts Cumin
1 c Vegetable Broth
1/2 ts Pepper
1 tbs Honey 
1/2 c Dark Beer
4-5 ts Chili Powder
1/4 ts Salt

Saute chopped onion and pepper in olive oil until soft.  Add tomato and all other ingredients, except beans.  Simmer 20 min.  Add beans, simmer 25 min. 
(You may also throw in 1 lb of ground beef during the onion step for a meat lovers version)

Now, the best part is turning the chili into a Petro. What is a Petro my non-southern friends may ask?  It is a creation from the 1982 World's Fair in Knoxville, TN.

Do you remember the Simpson's episode where Bart tries to go to the

World's Fair only to get there and realize the iconic Sunsphere from 1982 is now a wig factory.  The Sunsphere has been many things but never a wig factory.

You may also be wondering what this has to do with recipes...nothing, nothing except useless trivia at your service.

So here we go...to make a Petro, you simply add chopped tomatoes, green onions, Fritos, sour cream, and cheese on top of the chili.  I personally think you can add the ingredients in the order your little heart desires.  My personal fav is to add chili, then my chips, cheese, tomatoes, green onions and sour cream.  The original Petro has the chips on the bottom.

There is actually a chain of restaurants called Petro's that have been immensely popular in the Knoxville, TN area.  But this way you can enjoy the salty savor in your own home. Enjoy!