Healthy Chili

1 Cup chopped onion
2 Cups chopped celery - cut exactly like the onions
1 large eggplant - peeled and cut into small cubes- yield about 1 1/4 cup
1 1/2 pounds of ground beef - lean
2 cans of diced tomatoes or 4 large diced tomatoes
2 cups of beef broth
4 tbsp of chili powder or to taste
1 tbsp garlic or to taste
Optoinal : 1 tsp Cinnamon - 1 Tbs. dark brown sugar - 1 0z of dark chocolate

Saute the onions and celery in 1 tsp plus 2 tbs of oil - for about 5 minutes - until solf - stir frequently - add the eggplant which has been peeled and cut into small pieces - cook stirring frequently - cook until tender - add the hamburger - I use about 1 1/2 pounds more or less - cook until the hamburger is done - add two cups of beef broth - two cups of tomatoes - and spices - chili powder, garlic, salt, pepper etc to taste. Some people like cinnamin/ a tablespoon of dark brown sugar or dark chocolate - but the final taste test on the amount of spices is a personal preference. This makes 8 servings - I love eggplant - but for the non eggplant lovers in your house - they won't know the difference as the eggplant takes on the tates of the hamburger and spices. As for the celery - cut it the exact same size as the onion - and no one can tell the difference. My husband likes to put about a 1/2 cup of large curd cottage cheese in the bowl before he adds the chili. Some low fat cheese or baked crumpled nacho chips are also good in this dish. Enjoy.

Number of Servings: 8

Recipe submitted by SparkPeople user MARYGINA.