Black Bean, Sweet Potato, Yam and Sausage Chili

We had a blustery Saturday here in the PNW. The winds were up to 56 miles per hour and the trees lost weakened branches. Thousands of people in the area lost power, fortunately we weren't one of them. On cold angry days like these chili warms me up and keeps the chill at bay. Luckily we had some of this left over from the other night. Usually I use chorizo and butternut squash but decided to use up the spicy sausages and ground beef I had in the fridge. This was hardy, flavorful and awesome. But if you don't use a spicy sausage like I did (Chicken Jalapeno Monterrey Jack), you'll want to add an additional 1/2 a teaspoon of each spice listed below. Chili is one of those dishes very much based on personal preference and heat tolerance; hence, please do a taste test after 40 minutes of simmering. 

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pounds ground beef
4 Sausages (I used Jalapeno Chicken with Monterrey Cheese), sliced
2 cans diced tomatoes 
2 cans black beans, drained
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 cup yams, peeled and diced 
1 cup sweet potato, peeled and diced
1/2 cup mixed bell peppers
1/2 of a medium yellow onion, diced
6 red chili peppers
1 tablespoon cilantro, fresh and chopped
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
2 tablespoons red chili powder
1/2 teaspoon cyanne pepper
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1 tablespoon corn starch
dash of sea salt and black pepper to taste
5 cups of water or enough to cover the chili by at least 1 1/2"
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 cup shredded Monterrey jack & lime wedges and sour cream to serve.

Directions:

Peel and slice the yams & sweet potatoes into large dice sized cubes.

Brown the ground beef and sausages, add the sliced onion.

Stir in the yams & sweet potatoes, sugar, spices and herbs. 

Add the beans and tomatoes and stir. 

Add in the water, cornstarch and chilies, bring to a boil. Once boiling, turn the heat down and let the chili simmer for 2 hours. 

I suggest serving this with a sprinkling of fresh pepper jack, Monterrey or cheddar cheese, a dollop of sour cream, fresh chopped cilantro and a wedge of lime. Don't forget the cornbread!