Chili and Cornbread

Ingredients

For the Chili:

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 jalapeño pepper, finely chopped
1 pound 85% lean ground beef
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 (14.5-ounce) can petite diced tomatoes
3 tablespoons tomato paste
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

For the Cornbread:

1 cup fresh yellow cornmeal
1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 cup white all-purpose flour
4 1/2 teaspoons aluminum-free baking powder
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons organic soymilk or rice milk
2 tablespoons organic canola oil
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Directions

To make the chili: 

1. Heat the oil in a Farberware Luminescence 5-Qt Dutch Oven over medium. Add the onion, garlic and jalapeño pepper; cook, stirring occasionally, until starting to soften, 1-2 minutes. Stir in the beef, chili powder, cumin and oregano; cook, breaking up into smaller pieces, until no longer pink, 4 minutes. Add the diced tomatoes and tomato paste, bring to a simmer, cover, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, 25 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper; keep warm.

To make the cornbread: 

1. Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 425°F. Oil a Farberware 9-Inch Round Baking Pan.
2. Place a wire mesh strainer over a medium bowl. Add the cornmeal, whole wheat pastry flour, white flour, baking powder and salt to the strainer and sift into the bowl. Mix with a wire whisk.
3. In a small bowl, whisk the milk, maple syrup, oil and vanilla until well blended. Pour into the dry mixture and whisk only until the batter is smooth. Pour into the prepared pan.
4. Bake for 14 to 15 minutes until the sides have started to pull away from the pan and the top looks set. Do not over-bake or the cornbread will be dry. A tester inserted into the center will be clean or holding just a few moist crumbs. Cool the pan on a wire rack for 8-10 minutes before cutting.