Take the money you’d spend on a box of chocolates and give it to your local food bank. Monetary donations are best as they can buy and distribute healthy produce instead of boxes and cans of processed foods to those in need.

Trust me, doing this will give you the warm fuzzies, boost your serotonin and dopamine levels, and make you want to “love the one you’re with.”

As part of our non-traditional Christmas dinner this year, I offered to bring chili over to my parents’ house.  I found this recipe on Hangry Tales through Pinterest.  It was relatively easy to make and the extras froze well for satisfying lunches.  The chili was smoky and flavorful and absolutely awesome with some vegan scoop-shaped corn chips.

Ingredients:

• 1 large yellow onion, chopped (1 3/4 cup)
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 (14.5 ounce) cans diced, fire-roasted tomatoes
• 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth
• 2 (4 ounce) cans diced green chiles
• 2 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste (optional)
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 2 (15 oz) cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 (15 oz) can…