Cozy Wheat Berry Chili


6 servings, about 1 1/2 cups each

Active Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients
2 tablespoons       extra-virgin olive oil
1 large                 yellow onion - chopped
1 large                 yellow bell pepper - chopped
5 cloves               garlic - minced
2 teaspoons          chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons    ground cumin
1 teaspoon           dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon        salt
1/2 teaspoon         freshly ground pepper
2 15-ounce cans    black beans - rinsed
2 14-ounce cans    diced tomatoes - undrained
2 cups                  vegetable broth
2 teaspoons          honey
2 cups                  Cooked Wheat Berries - (direction below)
Juice of 1              lime
1                          avocado - diced
1/2 cup                 chopped fresh cilantro - (optional)

Three ways to cook wheat berries

1. Place the1 cup wheatberries and 3 cups of boiling salted water in a saucepan and cook, uncovered, over low heat for approximately 45 minutes, or until they are soft. Drain.
2. EASY WAY: You can also make them in a thermos by adding 1 cup of wheat to 2 ½ cups of boiling water, tighten the lid and then allow them to soak overnight.
3.Use a black and decker steamer or rice cooker (2.5 cups wheat berries and fill the bowl with water to the top). turn on the steamer for 75 minutes and it cooks like rice.

Preparation

Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell pepper, garlic, chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 5 minutes. Add beans, tomatoes, and honey. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 25 minutes.
Stir in cooked wheat berries and heat through, about 5 minutes more. (If using frozen wheat berries, cook until thoroughly heated.) Remove from the heat. Stir in lime juice. Garnish each bowl with avocado and cilantro.