Best bets

There are so many interesting sporting topics – David Beckham, Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Floyd Landis, the stellar field that is being assembled for the ’07 London Marathon. So why don’t we skip all of that for the time being and get into the really important stuff – like what to eat during the Eagles game.

Let’s try a football and wintertime staple like chili even though the game starts at 8 p.m. and most people won’t want to get too filled up… right? But, the good part about this recipe is that it’s lean and mean. Because I choose not to eat meat and do my best to stay away from animal-products (there’s a name for those people and freak and weirdo are not it, though in my case it’s debatable) I altered the recipe so that if one chooses to eat dead animal carcasses, they may substitute it in.

Here it is:

1 package of veggie ground beef – I like to use Morning Star Farms crumbles, though any similar product will do

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

1 onion, chopped

1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds

1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped

1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped

2 cans chopped tomatoes (any style will do, though I use chili-specific tomatoes)

2 cans of beans – black, red, kidney or pinto will do

1 cup sliced mushrooms

2 carrots, peeled and chopped

2 jalapeño chiles, seeded and minced (optional)

4 ounces tomato paste

2 tablespoons chili powder

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon unsweetened baking cocoa

1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamonIn a heavy, large pot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook veggie beef, onion and red and green bell peppers until soft and golden. Add mustard seeds, stirring often.

When the vegetables are ready, add tomatoes (undrained), beans, mushrooms, carrots, jalapeño, tomato paste, chili powder, cumin, cocoa and cinnamon into the mix and stir well.

Finally, reduce the heat and let the chili simmer, uncovered, for about 40 minutes. Stir it when needed.

After that, you are on your own.

As far as the game goes, take the Saints minus the 5½ points. Maybe it’s just the chili talking, but I have a bad feeling about this one.

In the other games, take the Colts and the 4 in Baltimore. Wait… don’t the Colts play in Baltimore. The Baltimore Ravens? What kind of USFL/NFL Europe uniforms are they wearing?

In Sunday’s games, take the Seahawks and the 9½ in Chicago and the Chargers giving up 5 against the Patriots.

Last week: 2-2 Year-to-date: 25-22-2