Twenty-Minute Beefy Black Bean Chili

There's a certain romance about a big pot of chili simmering seductively on the stove all day – except when it's a busy weeknight, no time for thinking, let alone tending the stove. This is a chill-blasting chili that cooks in 20 minutes, start to finish. The recipe uses a couple of favorite convenience products, black beans and salsa, both easy to keep handy in the pantry. This column was first published in print in 2003 and was published online for the first time in 2011. March days can chill our bones! We are so ready for spring but winter somehow just hangs on. And on and on. And on. For a fast warm-up, turn to Twenty-Minute Beefy Black Bean Chili for supper some damp, cold night. It requires only 20 minutes from stove to table so is also a good choice for a last-minute supper. If you like the recipe, keep the ingredients on hand in the pantry and freezer so you can cook up a batch at a moment’s notice. ALANNA's TIPS After draining the first can of bean