Susi's Kochen Und Backen Adventures

I know I sound like a broken record but it is still hot in Arizona. Not "I'm melting" hot, but still hot enough that we are having a hard time recognizing it is fall by the time 3:00 pm rolls around. This is why I have decided I would just pretend it is nice and crisp outside and I started treating my meals as such. My youngest has also decided he had enough of this heat and started wearing jeans to school again, despite the fact that he is a sweaty mess by the time he arrives back home. He pointed to the calendar the other day and told me that he HAS to wear long pants after fall break because that's just what you do. Seriously, how can I argue with this logic?

I found this recipe probably a little over a year ago on Tasty Kitchen and it caught my eye right away. After a little bit of tweaking the recipe, it has come to be a family favorite, especially after a long day of school and soccer practice in the evening. The chili comes together quickly and while I realize you could make this with dry beans that have been soaked and cooked, it would defeat the convenience of the recipe for me, but if that's what you like to do, I say go ahead and knock yourself out. Chicken breast is cubed and browned along with onion and garlic powder in a big pot. The drained and rinsed beans are added along with chicken broth, green chilies and spices. The mixture is simmered for about 30 minutes and for the final touch sour cream and heavy cream are added. This ensures a perfect balance of spiciness and creaminess.

The soup has quite a kick, so if you like it a little milder, make sure to use less chilies or leave the cayenne pepper out. I like to serve this chili with tortilla chips and a little sprinkling of cheddar cheese, but a good cornbread on the side would be just as delicious. This is one of those meals that never has leftovers in our house and my kids fight over the last few spoons. It is also not as thick as a traditional thick chili, think of it more like a hearty soup with a kick. The spiciness of this dish will warm you nicely on a chilly evening, so make it tonight and get yourself all toasty warm!

White Chicken Chili
(adapted from Tasty Kitchen)
(Printable Recipe)

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, cubed
1 whole medium onion, chopped
3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 cans (15.5 oz) Great Northern Beans, drained and rinsed
2 cans (14.5 oz) chicken broth
3 cans (4 oz) chopped green chilies
1 1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup heavy cream
Shredded cheddar cheese, for serving  (optional)


Preparation:

Heat oil in a large pot. Saute chicken, onion, and garlic powder until chicken is no longer pink. Add beans, broth, chilies, and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in sour cream and cream. Serve garnished with cheese if desired.

In the past, I admit that a lot of times I've taken the easy route and just purchased canned refried beans at the grocery store. They are pretty decent tasting and really no one complained about having them. When I fixed the shrimp tacos, my magazine Cuisine at Home had a recipe for tequila refried beans featured on the same page. Tequila and refried beans? Really? But hey, I was intrigued, the picture looked good and the recipe sounded pretty awesome as well, so I went ahead and gave them a try.

Well, I'm sorry to say it, but I won't be supporting the canned refried bean companies any longer. I have found the most perfect recipe. I even have to go as far as saying that it might be more flavorful then beans prepared with lard. Considering that it is quick and easy to fix (it relies on canned pinto beans), is high in fiber, and much lower in fat then traditional prepared beans I find this recipe a true keeper. Don't let the tequila scare you, all the alcohol cooks out and it just imparts additional flavor, but if you don't cook with alcohol you could certainly use water or additional chicken broth.

Tequila Refried Beans

(Print this Recipe)

Ingredients:

1/4 cup white onion, diced

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 garlic clove, minced

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon ground coriander

2 tablespoons tequila or water

2 (15 ounce each) cans pinto beans, drained and rinsed

1/2 to 1 cup chicken broth

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

Salt and black pepper to taste

Crumbled queso fresco

Sliced serrano chile (optional)

Directions:

Saute onion in oil in a saute pan over medium-high heat until softened, 3-4 minutes. Add garlic, oregano, cumin, and coriander. Saute 1 minute. Deglaze pan with tequila (or water); reduce until evaporated.

Stir in beans and broth. Bring to a simmer and reduce heat to medium-low. Crush beans with a potato masher and cook until soupy, 5 minutes. Keep adding chicken broth if the bean mixture gets too dry until desired consistency is achieved.

Stir in lime juice, cilantro, salt, and pepper. Serve with cheese and chile slices.

Adapted from: Cuisine at Home

~serves 6-8~

(Print this Recipe)

Ingredients:

4 cups water

1/2 cup dry wheat berries

1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 cup frozen shelled Edamame, thawed

1 cup fresh tomatoes, chopped

1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

3 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1/2 teaspoon mustard

1/2 teaspoon sugar

Kosher Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions:

Combine water and wheat berries in a medium saucepan, bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 55 minutes or until wheat berries are tender. Place in a fine mesh strainer, run under cold water to cool quickly, drain.

Dips or Salsas are always easy to send along but then again a lot of people think along the same lines so there is never a shortage of these either. He asked if I could figure something out he could take in a crock-pot, and always being happy to oblige, I looked through my giant recipe files and decided on an old stand-by; Block Party Beans. 

I have made this countless times for potlucks, barbecues, and neighborhood get togethers since it easily feeds a crowd and people respond very well to this version. The ingredients are mixed up very quickly and then just "hang out" in the crock-pot. You can also bake them in the oven or cook them on top of the stove, whatever suits you best and makes you happy.

Block Party Beans

~serves 12~

(Print this Recipe)

Ingredients: