Cookbook # 72, So Easy and White Chicken Chili

I'm pretty sure Ellie Krieger's genius is not completely appreciated.  She's a registered dietician and yet I never look at her food or her recipes and think "wow, that must have come from a dietician."  Her food is just plain scrumptious.  In fact the front of the cover says it all, "Luscious, healthy recipes for every meal of the week."  I don't know about you, but "luscious" is a word I just don't use often enough.  I'm going to attempt to use the word everyday for the next month. Other luscious recipes in this book: grilled portobello benedict (did I mention I love her?), honey harvest quinoa, cheddar apple quesadillas, curried chicken salad (made with more yogurt than mayo) a piccata with SPINACH and garlic mashed potatoes, and even a chipotle glazed pork chop chicken with maple squash puree and SPINACH-green apple salad.  A girl who loves spinach as much as I do.  I knew we  clicked.

The recipe I chose first was her White Turkey Chili, which actually became White Chicken Chili.  And technically, since I got a bit carried away with the green chilies, it was kind of a Green Chicken Chili.  I've been on a bit of a Southwestern flavors kick recently--probably still trying to balance out the sugar shock of just looking at all the Christmas sweets. 

Can you say "hominy" without breaking into song ala Naughty by Nature..."with hominy, hominy..." or is that just me?    Hominy, harmony.  It's kind of the same word if you sing it the way they do.  And how do you describe hominy?  It's corn, but not like other corn...it kind of tastes more like the masa in tamales.  So I'm not so good with the descriptions.  I happen to really like hominy so I said okey dokey to it in the recipe.

The one other substitute besides chicken that I made was to use dried great northern beans rather than canned.  If you are in a hurry, Ellie's recipe actually calls for one can of cooked beans and then only simmering the pot for 25 mins.  I changed the time below to allow the dried beans to cook.

White Turkey Chili

adapted from Ellie Krieger, So Easy

Ingredients:

1 tbsp olive or canola oil

1 medium yellow onion, diced

3 medium fire roasted poblano (pasilla) peppers, seeded and ribs removed, finely diced (about 1 1/2 c.)

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 1/2 tsp. ground cumin

1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper, more to taste

1 tsp. dried oregano, divided

1 to 1 1/4 lb. cubed chicken

1 1/4 cup dried great northern beans

3 cans low-sodium chicken broth

1 (15.5-ounce) can white hominy, drained and rinsed

1 tsp. salt
1/4 c. nonfat plain Greek-style yogurt or low-fat sour cream (optional)
1 cup grated cheese (o

1 avocado, cut into 1/2-in. cubes

1/4 c. chopped fresh cilantro

lime wedges

Directions:

1.  Heat the oil in large pot or dutch oven over moderate heat. Add the onion,  peppers, and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about eight minutes.

2.  Add the garlic, cumin, cayenne, and 1/2 tsp. oregano and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

3.  Add the chicken and cook,  until the meat is slightly browned about 6 minutes.

4.  Add the white beans, hominy, broth and remaining oregano. Cook, partially covered, stirring occasionally, 3 hours.
5.  Add the chopped cilantro salt, to taste and remove from heat.
6.  Ladle into individual bowls and top each serving with cheese, cilantro, avocado, and a lime wedge.




And just a quick product review...all of the reviews on the Drs. Foster and Smith website raved about this bed. Since this was an internal review site with reviews of their own product, I was sure it was enhanced or at least edited. Not that Drs Fosters and Smith don't have some killer products....The Ultimate Scratching Post?   Quite possibly the greatest and sturdiest scratching post ever. But still a part of me was sure that  no puppy could really love a bed as much as the Slumber Ball reviews claimed.  Another part of me though was sold by the little puppy heads peeking up over the top of the Slumber Balls.  Cuteness is a great marketing and advertising tool.

I'll lay here for the picture if you make me...

Actually, this ball bed thing isn't too shabby...

Okay, I love this bed mom.