SO WHAT DID YOU END UP LISTING FOR YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS?
Is your list anything like mine? And guess what, I could almost keep this list and just change the year! Is that a good thing or not? Hmmm…I’ll have to think on that. In the meantime, here’s my list:
- Lose Weight (the COVID calories really packed on these last couple years)
- Eat Healthier (I love my red meat and red wine….and of course, my cocktails)
- Exercise More and “Get Fit” (I stare at the treadmill in my office every morning with my sneakers on it all ready to go)
- Save More Money and Pay Down Debt (I do like to shop when it comes to gifts, decorating and entertaining)
- Work Smarter and Make Better Use of the Hours in a Day (I have so much going now I need to manage those hours better)
- Reduce Clutter and Simplify (I’ve collected many beautiful items that mean a lot to me over the years, but Marie Kondo here I come!)
- Read More and Watch Less TV (With all these streaming apps, it’s so easy to get into too many shows)
- Be Grateful for Everything (and I mean EVERYTHING…even the not so great stuff)
- Journal Everyday (My mind goes a mile a minute and just spending a few minutes a day writing it down has so many benefits)
- And a VERY SPECIAL one:
To share my love of cooking, decorating and entertaining with you, inspiring you to find balance in life, enjoy being with the ones you love all while being present and connected to those around you….And I hope to do this as much as I can while balancing my full time job and sharing special times with family and friends.
Well, as I write this post, I’m up late at night (even in the wee hours of the A.M.) and not off to the best of starts on #5, #6, #4 and #9. I’m sort of watching TV, I didn’t journal today, and while returning a couple Christmas gifts, I shopped at 4 stores and came home with 6 bags of “goodies”. So, I didn’t work as smart as I’d like by making the most out of the hours in a day, that’s for sure. But I did well on #1, #2 and #8! And as for #10, I really hope I am fulfilling that resolution in some way each and every day! So I need a little comfort food! What about you?
NEED SOMETHING FOR DINNER THAT’S COMFORTING, GOOD FOR YOU AND WARMS YOUR INSIDES?
I‘ve got the answer for you! My White Chicken Chili and Happy Paprika Cornbread! (Well, the cornbread is Penguin’s brand that I get at Costco and it’s awesome)! I add Hoby’s Essential’s Happy Paprika and I butter the dish before baking, and serve with a tab of butter on top, too! Yum! As for the White Chicken Chili, all you need for this one-pot dish is what most of us have in our fridge and pantry, and instead of a tomato beef based chili, this is a chicken chili without a tomato base! I just love the 3 veggies of carrots, celery and onion, too! So many of my dishes include this perfect trifecta, so I always keep them in my fridge! Just sauté the chicken and veggies, adding the spices, flour, beans and broth, and let everything get thick and hearty, ready to eat within an hour! Yay!
DID THE WHITE CHICKEN CHILI MEET EXPECTATIONS?
I’d have to say YES! Taste gets a 10 in my book, and in my family’s book, too! And as I count my calories each day, knowing I have to take in less than my body burns, I know this chili comes with a few more calories than I’d like, so I have to be smart about it. That’s where the balance comes in! To enjoy a little treat of butter and cornbread, with a heart bowl of the chili, I reduce my portion size a little and use some of the calories I saved up during the day. But for those of you who can enjoy a second helping (and I know you’ll want to), go ahead and enjoy! It’s still a healthier alternative to the beef chili (although I am a sucker for my Signature Chili dish with beef, sausage and bacon, too)!
So until next time,
Let’s get Cookin’
Madeline
White Chicken Chili and Happy Paprika Cornbread
Equipment
- 4 - 8 Quart Pot with Lid
- 8-9 inch pie plate or 8 inch square dish
- Medium Mixing Bowl
Ingredients
Chicken Chili
- 2 chicken breasts, boneless and cut into 1 inch pieces
- 2 chicken thighs, boneless and cut into 1 inch pieces
- 1 cup carrots, chopped
- 1 cup celery, chopped
- 1 cup onion, chopped
- 1 cup red pepper, chopped
- 3 tbsps Madeline's Blended Oil Seasoning You can substitute 3 tbsps olive or canola oil, ¼ tsp kosher salt, ¼ tsp black pepper, ¼ tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp cumin
- 2 tsp Hoby's Essentials Happy Paprika You can substitute 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 15 ounces Great Northern or Cannellini beans
- ½ cup flour
- 1 ½ cup chicken broth
- ¼ cup sour cream for garnish
- 1 avocado, sliced for garnish
Penguin Cornbread
- 1 packet Penguin Cornbread mix I get this at Costco in a big box
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup oil
- ¾ cup milk
- 1 tsp Hoby's Essential's Happy Paprika You can substitute regular or smoked paprika.
Instructions
Chicken Chili
- On low-medium heat, brown chicken pieces in Madeline's Blended Oil Seasoning or the substitute of olive or canola oil, salt, pepper and garlic powder (about 10 - 15 minutes).
- Remove chicken pieces to a plate and cover.
- Add carrots, celery, onion, red pepper, cumin and Happy Paprika or the substitute, and sauté until the vegetables begin to soften (about 10 minutes).
- Add flour and cook until flour becomes translucent and cooks through (stirring to make sure vegetables do not burn (about 5 minutes).
- Add chicken broth slowly, stirring as you add the broth until blended well.
- Add beans (do not drain) and chicken, mixing everything together.
- Reduce heat to simmer and cook for an additional 30 - 40 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Serve in large soup bowls and add sour cream and avocado to garnish dish.
Penguin Cornbread
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Mix together cornbread packet mix, oil, egg, milk and Happy Paprika or the substitute.
- Pour cornbread mixture into the dish and bake for 35 - 40 minutes.
- Serve warm with butter.
Notes
