Lauras Choice

A Blog from Laura Kubicki

Weeknight White Chicken Chili

by Leave a Comment

Weeknight White Chicken Chili Closeup
Weeknight White Chicken Chili

It’s still cold.

Anytime the temp dips below 40 degrees I get all shivery inside (I know this is a bit wimpy seeing as I lived in Rochester, NY for over 14 years). Regardless, when the temp dips this time of year, a piping hot bowl of ‘something’ usually hits my “what we’re having for dinner plan” pretty hard.

Enter – Weeknight White Chicken Chili.

Now notice I say weeknight.

Gotta be good.

Gotta be hot.

Gotta be fast.

See what you think of this…my fam loves it!

White Chicken Chili Served
White Chicken Chili Served

 Ingredients

  • 1 TBS Olive Oil
  • 1/2 C Diced green pepper
  • 1/4 C Diced sweet onion
  • 2 lbs Chicken Tenders chopped into 1/2″ pieces (or any leftover or frozen rotisserie chicken you may have on hand)
  • 2 packs of White Chicken Chili Seasoning Mix ( I favor McCormick’s)
  • 2 cans 15.5 oz Great Northern Beans with juice (or any white beans you prefer)
  • 1 can 14.5 oz Petite Cut Diced Tomatoes (mostly drained)
  • 1 can 7.75 oz Black Beans (drained and rinsed)
  • 1 C good beer (you’ll be amazed at the depth of flavor this adds)
  • 1/2 tps chilis in adobo sauce (or to taste – adds great heat and smokey flavor)
  • Juice of 1 lime

Ideas & Additions!

  • Try serving over whole wheat elbow noodles for Chili Mac, or use any pasta you may have on hand.
  • Side suggestions:  Corn Chips, Corn Bread, or Saltines and a Garden or Green salad
  • Optional Toppings:  Low Fat Sour Cream or Plain Greek Yoghurt, Shredded Cheddar, Chopped Cilantro, Diced Avocado, Diced Sweet Onions, Lime wedges, Hot Sauce

Directions

  1. Heat oil in chili pot over medium heat.  Add peppers and onion and cook till soft.
  2. Add chopped chicken and cook till no longer pink.  Or if you’re adding leftover cooked chicken, just warm it up.
  3. Add white beans with juice, drained black beans and tomatoes, adobo sauce, beer, and seasoning mix.
  4. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 10-30 minutes (depending on how much time you have to let the flavors deepen).
  5. Stir in lime juice and serve with desired sides and toppings.  Add a splash of beer or water to desired consistency if you think it’s too thick!
  6. Enjoy!

Quick Tips!

  1. Dice up peppers and onions in advance and store in freezer.  Then just grab and cook for faster prep times!
  2. Save extra Chilis in Adobo sauce in freezer to use later.
  3. Shred cheese from a block and keep in freezer to save prep time and keep away from wood pulp included as a preservative in pre-shredded cheeses.
  4. Grind up lime rinds in garbage disposal to freshen sink

 

“I Never Did Mind The Little Things…”

by 2 Comments

 

Bluebird. Photo by Dehaan
Bluebird. Photo by Dehaan

…So it’s Monday. The alarm goes off at 5:30. Not my favorite thing as I much prefer getting up around 7:30. You? Well…one morning down, four to go…

I never did mind the little things.

Time to make three breakfasts, three lunches (umm…the smell of turkey at the crack of dawn), and clean up. Gulp down a cup of cold coffee, check weather, get myself ready, check email, get the kids ready, get everyone out into the Minivan (on time) with all they need for school. Oh and add to that my oldest’s procrastination issues – “I don’t CARE if we only have five more minutes!” and my youngest pinpoint focus on making his bed just perfectly (yes! he’s like that), never mind he’s still in his underwear and needs to brush his teeth...we don’t hold school on your ‘bottom’ bunk kiddo!!

And then there’s that fifteen minute drive in traffic to the car line (and back), practicing our Math Facts (some) until we arrive at the school ‘house’…

I never did mind the little things.

Then it’s to laundry leftovers and another load for today – because a day without laundry is like a day without sunshine – not! The fish tank needs cleaning again as we have EIGHT (yes 8! WAA-haaay too many) huge goldfish in a ten gallon tank. The cat and dog need a trip to the vet. Time for a termite inspection. Gotta get to Costo cause we’re out of milk, cereal, bread, chicken and gas for the week. Did I mention I’d love a shower?

I never did mind the little things.

Some lady cut me off at the intersection and some guy took my WAY. CLOSE. PARKING SPOT. Well go ahead. Maybe you need it today more than I…

Sheets need washing, beds need making, dinner menu needs planning (oh no! Grocery Shopping!), blog needs blogging – and there’s the ebook I’m desperately trying to get together – but husband needs listening, teachers need meeting, library’s calling…books overdue. Again.

I never did mind the little things.

I’m late. The dog needs a walk. There is a piano lesson this afternoon. A dentist appointment and oh yea – the dry-cleaning!! I scalded my hand – OUCH! I missed the mailman. Joseph is into another tantrum. Homework needs doing. “Mom when can Ethan come over???!” Late fees. Oil changes. Family drama. It’s raining.

I never did mind the little things. This is my Mantra.

My go to phrase that I use each day when things overwhelm me. Whatever ‘things’ they are – it doesn’t matter. They overwhelm. They depress. They demoralize. They work to squash me into a cranky, cynical, frowning, anxiety laden, wrinkled, monster of a mom, wife, friend…and I’m determined they WILL NOT WIN.

I’ve got my mantra and it helps me keep them at bay.

That and a lot of prayer friends – a lot!

I got the phrase years ago from a movie with Bridget Fonda called Point of No Return. Have you seen it? It’s an old one. Back when I used to go to movies…sigh.

Anyway…Bridget’s character is desperately trying to maintain composure and not get killed by another assassin so she repeats a little phrase she learned “I never did mind the little things” as a pretty gruesome act takes place right before her, which buys her time and helps save her life.

Now, I’ve never been remotely close to anything like that (and I sure hope you haven’t either!), so I figure if it’s good enough for Bridget, it’s good enough for me.

And you know what? It works! I even taught it to my kids to say to themselves if they’re fighting, or someone at school is mean, or a game or toy is lost, or it’s just turning into a rough, time out sort of day.

I never did mind the little things.

Because we’re all blessed with so many other things, that come from even just living on this beautiful planet, that really deserve our focus. You know your list. And when I focus on the negative, annoying stuff, I MISS ALL THE GREAT, BEAUTIFUL, AMAZING, WONDERFUL stuff that surrounds us each and every day.

…like the bluebird that flew past my car window this morning who looked magnificently self-illuminated in spite of the dreary, gray, cold morning sky. Really. He was just beautiful!

I’ve found I get what I look for in this life. If I focus on the good that’s mostly what I find. But when I let the ‘turkeys’ get me down (so to speak), I miss stuff I wish I hadn’t and who wants that??? Not me. Laura’s Choice? Live Happy! And I mean it.

What sorts of things do you do to keep that beautiful chin of yours up? Please share!

And thanks for stopping by! Luv ya! I really do.

 

Creamy Vanilla Milk

by 2 Comments

Creamy Vanilla Milk
Creamy Vanilla Milk

 

Imagine…it’s been a long day.

You know the routine…

It’s the middle of January.  Post Christmas blahs.  And it’s gray…gray…gray.

And it’s cold.

Very cold.

Maybe you have tons of snow?  Maybe you have a frosty wet mix of cold rain and sleet pelting down outside.  Maybe it’s just 2 degrees without the 30mph wind gusts you’ve been running around in all day.  Maybe you live in the South where you feel like it’s 2 degrees, when in actuality it’s dropped to 32, but you JUST CAN’T HANDLE THE COLD ANY LONGER!!!

Doesn’t matter your actual meteorologic situation…

The fact is you’ve been chilled all day and just can’t get warm.  Like your bones got cold way…deep…down.  Your feet hurt, you have a minor headache, you’re looking at a mountain of laundry, a stack of bills that need paying (remember Christmas?), the phone keeps ringing, emails and texts keep dinging, dinner dishes need washing, and….Mom!!!! Can I have a bedtime snack???

Hang on!  Help is on the way!  Why don’t you slip into those ‘oh so comfy’ sweats and pad back to the kitchen in your fuzzy slippers and get something warm and soothing for your body and soul.

Hot. Creamy. Vanilla. Milk. (JOY!)

You like it ’cause warming up the milk activates that stuff in it that ‘they say’ helps you fall asleep.  You also like the slightly sweet, creamy vanilla taste and soothing scent that wafts up with the steam, warming your ice cold nose as you sip.

AND…it’s got calcium, protein, and has less calories than your regular run of the mill hot chocolate (although who’s ever had a problem with that stuff?).

Oh and you pause to note how much your kids would LOVE this ‘Special Milk’ and smile when you think to yourself  ‘Hey, I bet I’ll be able to get them to drink more milk this way,’ and ‘Ah Ha! What a great bedtime snack’!

Absolutely.

I got this idea when I was about 12, from a friend of a friend’s mother who served it to us at a sleepover (smaarrrrrt lady!).

Ready friends?  It’s as easy as this!

Creamy Vanilla Milk

1 tps   real vanilla extract

8oz    skim milk (for fewest calories but feel free to sub any milk you prefer)

1 tps honey (or sugar)

Directions:

Combine vanilla, milk, and honey or sugar.  Heat in the microwave 2-3 minutes or until piping hot, but not boiling over.

Sit on your most comfy piece of furniture or prop yourself up in front of a roaring fire and go to that oh so lovely, warm, peaceful, quiet, place where you can escape a bit of the days madness, recharge your battery, and get ready for a great night’s sleep.

zzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.