White Chili #Recipe

I love Chili! It's just one of those comfort foods to me. Usually I make the usual: Red Tomato Chili. This weekend I decided to make a White Chili that I haven't made in awhile.

It's super easy to make, and it's so good!

Recipe: 

Scroll down for instructions.

White Chili by AlissaSpiehs-Apel on Scribd

Travis and I love spice! 

If you're not a big fan of spicy things, then you may want to use less Cayenne Pepper. I think the Green Chilies add to the spicy flavor.

The boys aren't spice lovers. They used to even say that regular toothpaste, and soda were all spicy! They used natural toothpaste for years, and rarely had soda. Soda was only consumed when we went out to eat, which wasn't often. Maybe it was the fizz in the soda, and strong mint taste in the toothpaste that they had trouble getting used to. They like those things now.

I've been making the boys try spicy dishes since they were itty bitty. They still haven't acquired that love for spice that I've been waiting for. It will probably happen when they are out of the Apel house, and into their own Apel houses.

I think this recipe is the bomb! It's fairly healthy too!

What foods do you like on a cold, dreary day?

Organic Wise Organic Turmeric Root Powder Review

I really love powder that can be added to your food, or drinks. I got Turmeric Root Powder to review. I never realized how versatile this root is. 

We've used our Turmeric in:

• Smoothies
• Eggs
• Indian Dishes

Turmeric root powder contains a minimum of 4.8 % curcumin, the powerful active ingredient in Turmeric. Most turmeric powder on the market has 2-3% curcumin content. It's nice to know that what you are consuming is going to benefit you. This turmeric powder is of the highest grade, grown under the strictest of organic standards at a family owned and certified organic farm in India. 

The turmeric powder is USDA certified organic by the Colorado Department of Agriculture to ensure our Turmeric meets the highest standards.

• All Natural
• Raw
• Salt Free
• MSG Free
• Non-Irradiated   
• Preservative Free 

The texture in other brands we've had in the past is grainy. This brand isn't at all. It's super fresh. 

I made Organic Turmeric Chicken

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp coconut oil
½ large onion
2 inches fresh ginger
1 clove minced garlic
½ Tbsp turmeric
½ tsp cumin
½ tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp crushed red pepper
¼ tsp curry
1 can diced tomatoes and chilies 
1 whole bay leaf
2 lb. chicken (breast or thigh) 
1 can coconut milk
Salt & Pepper to taste
Sprinkle with cilantro (optional)
2 cups uncooked jasmine rice

Directions:

In a medium sized pan bring 3 cups of water to boil. Add in jasmine rice. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes. 

In a large pot add the oil, chopped onion, grated ginger, and minced garlic. 

Once the onions have softened add the turmeric, cumin, cinnamon, crushed red pepper, and curry. Saute for 2 minutes.

Add diced chicken to the pot. Cook for 8 minutes.  

Add the can of diced tomatoes and chilies, and bay leaf. Simmer for 30 minutes. 

Discard the bay leaf, and stir in the coconut milk.

Add on top of jasmine rice. Sprinkle with cilantro if desired. 

I would have loved to do the last step, but we didn't have any cilantro.

Now that I know Turmeric is so good for you, we'll be sure to have some daily.

Cost $19.95 for 1 lb Resealable Stand Up Pouch. You get a lot for the money.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Mexican Chicken and Pumpkin Soup

A few weeks ago I processed a few pumpkins. I didn't want to make only unhealthy things. I looked up pumpkin soups.

There's two problems I have with pumpkin soup:

1) The boys do not like it.

2) There isn't protein in it to fill the boys up.

I found a Pumpkin Soup Recipe with Chicken in it. This recipe is derived from here.

If you like Mexican things, you'll like this soup.

Mexican Chicken and Pumpkin Soup

Everyone in my house loved this soup!

What's your favorite kind of soup?

Tonight Went Better Then Expected

Daddy worked at the gallery tonight. It's generally pretty hectic when I have to go pick up Mica, go pick up Isaak, come home and make dinner and then get everyone ready for swimming (if everything works out).

Mica was pretty excited to see me when I picked him up. I love how he greats me with a gigantic hug.

Then when we went to go get Isaak at Grandma and Grandpa's, Isaak was playing in the driveway with a little shovel and a beetle. That boy is fascinated with bugs!

Grandma Spiehs had cookies for the boys and I asked Isaak if he'd share with me? He actually did.

When we got home I had all kinds of things going on the stove and in the oven: Chicken that I marinaded, sweet potato, steamed broccoli and one ear of corn that we split. 

Usually during dinner time the boys are pretty needy. Tonight was different. Isaak played with the USA Melissa and Doug puzzle.

Source

Isaak brought in the Nebraska piece and said, "Is this where we live Mommy?" I said, "Yep." He said, "No! We live on insert address here!" I said, "Yes that is our address. Our city is Omaha and our state is Nebraska." He said, "Oh."

Then he brought me the New York piece and said, "Mommy this is where the Ghost Busters live!" I didn't try and dispute that one. I just sort of nodded my head and said, "Yep." It had the statue of liberty on the piece; that was in the movie.

The boys loved dinner. Mica asked for more chicken.

Everyone got ready to go swimming with little chaos. I think Isaak got the point that he needs to get ready for now on. Once we made him sit out of the pool because he wouldn't get ready.

We got to the pool. It was then that I realized Isaak's trunks were on backwards. At least he tried! The pool was cold and packed. We didn't swim for a very long time.

In the car Mica said, "Well in China it's getting light right about now." Isaak said, "I don't understand what you are saying Mica." Mica said, "Well in China it's getting light right about now." Isaak said, "Mica I heard what you said! I just don't understand what you are saying." Mica said, "When we get home I'll show you where China is on the globe." Sure enough we got home and Mica showed Isaak the globe; where we live and where China is. Isaak said, "Thank you for showing me Mica."

I'm hoping Isaak's changing stages from the trying threes to the fantastic fours. I told them I was very impressed with their behavior!  

The Kids Will Eat Sushi! Right?

I went to Costco, and saw a yummy looking tray of Sushi. I thought, sushi looks yummy and artsy! The kids are great eaters and will try it!

They are good little eaters. Mica's a little more open minded then Isaak. They both love salad, any fruit, most any veggie, most any meat and rice. Isaak doesn't like buns very much, but they will both chow down on waffles, pancakes or toast. It's when things are mixed up that they are sometimes unwilling to try something. I'm just glad I don't have kids that will only eat Mac and Cheese!

Here was their dinner last night:

Both kids gave thumbs up to the teriyaki chicken, pineapple, broccoli and sparkling juice. Mica started giving thumbs up when things are good. Isaak quickly followed.

Along with thumbs up is a thumbs down. Both boy's didn't want to try the sushi. For Mica it was because there was avocado in it. As if you can taste that! I convinced Mica to push the avocado out and eat the rest. He did. Isaak on the other hand wasn't going to budge at all! I told him all about the outside being rice, and he wouldn't open his mouth up to taste it at all.

Oh well! I tried. If they were like this on a regular basis with normal everyday foods; I would pushed them to eat. They are good little eaters, so I let it slide. What little kid eats sushi anyhow? They did eat more broccoli, which is a good thing!

*Do you like the sparkling juice glass? I thought it would be easier to hold and drink out of over a wine glass and still seem special! It's a Sunday ice cream dish.