My Most Asked For Recipe: White Bean Chicken Chili

In honor of Super Bowl, I thought I’d share my most requested recipes. As I explained in an earlier post, my cooking skills have come along. Now friends actually enjoy eating at my house and can’t wait to see what’s on the menu.

One of my staple recipes is White Bean Chicken Chili. It’s a quick and easy dish to make that is always a crowd favorite. My kids love it, too!

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Here’s what you’ll need:

  • (2) Chicken Breasts cooked and shredded
  • (2) 15 oz cans of Great Northern Beans
  • (1) 10.5 0z can of Cream of Chicken Soup
  • (2) cups of Sweet White Corn (frozen)
  • (1) Chopped White Onion
  • (2) Cloves of chopped Garlic
  • (4) cups of Chicken Broth
  • (1/4) cup of Butter (you can use Olive Oil if you prefer – 2 tablespoons)
  • (1) teaspoon Chili Powder
  • (1/4) teaspoon Cumin
  • (1/4) teaspoon Paprika
  • Pinch Salt & Pepper

First, I like to season the chicken breasts with cumin, paprika, salt and pepper and bake them in the oven, 350 degrees for 25 minutes. While the chicken is cooking I prepare the chili.

In a dutch oven or large stock pot:

  • Melt the butter over low/medium heat.
  • Add the onions and garlic and let them soften.
  • Add sweet white corn.
  • Sprinkle a portion of the Chili Powder, Cumin, and Paprika into the mixture.
  • Stir and let cook for 1-2 minutes.
  • Add great northern beans.
  • Sprinkle remaining Chili Powder, Cumin, and Paprika into the mixture.
  • Stir and let sit for 1-2 minutes.
  • Add can of Cream of Chicken soup.
  • Stir and let sit for 1-2 minutes.
  • Add Chicken Broth. Pour in one cup at a time to find the thickness you like and adjust accordingly (You may not need it all).
  • Bring to a soft boil. Stir then let simmer on low heat for 10-15 minutes.

Once the chicken is done, shred and add to the chili. Stir and let simmer for another 5 minutes. Add additional spice mix to your taste. *Sometimes I’ll just additional chili powder to my individual bowl as I like it spicier than my kids.

Garnishes to top:

  • Lime
  • Avocado – my personal favorite!
  • Cilantro
  • Sour Cream
  • Cheese
  • Green onion

Tips: Want to save time?

  • Throw all the ingredients in a Crock Pot and set on low for 4-6 hours.
  • Use a whole cooked rotisserie chicken from your grocer. Slice, shred, and throw in the pot!

Enjoy!

Chicago Pizza Just Got A Facelift

I’m a foodie and a Chicagoan – luckily those compliment each other well. Chicago is known for their food innovation, the hottest trends, the incredible chefs and of course, our pizza. At any given day our “must-have” pizza joints have a line around the block, yet locals and tourists alike will wait hours to get their mouths around a slice of yummy Chicago pie. And, who can blame them?

Pizza, one of my favorite dishes, was recently removed from my diet due to some unknown food allergies. To my good fortune the amazing team over at Rossopomodoro, the official pizza partner for Eataly Chicago, invited me and my son to try out their four new doughs – one of which is gluten and egg free! Eataly, a newer Chicago staple, is an Italian marketplace featuring a plethora of amazing italian delicacies, cafes, counters, restaurants, and a cooking school. At Eataly you can eat, shop and learn.

Prior to my Eataly visit, I was honored to connect with Simone Falco of Naples, Executive Chef & Owner of Rossopomodoro West Village and President and CEO of Rossopomodoro at Eataly USA, and ask him a few questions.

Simone Falco was born in into into a family of sportsman and entrepreneurs. When Simone grew older he became a rugby player and obtained a PhD from the University of Naples Federico II, one of the oldest Universities in Europe. Since he was very young, Simone has worked in the family company to learn the proper skills needed to run a successful restaurant business, leading into the launch and development of several new restaurant locations in Italy and abroad. Rossopomodoro in New York City’s West Village – an outpost location of the Rossopomodoro’s U.S. operations at Eataly New York (Flatiron & Financial District), Chicago, Boston, and San Paolo – has been carrying on the tradition ever since its opening in 2014.

He designed the restaurant’s menu to embody the brands manifesto and presents dishes that are simple, seasonal, straightforward, healthy and flavorful – and he goes way beyond just pizza & pasta. Simone would describe his personal style as classic Neapolitan.

I started out the interview asking Chef Falco what passions of his led him to pizza.

“Growing up in Naples, pizza was our breakfast every weekend. How could I not be attracted to pizza?”

As someone with food allergies and a passion for health, it’s refreshing to see more and more offerings that cater to a healthful lifestyle without giving up the things we love – like pizza. What’s the secret to maintaining great taste yet being healthy also?

“The secret is high quality ingredients (wild, organic, no chemicals) and good sourcing.”

As you know, Chicago is certainly a pizza town. What excites you most about these four new kinds of dough and how are they different from the others we can find in the city?

“We decided to launch the four doughs in Chicago because it is THE pizza city. We wanted to bring something truly Neapolitan to Chicago and something different than everyone is used to.”

Last question, and it’s the obligatory one. You may know that New York and Chicago have an ongoing pizza war. So, which would you say is your favorite between the two signature styles? Chicago or New York?

“My favorite is Neapolitan of course but I have an appreciation for all types. Different pizza has different uses. Sometimes I crave a New York slice and sometimes I crave deep dish. Chicago pizza is more of treat because I live in New York.”

Hearing his story and passion for pizza, I was thrilled met his team and head Chef Simone Lavarone at the Chicago Eataly location. While there he prepared several pizzas showcasing their new doughs.

My favorite was this little slice of heaven with a zucchini cream instead of tomato base. Perfection.

There new doughs now available are:

CLASSICA

  • The Original Pizza Napoletana
  • This classic-style pizza from Napoli made with “Type 00” flour is the most elegant and complex of all. The long leavening time (24-plus hours) paired with the brief cooking time produces a pizza with a thin, elastic center and a charred, airy crust.

RUSTICA

  • Old World Innovation
  • This dough is the precursor to the pizza we know today, originally made from leftover bread dough from bakeries in the suburbs of Napoli. The “Type 1” whole grain flour and slow-rising process yield a slightly sweet and hearty dough.

MODERNA

  • Classic yet Crispy
  • This contemporary take on pizza is typical of the coastal towns near Napoli (think: Amalfi Coast). Made with the same “Type 00” flour as the Classica, this dough proofs longer and cooks longer resulting in a lighter, crispier crust that is soft in the middle and never disappoints.

LEGGERA

  • Light and Gluten-Free
  • This airy, slightly caramelized crust is made from an innovative blend of corn, rice, and gluten-free buckwheat flours, offering all the flavors of the real pizza napoletana with a lighter base! While the dough is gluten-free, our environment is not, meaning trace amounts of gluten may be present — it is not certified for those with celiac disease.

Needless to say, the pizzas looked beautiful and tasted even better than one can imagine. This is truly pizza reinvented!

My six-year-old, the notorious picky eater, enjoyed the pizzas so much that he asked if we could take them all home to save for later. Bonus – Sunday’s kids get $9 pizzas where they can pick their own toppings and the pizza comes in fun shapes like a heart, bunny, fish or butterfly. How’s that for family friendly?

Eataly Chicago has many spectacular summer promotions and events happening, so mark your calendars and make your way over to see Chef Simone and the Eataly team for some delicious game-changing pizza. Tell them I sent you!

5 Benefits of Giving Your Kids a Smartphone

Smartphones were once considered a luxury exclusively for adults. But, with the proliferation of educational apps on the market, offered on the market, these devices suddenly because advisable for our little ones. The only question would be: is it necessary for them to own a smart device at a young age?

There are plenty of explanations as to why parents give their kids a mobile device. According to Verizon Wireless feature article on Setting Mobile Boundaries for Children, reasons are ranging from safety considerations to homework solutions. To elaborate this further, we will list down 5 ways on how a smartphone is beneficial for your kids.

image courtesy of mistermomblog.com

1. An Added Dimension of Learning

According to PBS Parents Guide to Children & Media, giving a smartphone to a school-aged children will provide them an additional way of learning, apart from traditional books or classroom. With the device, they can access a lot of learning resources such as mobile dictionaries, encyclopedia, educational applications and augmented reality flash cards. These applications can be regularly updated online to add new information, unlike an actual published textbook that remains stagnant over time.

Plus, smart devices may come in handy if your kid is enrolled in academic institutions that are implementing the digital way of learning through Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) system.

2. Homework Help

Most of the high-end phones offer functionalities that are similar to what a computer does. For instance, loading the device with productivity tools like Documents To Go will allow children to use it for creating their homework, school paper or class presentations. It also won’t be a problem if their teachers will require them to submit it via email or cloud service.

 

Image courtesy of digitaltrends.com

Most importantly, its built-in web browser gives them an instant access to Google’s resources online.

3. For keeping in touch and locating them

With a built-in Global Positioning System (GPS) in these devices, you can easily track them wherever they go. Every time they access their social networking sites to check-in or update their statuses, you can automatically determine their geographical location. This gives you the power to monitor them if ever they are skipping classes or going beyond your allowed distance. For some parents, this feature can also be maximized to determine if their kids are violating their curfew hours by sneaking out of the house.

On the other hand, they can also get in touch with you all the time. In case of unforeseen emergencies, (tornados, school fires or tropical storms) they can immediately inform you through voice or video call.

4. Navigation

With the navigation feature on the device, you can be sure that they arrive safely at their destination. Of course, this requires you teaching them on how to use it properly.

5. For playtime

In order for them not to get exhausted, children also need a break from schoolwork. You can let them play with their gizmos by loading it with a multitude of child-friendly games. You can use it as a method of reward if they’ve accomplished their household chores or if they excelled in class.

But, make sure that these games are appropriate for their age. If you want, you can play with them and make it your bonding moment. It is also important to be strict about their usage by setting a maximum time they should spend with their smartphones. Keep in mind that although these devices allow them to access hundreds of mobile games, nothing beats recreational activities. It’s also important to keep their online safety in mind. A great guide for parents to find and use safe apps for smartphones and Andriod can be located here.

These are the top five benefits of a smart device to your children. As good as it is, we can’t deny the fact that it can also bring some negative effects to them. It can be highly addictive and can also cause a distraction from their studies. It also opens the door to cyberbullying and restricted content online. That is why it is always important to monitor and control their usage. As a Digital Mom, have you given your kid a smartphone? Share your experiences with us.

Check out this comprehensive guide for screen times and more information.