Winter Comfort Food!

Whether you are curled up on the sofa watching the Super Bowl or the upcoming Olympics, a bowl of chili and a plate of nachos seem to be the perfect comfort food! We are happy to share our quick and easy recipes to be enjoyed as you gather with family and friends to cheer and celebrate or simply to savour a soulful spicy classic combination any night of the year.


Linda's Simple Savoury Chili Recipe
(made with lean ground chicken & 2 types of beans)

Ingredients:

1 lb. lean, ground chicken

1 onion, diced

3 cloves of garlic, minced

2 tbsp. of chili powder

1 tsp. salt

2 jalapeno peppers, minced

2 tbsp. of olive oil

2 carrots, diced

2 stalks of celery, diced

1 green pepper, seeded & diced

1 can of diced tomato

1 can of tomato paste

1 can of red kidney beans

1 can of black beans

Brown ground chicken and onions in the olive oil until the meat is no longer pink. Add the chili, salt, garlic and jalapeno peppers and cook for 2 minutes. Add the celery, carrots and green pepper and cook for 10 minutes until softened. Stir in the tomatoes and tomato paste. Add the red kidney beans and black beans. Blend all the ingredients. Simmer for 30-45 minutes until the sauce thickens. This is a great make ahead dish as it is even better the next day!

Serve in bowls with a dollop of sour cream to counter balance the spiciness. Soul satisfying!

Karen's "La Morenita" Nachos

(Karen discovered a wonderful Mexican Restaurant called La Morenita in Palo Alto, California over 8 years ago which serves these amazing nachos which looked like a blooming rose. She has been making them ever since.

Ingredients:

1 bag of round tortilla chips

1 can of refried beans

1/4 cup of salsa

1/2 can of sliced black olives

1/2 pint of cherry tomatoes

1/4 jar sliced jalapeno peppers, drained

1/2 cup of shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Method: Spread the refried beans into the bottom of a round oven proof dish.

Spread the salsa sauce onto the top of the refried beans and place the chips in a circular pattern

into the dish.
The salsa/bean mixture on the bottom helps to keep the chips to stand upright to form the rose pattern.
Top with the cherry tomatoes, olives and jalapeno peppers.
Sprinkle with cheese and bake in a 375degrees Farenheit oven for 10-15 minutes until the cheese has melted and the bean dip on the bottom is warm.

Ready to serve with a bowl of salsa for extra dipping!

Time to dig in and enjoy the game!