White Bean Turkey Chili for a Chilly Sunday

With the thermometer finally dropping and a relaxing three day weekend, it seemed like a perfect time to spend the day watching football and making chili.

My favorite chili recipe is "officially" called white bean and ground turkey slow cooker chipotle chili, a recipe once again courtesy of Weight Watchers but don't let the source fool you; this chili is not only healthy and low-cal but savory, hearty, inventive and satisfying. If I didn't tell you it came from WW you wouldn't know.

This time around, I've made a few revisions to the original (full recipe on link above). Today, I added one carrot to add a bit of sweetness to the ground turkey, garlic and onion that are sauteed at the beginning of the recipe. I also season at this point of the process and then again once all the ingredients have combined and began to cook. After a few visits to the pot to stir and taste, I continue to season accordingly.

It takes quite a bit of time (at least four hours cooking time) but it is really worth it. Once you've chopped the garlic and onion the hard work is done; it is merely a time investment. And after a few hours, the turkey is tender, the cilantro has evaporated into the dish and you will know this is time well spent. The lime juice and cilantro add a nice freshness to the heartiness of the chili. In a pinch, you can add parsley or omit entirely, but it is worth the trip to the grocery store to include it.

I tend to freeze half of this large dish and then bring a one cup serving to work as lunch for a five point meal if you are following the Weight Watchers program. If you do freeze, you may need to add some stock or water to get the chili to the desired consistency when reheated. Don't let this "small" serving fool you - it is as filling as any overstuffed overpriced deli sandwich but a lot healthier and delicious!

Post #200!

I felt the need to commemorate the milestone of my 200th post with a "best of" f is for foodie.

It goes without saying that my favorite posts were my daily recaps of trips to France (starting with this post), Spain and Portugal. There is nothing like exploring new places, trying new foods and wines, strolling through the local markets and soaking up the culture. Incredible experiences that have changed my palate forever!

When it comes to recipes, there are a few of my favorites that I've shared with you and I hope you have tried and enjoyed. In no particular order some of my stand outs are: white bean turkey chili, mustard-crusted pork with carrots and lentils, pork chops with zucchini and tomatoes, lentils and escarole, and my posts on meatballs - only to be culminated with one of my two tasting panels; meatball madness and the great cupcake debate.

Although most of my restaurant reviews are for New York restaurants, I've also reviewed establishments on the Jersey Shore, in Boston and suburban Massachusetts, Washington D.C., Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Wherever my travels will take me, I will be there camera in hand to give you my take on the local cuisine!

I hope you continue to enjoy this blog as much as I do and bon appetit!