lunch today: green chicken chili

Here's what I know about today:

• Today I woke up on my own, without being summoned by miss Hadley, at about 6 am. (we went to bed at 10 last night! aren't we lucky?) 
• Today I tweezed my eyebrows and cleaned the bathroom instead of going back to bed. (finally. those 2 things get skipped a lot.) 
• Today I will read Mockingjay, but try not to go too fast. because then it's all over! 
• Today I will roast a chicken for dinner. We have to have "the chicken dinner" at least once a week. mm.
• Today pilates might be done. 
• Today I need to write down the recipe for the biscuits we had last night. 
• Today Grant will come home instead of coaching basketball. yaaaaay! 
• Today we will dvr/watch the presidential debate together. and make lots of comments about it. Does anyone else think the news is fun? I am so into it.
• Today there's a high of -1 degree. That's the high. I will be wearing a scarf and stocking cap in my house. Forget washing my hair.
• Today for lunch I am having green chicken chili. I definitely know that. 

We love love love this chili! I had almost finished my bowl pictured here, so it looks pretty thin, but it's actually really hearty. You will find me eating this for lunch or a snack several times a week. I make a pot whenever I can, which is every time I make a batch of broth.

(the weekly process: roast a chicken, make chicken broth from the leftovers, make chicken chili with the broth, repeat.) 

It's hot and simple and deliciously spicy. Spicy in a chilies kind of way, not a hot sauce way. It suits winter perfectly, and I like that it makes my nose run. We love it with sprouted lentils (method explained next post), which is sort of weird for a chili, but you can use beans if you prefer. Lentils make a nice texture I think, and they have such a mild flavor that the chilies really shine. 

Green Chicken Chili

adapted from health, home, and happiness

2 T. olive oil

1/2 onion, chopped (yellow or red)

2-4 anaheim or poblano chilies, or a mix (more is better. these aren't hot.)

1-2 jalapeño peppers 

1 T. sea salt

1 tsp. cumin

3 cloves garlic

8-10 cups homemade chicken broth* (I just pour in enough to fill my pot 3/4 full)

1/2 of a 1 lb. bag of dry beans or lentils, soaked 

3 chicken breasts (I pop mine in the pot still frozen)

Heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onions and chilies when the oil is hot, and cook for a few minutes until the onion is tender. Add the salt, cumin, and garlic and stir for a minute more. Pour in the broth, cover, and bring to a boil. Add lentils (or beans) and chicken breasts when it's boiling, turn the heat to low, and let simmer 40 minutes. Snatch chicken breasts out, shred, and return to the pot. Ladle into bowls and enjoy while it's steamy. (It's even good room temperature, too.)

I like to split and scoop an avocado as I eat mine. Be sure to add some cilantro or monterey jack cheese for topping if you like. And I always pour in sour cream, yogurt, or kefir (my favorite) to make it extra creamy and tangy.

Yep, it's going to look sort of foggy green like pea soup. Just embrace it. Dig in and you will love. 

*If you need a good recipe, here's the post that I read before I started making my own broth. I find that I love the taste of the broth just plain, so I don't even add any veggies to mine! Super easy.