Get Cooking©

Special Offer! Get Cooking by Lynn Lilja

There are certain things a cook needs in his or her kitchen. Essential ingredients for busy-day meals. Trusted tools that save time and money. Your list may be different, but here’s a list of five things a kitchen needs. (Get Cooking contains my entire list of 20 Things A Kitchen Needs)

1. A large saucepan (one handle) with fitted lid without a nonstick surface. Use for mashing potatoes or making a great batch of Calico Chili (recipe below).
2. A good quality microwave large enough for a four-quart casserole. Some features that save time are the auto-vegetable setting—either fresh or frozen—and the automatic baked potato setting. On a busy afternoon, bake up a few potatoes in the microwave, let them cool slightly, and grate or rough chop for quick hash browns or fried potatoes.
3. The best knives you can afford. A French knife is the most used knife in my kitchen. I keep a paring knife close at hand as well as a serrated bread knife.
4. Cookbooks. There’s a saying, “Cooks learn from books.” I did. One I often use is The Joy of Cooking Cookbook. It is more than just a collection of recipes. There are directions for every aspect of cooking.
5. The most important thing in the kitchen is YOU. Your kitchen may look pretty and be well-stocked, but without you, it’s only a storage room. Please go into the kitchen, open a cookbook, and Get Cooking!

Calico Chili

1 pound chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch chunks, Or 1 pound ground turkey

2 stalks celery, sliced or chopped

1 red bell pepper, chopped 

1/2 cup chopped onion (I prefer green onions)

2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced

1 15-ounce can black beans, undrained

1 15-ounce can red kidney beans, undrained

1 15-ounce can chickpeas, drained

Chili powder to taste (1 teaspoon to 2 tablespoons)

Salt and pepper to taste

1/4 cup honey

Place chicken or turkey in a large saucepan or Dutch oven.  Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon to 2 tablespoons chili powder.  Cook and stir over medium heat until light pink.  Add celery, bell pepper, onion, and garlic.  Cook until meat is fully cooked, and vegetables are crisp tender.  Add black beans, kidney beans, and chickpeas.  Continue to cook on medium heat for 10 to 15 minutes.  Add salt and pepper and additional chili powder to taste.  Stir in honey just before serving.  

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