Tag Archives: beans

Wendy’s Chili

Posted in Soups & Chilis by

Whether or not this is authentic, it’s become my favorite chili, and the one I make over and over. I found the recipe years ago on a site that purportedly had the recipes for favorite restaurant dishes. Like I said, I’m not sure it’s the real thing, but it works for me every time.

Makes about 12 servings

1 Tbsp. olive oil
2 lbs. ground (minced) turkey, lean if possible
14.5-oz. can tomato puree
14.5-oz. container tomato passata, like Pomi
29-oz. can kidney beans (with liquid)
29-oz. can pinto beans (with liquid)
1 medium onion, diced
1/2 cup diced green chili (or try 1/3 cup chopped jalapenos)
2-3 stalks celery, diced
3 medium tomatoes, chopped
2 tsp. cumin powder
3 Tbsp. mild chili powder
1 1/2 tsp. black pepper
2 tsp. salt
2 cups water

Heat the oil and brown the ground turkey in a pan over medium heat.

As the turkey browns, put the remaining ingredients in a pot. Begin heating the pot to a simmer.

When the turkey is browned, drain off the fat and add the meat to the pot.

Cook, stirring every 15 minutes, for 2-3 hours.

Yellow Squash Minestrone

Posted in Pasta & Rice Dishes, Soups & Chilis by

When we lived in London, we had a wonderful selection of fresh produce from all across Europe and Africa, but one thing I always missed was the yellow squash we have here in the South. Zucchini (or courgettes, as they are known in the UK) was a substitute, but I still missed the squash, which I have loved since I was little.

Now that we’re back, I’m buying it whenever I can. The other day, I came upon a farm stand selling yellow squash grown in Lawrenceville, just outside Atlanta. I bought a punnet and can’t wait to use it.

I also made this recipe, which I think is a great soup for spring. It’s another one that I’d never tried, despite it being in my cookbook for years. And now that we’re back in the beautiful South, I was finally able to make it — and it turned out great.

Makes 6 servings

1 1/4 cups chicken broth
1 medium onion, diced
2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
1 green pepper, seeded and diced
1 1/2 cups small pasta, like ditalini or stellini
2 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. dried thyme
3 medium to large yellow squash, diced
1 28-oz. can whole peeled tomatoes, undrained but chopped
4 to 6 cups vegetable broth or water
1 15-oz. can white beans, like Great Northern, drained
Salt and pepper to taste

Heat the chicken broth in a stock pot and add the onion, simmering until soft, about 5 minutes.

Add the carrots, green pepper, pasta, herbs, squash, tomatoes, vegetable stock, and beans; simmer, covered, for 15 to 20 minutes. Add enough stock or water to the pot to make the mixture as soupy or as thick as you like. Add salt and pepper to taste and serve.

Melissa’s Black Bean Salad

Posted in Salads & Dressings by

I just came up with this recipe after testing two others that had been in my cookbook for years — and deciding I liked neither. What I wanted was a black bean salad that focused on the beans, with a little bit of of crunch and a lot of flavor, so I just mixed together the things I liked and wound up with a winner. I should have done it that way all along.

The flavor is a bit Tex-Mex (I seem to be on a southwestern kick lately). Adjust the chili powder to your liking — I accidentally made mine hotter than I intended, but I love it, and that’s the amount represented here. You can also add whatever other ingredients you like to make it your own — onion, chopped chicken, grated cheese, tortilla chips, or lettuce would all be very nice.

Serves 2 (easy to double)

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 tomato, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1 1/2 red peppers, chopped
About 10 sprigs of cilantro (fresh coriander), finely chopped
1 tsp. grated lime zest
Olive oil
Lime juice
2/3 avocado, peeled and chopped
1/4 tsp. ground cumin
1/4 tsp. chili powder or cayenne pepper
Black pepper
Salt

Mix all ingredients together and enjoy!

Santa Fe Chicken Salad

Posted in Leftover Ideas, Poultry, Salads & Dressings by

This southwestern chicken salad won my cook-off at home last night. It looks and tastes like a main-dish salad at a restaurant — big, delicious, with bite-size pieces and plenty of crunch. The recipe calls for cooked chicken, which makes this a great way to use up leftovers. If you don’t have leftovers to use, I recommend placing some chicken pieces in boiling water until cooked through, then chopping or shredding it as desired.

Serves 4-5 as main dish

6 cups Romaine lettuce, torn in pieces
4 oz. corn tortilla chips, crushed by hand, with a few whole chips saved for garnish
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
3 Tbsp. chili sauce (use a thick opaque one — I like Nando’s Hot Peri-Peri Sauce)
1 tsp. hot pepper sauce, like Tabasco
2 cups chopped or shredded chicken meat (from roughly 4 chicken breast halves)
5 green onions, chopped
1 can red kidney beans, rinsed and rained
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 avocado, peeled and sliced into thin wedges, then halved
2 tomatoes, cut into think wedges, then halved

Line plates or pasta bowls with lettuce, then top with chips. In small bowl, combine olive oil, vinegar, chili sauce and hot pepper sauce. Pour into larger mixing bowl and combine with the rest of the ingredients, tossing to make sure everything is coated. Place the mixture on top of the chips and Romaine, then garnish with a few whole chips.

For best presentation, pull out some tomato or avocado pieces from the mixture and lay them on top.

Edamame Bean Salad

Posted in Salads & Dressings by

This is a colorful bean salad with an Asian twist. It’s also easy to double.

Makes 2 servings

1 cup cooked edamame beans
1/2 cup diced cucumber
1/2 cup diced white cabbage
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
1/2 small red onion, diced
1/2 cup bean sprouts, halved if they’re long
1 scallion, chopped
1 tsp. sesame seeds 
2-3 Tbsp. rice vinegar 
2-3 Tbsp. canola oil
Salt and white pepper

Toss the vegetables in a bowl, then add the dressing and season. Chill before serving.