Are you ready for some football?

The Patriots are in the playoffs, and all is good in the world.  For now at least.  We're having friends over for the game, so of course we need some food!  I decided there's no better way to celebrate this joyous occasion than with some turkey chili. 

I am a big fan not only of the Patriots, but also of my crockpot.  I browned my ground turkey in a pan, rinsed it to get all the fat off, and threw in my crockpot.  I added a can of diced tomatoes with jalapenos, a can of kidney beans, a can of cannelli beans, a chili seasoning packet, a large chopped green pepper, and a large chopped red pepper, a medium chopped onion, and for today's occasion some corn.  Let it marinate in the crockpot on low for 4-6 hours.

What's chili without toppings??  I set out chopped red onion, shredded cheddar cheese (reduced fat of course), and some fat free sour cream. 

Want some extra heat?  Pick up a small habanero chili pepper, chop it, and throw it in!  Make sure to wash your hands after.  Trust me you don't want to accidentally touch your itchy eye after handling those hot peppers!

Oh, and in case you were wondering, the chili was the highlight of the night....the Patriots blew it.  I guess there's always next year.

Kale Soup...My grandmother would be so proud.

So I was sitting in the waiting room at the dentist office when I decided to pass the time looking through a magazine.  While I was flipping through the pages, I came across an article about a Portuguese woman and her amazing Kale soup.  My Cape Verdean grandmother (Mama) has been making Kale soup my whole life, but I've never made it.  I decided it's winter, it's cold, I'm always making soups and chilis, why not try this one out.  So I snap some pictures of the ingredients and the recipe with my phone, and proceed to get my teeth cleaned.

I attempted this soup a few weeks later, and brought some over to Mama's house for approval.  My family thought it was good, and so did my husband and I.  I've made it another time, and look forward to making and enjoying it many more times.  

I just want to mention again, this is not my original recipe, but one I found in a magazine.

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 garlic cloves

2 medium-size onions, chopped

Kale Soup cooking in the pot.
That linguica looks oh so good!

1 pound linguiça, sliced

4 cups chicken broth

1 pound fresh kale, de-stemed, cut into small pieces

1 can Campbell's “Bean with Bacon” soup plus 1 can water

2 large potatoes, peeled, cubed

Kosher or sea salt

Freshly ground black pepper

In a large soup pot over medium-high heat, add oil and cook garlic, onions, and linguiça slices until onions are soft. Add 4 cups chicken broth and kale. Cover, and let kale cook down, stirring occasionally.

Add “Bean with Bacon” soup and water; simmer about 5 minutes. Add cubed potatoes. Simmer, covered, 20–30 minutes longer, till potatoes are soft.  Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve hot with crusty bread.