What's For Dinner?

Tonight, it’s things that start with the letters ‘CH’. (Actually, that was just a coincidence.)

We begin with Chicken Chili. I know, I know, chili is a beef dish. I think it may be illegal in parts of Texas to cook it any other way. However, it’s really quite good, and quite a bit better for you.

I use two or three bone-in, skin-on, salted and peppered chicken breasts drizzled with olive oil. I roast them in the oven for 25-30 minutes at 425, let them rest, remove the skin, and shred the meat off the bone.

While the chickens rests, get the pot ready. I use my standard chili recipe - a big can of crushed tomatoes, a normal can of hot chili beans, goodly amounts of chili powder and cumin, and moderate to goodly amounts of red pepper and chipotle chile pepper. I start this simmering in a dutch oven while I shred the chicken. Add the chicken to the simmering pot of goodness, simmer until you absolutely can’t wait any more, and enjoy. Serve with cheese, sour cream and crackers (to completely counter the healthy effects of the chicken).


For dessert, Chocolate Chip pie. It’s really easy. (A little TOO easy, if you know what I mean.)

You will need:

One stick of butter at room temp
One cup of sugar
Two eggs
One teaspoon vanilla
One cup of flour
One 12-oz bag of chocolate chips
One 10-inch pie shell, or one 9-inch deep dish pie shell

Cream the butter and sugar until fluffy, add in the eggs and vanilla until well mixed, and add the flour. When all of that is good and combined, add the chips. Pour into the pie shell and bake on a cookie sheet at 325 for 50-60 minutes (it’s done when it’s set across the top and turning brown).

Let cool slightly. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream, or whipped cream, and live the dream.

This pie always reminds me of Jennifer K. She gave me the recipe way back in the day when she was my boss. I think her sister found it in some church cookbook. We both went nuts over this pie. It was during the ‘96 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta. Most of my memories of those games involve the pie. Mohammed Ali lit the torch while I ate pie. Kerri Strug vaulted through the pain while I ate pie. I think I just sat down with a big bowl of the batter during some of the swimming events. I made it like four times during those games. Everyone I’ve ever shared it with since says the same thing – “I made it all the time for about a month!” Then it just drops back into the regular dessert rotation. Good stuff.