I was drawn into reading an article titled: "The unexpected ingredient Ina Garten adds to her chili." You may remember Ina Garten from the Food Network's old days. She had a show on every afternoon and I watched it enthusiastically. She may still have a show, but I have no idea what day or time it's on since the Food Network has become the Food Contest Network. Almost nothing but people cooking to win a set of judges opinion as to who was best.
So the title got me to thinking about having chili for dinner tonight, it's certainly chilly enough here this morning. But what could her unexpected ingredient be? Chili ingredients are pretty much standard. Well it turns out her chili is nothing like chili in my world. It does not have beans but does have chicken instead of beef. It's sort of like a chicken tortilla soup, the story said. They should have stopped right there. If it's soup, it's soup, not chili.
Not chili. She uses skin on, bone-in chicken breasts. No beans, but bell peppers and onions. Her seasonings are pretty standard, though. Garlic, chili powder, cumin etc.
But her secret is basil! She uses an entire cup of minced basil for her chili. Frankly, she lost me here. Basil is wonderful, I use it any number of things, but that herb is very strong and will over power most things.
You don't have to add beans to your chili if they bother you, but please, don't be adding a cup of basil. Or chicken breasts with skin on.
I am going to make chili tonight, it sounds good, something we haven't had in months. We're both tired of the Covid 19 dinner rotation so off I'm going to get some cumin, the only thing I don't have in the spice cabinet.
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