White Bean Chicken Chili

Inspired by my favorite chili from Mezza Mediterranean Grill

During the Whole Life Challenge I made a LOT of chili, which can be a pretty versatile and filling meal if you're open to changing up the flavor palette. Mezza has this amazing white bean chicken chili that I eat at least once every two weeks for lunch. During the Whole Life Challenge, I had to ask the business for the ingredients list to know if I could eat it or not. Since it has a chicken stock base and uses canned ingredients preserved in citric acid or other WLC non-approved ingredients, I wasn't allowed to eat it. And, since I'm not into making my own chicken stock, I couldn't make it during the challenge either. If you want to be WLC compliant, you can make this with your own stock, use fresh ingredients instead of cans and ditch the corn starch. It's definitely possible. I'm not going to link you to any substitute resources, because I don't care enough. Google it.

Since they gave me the ingredients list, just not the proportions, I got to work as soon as the challenge ended. Believe it or not, I was able to find all the ingredients I needed at Aldi. While it didn't turn out identical to my Mezza favorite, it was a damn good and a recipe I'll likely be playing around a lot with in the future. Here it is:

Ingredients

• 2 cans of great northern beans, 1 with liquid
• 4oz can green chiles with juice
• 2 jalepenos, diced, with as many seeds as you desire for spice level–I used all the seeds and it had a nice kick
• 12oz jar roasted poblano peppers, drained
• 2 medium yellow onions, diced
• 6c shredded chicken
• 3.5c chicken stock
• 2T corn starch
• 1T black pepper
• 1t sea salt (or to taste)
• 1T cumin
• 1/2T chili powder

Instructions

• Combine all ingredients in large crock pot and cook on low for 6-8 hours

Whole Life Challenge Day 31

Monday, October 7th

1) What did you consume?

A banana, meatloaf, 2.5 Larabars (fail), an apple, a handful of almonds and chili with some avocado.

I made some good free form chili in desperation to make a meal out of what was in my sparce kitchen without having to shop. It goes like this:

Berka's Hobo Chili of Desperation

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 package spicy chicken sausage from Trader Joes
• 1 can Cuban style black beans w/ liquid (regular black beans would probably be the same)
• 1 can pinto beans, drained
• 1/2 lb bacon
• 1 large yellow onion
• 1 red pepper
• 1 normal sized can tomato sauce
• 1 can tomato paste
• 1 can diced tomatoes, with liquid
• 3 T chili powder
• 1 T garlic powder
• 1 T cumin
• 2-3 cloves crushed garlic 
• 1 t pumpkin pie spice
• 1 T black pepper
• 1 t sea salt

1. Cook ground beef in crushed garlic and separately cook bacon, drain both
2. Chop bacon, slice chicken sausage
3. Combine all meats, diced red pepper and diced yellow onion and cook for about 10 minutes until onions are translucent 
4. Add everything else 
5. Simmer for at least 2 hours over low heat

2) Were you active and what did you do?

It's the start of a crazy work week with a huge amount of deadlines rapidly approaching. As a result, I didn't leave the office until 8PM and over indulged on the aforementioned Larabars. It was the Larabars or my left arm.

I didn't make it to CrossFit, but I walked briskly during my commute (no I didn't) and stood on the train both ways--active rest, people! (that's a lie too).

3) Did you complete the lifestyle challenge?

Yep, this blog is coming out late because I didn't have time to even format and hit the send button at work. But here it is. Mission accomplished.

4) Did you cheat/lie?

Yes, I refuse to dock a workout point, so I'm counting the commute walk.

Also, I had 6 autumn Jelly Bellies. One of each seasonal flavor. Had to. Not negotiable. Did you know you're missing out on pumpkin pie and caramel apple Jellie Bellies? I didn't either. You're welcome. Now aren't you glad I cheated?

5) How do you feel?

Still emotionally borderline, despite feeling a bit better lately. The drain on time and energy really takes a perpetual toll.

Cumulative Deductions: 13

Whole Life Challenge Day 3

Monday, September 9th

1) What did you consume?

Photo, Robb Wolf - Swear I didn't use
sour cream. Stop judging me.

Cashews. A Larabar, also with cashews. Some chili from a Robb Wolfe recipe. More cashews. And some more cashews (see a trend?). A delicious chicken kabob with mixed greens and a black bean salad from Bountiful Eatery (Thanks for the tip, Stachel). Also, another Larabar and fish oil.

2) Were you active and what did you do?

A terrible couplet workout with wallballs and toes-to-bar – My two worst movements ever, probably. A hippopautamus on the bar would have beat me. Also, 5 x 3 back squats way lighter than I wanted to because I'm having hip mobility issues. Not a great way to get back into the swing

3) Did you complete your lifestyle objective and how did it feel?

Total ounces of water (3 days): ~210
Trips to the bathroom: ~200,004

Water: 3, Christy: 0

4) Did you cheat/lie?

Nope!

5) How do you feel?

Like this:

I know I'm eating too many nuts as filler but I'm just so hungry. I felt guilty for eating that last Larabar before bed, but I gave into my growling stomach/sweet tooth. Will need to just make the decision to starve myself out and kick the habit. I also feel grateful for the community of people joining me in this Hell...er...challenge. I needed an ASAP restaurant recommendation for dinner with a friend and the group came through when I sounded on Facebook with some good recommendations quickly.