Bad Luck and Slow Cooker Green Chile

January 27, 2016

 

 

Hi Readers,

It’s been a helluva week. There were some good parts–a win for the Broncos (yeesh, what a nail-biter!) but there was also some assholery afoot. Just a few days after I tripped over Mozzy in the middle of the night and whacked my head on a bookcase (mild concussion) I took another hard tumble courtesy of stray computer/electrical cords and ended up in the ER with some very bruised ribs.

I have never bruised my ribs before, so I had no idea how absolutely excruci-fucky-ating that injury is. I am on serious pain meds and they’re barely making a dent. The most mundane things like turning the wheel of a car or getting out of a chair or breathing, for Chrissakes, send bolts of hideous pain screeching through my body. And if that’s not bad enough, I got the sorry news that a) there’s really nothing they can do for you if you injure your ribs and b) the recovery period is long.

I’m feeling quite sorry for myself.

*strange segue but stay with me*

Did you watch the cartoon The Flintstones when you were a kid? I did, although I favored the Jetsons or Josie and the Pussycats, personally.

What amused me about the Flintstones was that my Daddy-o was a dead ringer for Fred. At least in my child-like mind. Adults always remarked that Daddy looked like Jack Lemmon, but I was too little to know or to care about who that was, so for me, Fred was Dad’s doppelganger. I thought that was pretty cool. Who else has a parent with a cartoon twin?

My favorite Flintstones character, though, was Shleprock. Do you remember him? He was the little caveman who walked around with a stormy raincloud over his head at all times, and people were never excited to see him because he was the unluckiest shlep in BedRock and the bad luck seemed to rub off on whoever crossed his path.

“Oh no, it’s Shleprock!” they’d groan, rolling their eyes and preparing for doom.

That always tickled my funny bone, but given the recent turn of events, maybe that’s not so funny.

Because clearly, I grew up to be Shleprock.

Not cool, universe. Not cool.

So, while I wait the long-ass time it’s going to take to recover, I’m going to share a recipe from the archives. It’s a recipe that’s just in time for a place at your Super Bowl party table, and best of all, you can make it a day or two ahead in the slow cooker and it’ll just get better and better. Plus, it’s delicious and pretty healthy.

A healthy choice at a Super Bowl party is a pretty good idea, because statistically, the Super Bowl is America’s #2 Overeating Holiday (Thanksgiving is first, naturally). If you eat a bowl of this, maybe you won’t feel so guilty about hoovering in that queso dip or those wings?

Okay, you’ll probably still feel a little guilty, but live a little. Just eat your chile, too.

 

 

 

 

Old-Fashioned Colorado Green Chile

serves 8

recipe slightly adapted from Anita Edge

2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, trimmed of extra fat and cut into bite-sized pieces

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1/4 teaspoon pepper

3 tablespoons flour

2 cups diced fresh tomatoes (or one 14-ounce can), seeded if desired

1 can chicken broth (14 ounces)

1 cup water

2 1/2 cups diced, roasted green chiles (about 20) seeded and skinned

2 cups diced onion

salt and pepper to taste

1 (14-oz) can white or pinto beans, drained and rinsed (optional)

juice from one lime

Garnishes:

tortilla chips, cubes of avocado, shredded cheese, sliced green or red onion, chopped jalapenos, sliced black olives, sour cream, lime wedges

Brown chicken thighs, garlic and pepper in a large skillet. Add flour; stir and cook 2 more minutes. Place all ingredients except beans in a crock pot and cook on low 2 to 3 hours. If desired, stir in beans half an hour before serving and warm through. Add lime juice, stir, taste for seasoning and serve with garnishes.

 

{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }

elizabeth January 27, 2016 at 9:53 am

Oh man, I slipped on the stage steps one morning a couple of weeks ago when I was headed to the kitchen to make tea, and I completely wiped out and fell smack on my bum. There was a bruise the size of Brazil on it for a while, but one thing about lifting heavy weights is that it’s given me some much-needed padding down there, :)

At my old job one girl on our team was always called “Womp-womp” because she would be a bit of a Debbie Downer–she took the distinction in stride and would make fun of herself (and we’d all call ourselves womp-womp when we would be the same) and it ended up becoming a recurring joke.

Reply

Dana Talusani January 28, 2016 at 11:46 am

Elizabeth,

Must remember “womp-womp.” I like it. Sorry about your bruised butt! I am sporting the same bruise on my derriere, courtesy of the concussion. I hit my head on the bookcase and landed on my butt. It’s special.

Reply

Arnebya January 27, 2016 at 1:52 pm

I fell in the snow the other day and bruised my tailbone. A car honked at me but didn’t stop. Assholes. I loved Shleprock (but then, I love Eeyore too). Feel better soon. I might try this recipe. The chicken marsala bowls are on tap for Friday night.

Reply

Dana Talusani January 28, 2016 at 11:44 am

Arnebya,

We are soul sisters–I love Eeyore, too. And I am a frequent-flyer in the bruised tailbone club. It’s not a fun club. If you do try the chile, use a mild one like Anaheim or you’ll blow your head off. Add a couple of poblano peppers to the mix if you like a little heat. Hope your butt is better soon!

Reply

Ginger cin Rodgers January 27, 2016 at 3:22 pm

I have been making green Chile for gatherings for a while now and I use lean pork instead of chix. Men seem to love the taste and texture better than chicken as that can get stringy. I also love a bit of cheese and avacado on top!

Reply

Annie January 27, 2016 at 6:27 pm

This looks like a bowl of pure comfort! I assume the chiles are on the mild side given the quantity. Would you suggest something like an Anaheim or mild Hatch? I love using boneless chicken thighs- so much flavor and easy to chop up. I will give this a try soon.

Hope the ribs are healing and stop hurting soon. That sucks big time!

Reply

Dana Talusani January 28, 2016 at 11:42 am

Annie,

Good question! I like things spicy, so I use half mild Hatch and half medium Hatch. If you can’t get Hatch chiles, I’d do Anaheim and maybe throw in a couple of poblanos if you like heat.

Reply

Sherri February 1, 2016 at 8:20 am

Schleprock… Wowzy wowzy woo woo. Me too – I have some sort of bullseye on my back. Sorry about the ribs. I bruised mine way way back in my gymnastics days. I remember not being able to sleep. Hope they get better!

Reply

Tiffany February 19, 2016 at 2:18 pm

I’m so sorry you were hurt! Bruised ribs are awful because you HAVE to use them! Xoxo

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