Wheat Berry Chili

We were looking for a recipe to use up veggies in the fridge, and this turned out to be a great one! It comes from http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/zesty_wheat_berry_black_bean_chili.html.

6 servings, about 1 1/2 cups each

Active Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 large yellow onion, chopped
• 1 large yellow bell pepper, chopped
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 2 15-ounce cans black beans, rinsed
• 2 14-ounce cans no-salt-added diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1-2 canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, minced (see Tip)
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 2 teaspoons light brown sugar
• 2 cups Cooked Wheat Berries, (recipe follows)
• Juice of 1 lime
• 1 avocado, diced
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Preparation

1. Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell pepper, garlic, chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 5 minutes. Add beans, tomatoes, chipotle to taste, broth and brown sugar. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 25 minutes.
2. Stir in cooked wheat berries and heat through, about 5 minutes more. (If using frozen wheat berries, cook until thoroughly heated.) Remove from the heat. Stir in lime juice. Garnish each bowl with avocado and cilantro.

Tips & Notes

• Tip: Canned chipotle peppers (smoked jalapeños) in adobo sauce add heat and a smoky flavor. Look for the small cans with other Mexican foods in large supermarkets. Once opened, store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator or 6 months in the freezer.

Nutrition

Per serving: 386 calories; 11 g fat (1 g sat, 7 g mono); 61 g carbohydrates; 14 g protein; 15 g fiber; 703 mg sodium; 311 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin C (130% daily value), Fiber (72% dv), Folate (48% dv), Iron & Vitamin A (25% dv).

3 Carbohydrate Serving

Exchanges: 3 starch, 1 vegetable, 1 very-lean meat, 2 fat

Valentine's Day Song 2011

Remember how Andrew writes me an AMAZING V-Day song every year?  This year, he somehow did it again.  He recorded it (with cousin Ben, as always) while we were in SLC over Christmas without me even knowing.  

Here's a little background on this song: about a year and a half ago, Andrew recorded himself on my phone singing (really well), "Ariel, I looooooove  you!  Woah, yeah!"  I loved it, and used it as my ringtone until I got a new phone in January.  The thing I disliked most about my new phone was that it didn't have my favorite ringtone.  I'm grateful that Andrew took care of that problem by immortalizing it in this awesome song!  You can hear it by clicking on the song, "Phones Tones" on the sidebar. The entire song is Andrew's voice, drums, bass, trumpet, the works.  You can also hear the songs from past years (except 2007, it's not in the right format) on the sidebar as well.  You can read about 2010 (and watch our music video), 2009 and 2008 on the blog as well.

For my gift to Andrew, I gave him a jar full of 365 things I love about him written on tiny paper scrolls so he can enjoy the little notes until next Valentine's Day.  It's hard competing with professional songs every year.  He liked these two recent love notes: "You make great toast" and "You laugh when you're in physical pain." We are lovers of loving love.

One other funny Valentine's Day story. After a long day of work at home and work at work, Andrew and I were ready for a V-day Party. Andrew went to Giant (the supermarket) to buy me some flowers. I went to Giant to get some brownie mix and other party materials. Neither of us told the other about our intentions, but I ended up right behind him in line! It took me three bumps in the buns with my grocery cart before he finally turned around to see who it was. It made both our days. And we had a great Valentine's Day Party: puzzles, veggie burgers, and M&Ms. It was great.

Flowers from Andrew and my jar full of love notes.

February and the Tech Cleanse Report

The tech cleanse was great.  I loved not having movie nights as an option.  We read a few more books, had a few more parties, did a little more service, and spent a little more time with family and friends over the course of the month. Andrew will probably follow-up with more on this. I did miss checking out all of your blogs, but don't worry, I've been catching up.  And things sure kept happening around the world without our checking up on it.  We were grateful for those who filled us in occasionally with news updates

Now I'll tell you about this last month!  One of the great things about living in DC is that although December and January are very cold, it's already starting to get warm by February!  We had a couple really warm park days, and now at the beginning of March, I'm quite confident we've seen the last of the snow until the winter (snow doesn't really come in the fall here either).  It's fun getting out in the off season and having the tourist destinations all to ourselves!

I'm sorry, these are in backwards order.  And we take too many pictures of some things and then forget to take our camera on other fun adventures, so there's nothing about our awesome Valentine's Day party, V-day date, and lots of other fun stuff.  

We were lucky enough to see Mr. Boye himself here at the DC visitor's center.  He did a great job, it was a very fun, inspirational concert.  And of course, you all know that he and Andrew are old chums, right?  He played Jim with Andrew as Huck in Big River 2003 at Hale. 

  Andrew & the Elder's Quorum in the CP ward threw a way fun International Night.  Our ward is known for being really international.  This picture was taken just as the party was getting started, and you can't quite get a feel for the energy and fun music.  Just take my word for it.  Way more people came than expected, and lots of people brought food that didn't sign up!  How often does that happen?  We were glad to represent Spain and Portugal.

 For President's Day we headed over to Old Town Alexandria.  It was a great choice.  It was not very crowded, and everything was free!  This is Christ Church where President Washington attended (we got to sit in his pew).

Did you know that Old Town Alexandria has the BIGGEST George Washington Birthday Parade?  Neither did we!  But we were sure glad we ran into it!  It was pretty impressive, all things considered.  Abe couldn't get over the fact that people would just walk up to him and hand him candy.  He also liked the "little cars that went BAM BAM!"

 Benjamin looked the wrong way most of the parade; he was more interested in the yellow balloon behind us.

The apothecary was pretty awesome.  Everything was essentially left just the way it was when it was in use (I thought of you, Megan).

 The contents of the jars have not been changed.

 Look!  Our whole family eating sandwiches in Old Town. Thanks, Linds!

 A cannon for a Cannon.

 At the Friendship Firehouse in Old Town.

 Why are we so happy?  Because my dad was visiting!

 A little Valentine photo-op.

 Craigs.

 The end of our visit to Mt. Vernon.

 Abe playing with a mini-Mt. Vernon in the kid's area.

 Looking over the Potomac on George's back porch.

 This way cool misty tree has been there since George Washington has.

Abraham tending to Babba's business while Babba snoozes on the floor.

 A local bird of prey.

We went to the top of the Washington Monument for the first time since we've been here.

 Still beautiful in the dead of winter!

 

 

 

 

See the DC temple in the background?
Well, I'm not sure what to say now that we've ended at the beginning.  Chances are you got lost somewhere in Old Town anyway, but if you happened to make it this far, well done!