What's for dinner??

Hello fellow food lovers!

The dreaded question that comes nightly - "What's for dinner mom?" In an effort to be more excited about how I answer that question, I have decided to start a blog showcasing a new recipe that I make for dinner each week! There may be successes, there may be failures, but it's all in the name of variety! I find myself getting stuck in the rut of rotating the same 10 meals all the time and I think that this will help get me out :) Please try these recipes and give lots of commentary and "feed"back! I would also love ideas for new recipes, so you can email me or post in the comments any recipe successes you've had. With no further ado, I'm kicking this week off with . . . "New World Chili" from Roxanne Chan and makes 6 servings. I will admit I am kind of cheating because this is a recipe that my sister has made that I already knew would be DELICIOUS. BUT this was the first time I've tried it. It's sooooo yummy and so easy! Here it is:

New World Chili
1 lb chicken (cooked and shredded)
1 28oz. can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 15oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 8oz can tomato sauce
1 cup butternut squash
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup frozen corn
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1 jalepeno pepper, seeded and chopped
1 Tbsp. chili powder
1 clove garlic, minced

more chicken broth
2 cups fresh spinach
1 cup shredded monterey jack cheese

Combine all ingredients except the chicken, and the last 3 items, into a crockpot. Cook 4-6 hours. Add in the chicken at the end. Add more chicken broth if the soup is too thick. Dish into bowls and top with shredded spinach and cheese.

**Notes: My sister found cutting a butternut squash to be pretty labor-intensive, until she discovered pre-cubed butternut squash in a bag in the veggie section of walmart! Brilliant. Also, she says it's yummy if you use the fresh jalepeno, but if you don't want the hassle, just use 1/2 of a small can of green chilis instead.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this soup! Make some cornbread on the side and prepare to be amazed!