THE VILLAGE VOICE

WHITE CHILI 6 plump boneless chicken breast halves (poached gently about 15 minutes in chicken stock) 2 pounds navy bean (or Great Northern) ~ sorted, rinsed and soaked overnight 3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil 2 large chopped onions 6 cloves chopped garlic 4 chopped celery ribs (including leaves) 1 chopped green bell pepper 3 (4.5 ounce) cans green chiles 4 quarts organic chicken broth 4 Tbsp. cumin 3 Tbsp. oregano 3 Tbsp. chopped cilantro 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper fresh ground black pepper & salt to taste juice of 3 fresh limes Topping: shredded Colby-Jack, sour cream, salsa and chopped cilantro Saute onions, celery, bell pepper and garlic in olive oil about 10 minutes. Stir in chilies, cumin, oregano, cayenne, and cracked pepper and saute 2 minutes. Add chicken stock and bring to boil. Drain and rinse beans. Add to stock and simmer until beans are tender, stirring occasionally, about 2 hours. Add cilantro and lime juice and adjust seasonings. Add chopped or shredded...

~ Jason's Birdhouse ___________________ MILANESE MINESTRONE " Imagine 500 friars eating 500 plates of steaming minestrone every night-that's pollution. ” ~ Gisberto Martelli 3 pounds sliced sweet Italian sausage 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 2 large chopped Spanish onions 4 cloves minced garlic 1 head shredded cabbage 8 large diagonally sliced carrots 3 cubed potatoes 1 large coarsely chopped green pepper 1 large coarsely chopped red pepper 3 diced zucchini 1/2 pound diagonally sliced green beans 3 quarts organic chicken broth 2 (28-oz) cans seasoned Italian tomatoes freshly ground black pepper 1 heaping Tbsp. basil 1 heaping Tbsp. oregano 1 (32-oz) jar spaghetti sauce 2 (28-oz) cans cannellini or garbanzo beans 1 cup Arborio rice 1 (10-oz) package chopped spinach or equivalent fresh 1 cup Parmesan cheese Brown sausages in large stockpot. Drain grease. Add olive oil to pan and saute onion until soft. Add garlic and cabbage. Saute until cabbage is limp. Carefully...

"Imagine, if you can, what the rest of the evening was like. How they crouched by the fire which blazed and leaped and made much of itself in the little grate. How they removed the covers of the dishes, and found rich, hot savory soup, which was a meal in itself, and sandwiches and toast and muffings enough for both of them." ~ Frances Hodgson Burnett ____________ BRANDIED BEAN and SAUSAGE CHOWDER 2 pounds special bean soup mix (e.g. '16' bean assortment --- with large lima , navy, red kidney, baby lima , great northern, speckled lima , black, pinto, cranbery , pink, and black-eyes peas, green and yellow split peas, lentils, etc. ) 3 pounds bulk Italian sausage (one plain, one hot or spicy and one fennel ) 3 quarts organic chicken broth 1 large chopped Spanish onion 3 large chopped garlic cloves 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley 1 large chopped green pepper 1 large chopped red pepper 1 pound peeled and diagonally sliced carrots 1 can (28-ounce) Italian style dice...