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Friday Favorites – November 18th, 2017

Friday Favorites

Can you guys believe that the holiday season is here! Thanksgiving is just a few days away and my Christmas vacation begins in five weeks!  It’s going to be a busy, but fun few weeks! The title of today’s post may be Friday Favorites but I’ll be the first to admit that yes, it is Saturday. I’m still figuring out how to manage everything right now between a new job, an adorable five month old daughter, trying to squeeze in workouts and blogging. But, better late than never, right?  Since we don’t have too many things planned this weekend, I’m hoping to draft a few posts including a gift guide or two and some thoughts on my workouts these days.

Now, let’s dive into this week’s edition of Friday Favorites, including recipes, articles, posts and other things that caught my eye this week.

  • Even though I tend to be a minimalist when it comes to makeup, I’m loving this eye shadow pallete from Beautycounter. The set includes 18 rich but neutral colors as well as a double-ended brush and a removable mirror.  I layered three colors this morning for our family photo shoot and was surprised to see that seven hours later, my eye shadow still look perfect!
  • It’s been three weeks since I purchased the Revlon One-Step Volumizer hair dryer and I’m still head over heels. I’m amazed how quickly it allows me to blow dry and style my hair. Unlike other blow dryers, this styling tool leaves my hair frizz-free without any product or even a straightening iron. In addition, my hair goes from wet to fully-styled in around ten minutes! I love that after seeing my Instagram stories so many people have bought this blow dryer and emailed or commented letting me know how much they love it!
  • I couldn’t resist buying this adorable Santa suit for Katie when I saw that it was just $13! We had fun with the outfit during today’s photo shoot – styling Katie with Christmas lights, soft ornaments and a fuzzy blanket. I can’t wait to see the proofs!
  • This soft turtleneck is perfect for the cooler weather we are enjoying in New York City. Since buying it a few weeks ago, I’ve worn it for both casual and professional occasions. This week in Arkansas I dressed it up with a necklace and crepe pants for work and today I paired it with tall boots and skinny jean. The golden burgundy is a rich red, perfect for the holidays, while the gray is a classic favorite. Word to the wise, order a size down as mine are already a bit too loose on me since I’ve lost another pound or two of baby weight!
  • This sweatshirt summarizes my morning workout struggle perfectly! I can’t wait to wear it tomorrow, after I workout, for a cozy afternoon on the couch.
  • Last night I squeezed in a manicure and pedicure right after Katie went to sleep and that hour of relaxation was exactly what I needed. I decided to switch both my toes and fingers to a festive, holiday red – OPI Dutch Tulips. Since I tend to wear this vibrant pink-red polish non-stop during the holiday season I ordered a bottle so I can do touch-ups at home in between appointments.
  • If you live in the New York City area and are looking for a maternity, newborn or family photographer, Michelle Rose is amazing! We had our first family shoot with her today and I was amazed at her attention to detail, easy going style and ability to capture some amazing shots even when Katie was starting to get tired.
  • My favorite pajamas are on sale for less than $50! These cotton knit pajamas are soft and cozy though I wish they made them in more colors. I’ve had my pair for two years and they are still the first pair I reach for in my pajama drawer.
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Healthy White Chicken Chili Recipe

Filled with mushrooms, beans and ground chicken this healthy white chicken chili recipe has lots of flavor thanks to the cumin and cinnamon. While the chopping can take a bit of time, this recipe serves 12-14 people so you will have plenty to enjoy and freeze for later!

White Chicken Chili Recipe

Since I’m traveling for work this week, Bo and I wanted to make a large batch of chili today for he and my mom to enjoy this week. Since she is using her precious days off to come help out while I travel, the least we can do is have a healthy, delicious dinner. Since I posted pictures of this dish on Instagram, I’ve received multiple requests for the recipe. It is one of our favorite chili recipes and we’ve already made it twice this fall. I know that chili can be a fairly polarizing topic, particularly in places like Texas – should it have beans, what is the right cut of beef, should the beef be ground or in chunks, what are the types of chilies to use, how spicy should it be – this list could obviously go on forever and if any of you chili fundamentalists out there are reading, this might not be the recipe for you.

All that said, this is a recipe that uses no tomatoes, no cream, gives you a blast of flavor from the cumin and gets its thickness from the beans and just a bit of sauce thickener. It is garnished with scallions, a little sour cream and fresh cilantro which rounds out the freshness and really makes it sing. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

White Chicken Chili Ingredients

Ingredients (Makes 12 – 14 servings)

  • 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil
  • 1 pound (500 grams) dried white beans (navy beans)
  • 4 pounds (2 kg) of ground chicken
  • 6 – 8 cloves of garlic
  • Two medium size jalapeño peppers or to taste – also, if you want to add some additional complexity add other green peppers like Poblanos and Serrano
  • 2 large white onions finely diced
  • 1 pound (500 grams) white mushrooms sliced
  • 4 tablespoons of cumin or to taste
  • 1 tablespoon of oregano
  • 2 teaspoon of coriander
  • 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon of onion powder
  • A pinch of cinnamon
  • 2 to 3 cups of chicken stock
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • A touch of sauce thickening agent (arrow root, corn starch, Xanthan gum, etc.)
  • Any combination of sour cream, grated cheese, chopped scallions, white onions and/or fresh cilantro to garnish

1) Begin by placing the beans in a pot with enough water to cover them by at least 2 inches

2) Place the pot on high heat and bring to a boil, once the water is boiling, turn the heat on low and leave, uncovered for 2 – 3 hours

3) Meanwhile, place a large sauté pan on high heat, add about 1 tbsp. of oil and start cooking the chicken in batches. It is very important to season the chicken as you cook it. For all 4 pounds, use plenty of salt, fresh pepper, about half the cumin and coriander, and all the garlic and onion powder. The chicken should taste very well seasoned – if it doesn’t, add more salt and spices.

4) Once the beans have soaked up enough water – you’ll know because the water will be well below the level of the beans and they are firm yet edible, begin assembling the chili.

5) Place a large stock pot on the stove over medium heat, add the remainder of the oil and add the garlic and let sweat for a minute, add the peppers and let soften, add the onions and let sweat for a few minutes and then add the mushrooms (there is a school of thought here that the onions should be browned separately here but quite frankly, I don’t think it adds much flavor and it adds a ton of headache).

6) Once the mushrooms release their moisture (you’ll know as there will all of a sudden be a ton of steam coming from the pot), add the chicken, the beans, the stock, and the remainder of the spices and the oregano. Turn the heat on high, bring to a boil and then turn to low to simmer for 2 – 4 hours.

7) Taste and adjust the seasoning adding salt, pepper and cumin to your taste.

8) Serve with any combination of the garnishes.

Looking for a more traditional chili recipe? This healthy turkey chili recipe is delicious!

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Friday Favorites – November 10th, 2017

Happy Friday! How could I not begin this post with a picture from last weekend’s baptism celebration? It was such a special day for everyone involved! I hope you guys have had a great week. It has been a chaotic but wonderful one around here.  I returned to work, full-time, last week but due to Katie’s baptism and visiting family, only worked one day. This week, it was full steam ahead as I spent the week on conference calls and transitioning into my new role. I’m thrilled to report that things have gone far better than expected. Katie is thriving in the nanny share! She is nothing but smiles each morning and evening but the two children in the share with her provide such stimulation and engagement that she’s exhausted by the time we head upstairs for bath time and the final bottle of the day. I’m exhausted from a busy week and looking forward to a relaxed weekend which will hopefully include a few workouts and at least one bubble bath. I was randomly craving one tonight but, alas, prioritized cooking dinner and writing this post.

Now, let’s dive into this week’s edition of Friday Favorites, including recipes, articles, posts and other things that caught my eye this week.

  • I’m wearing this face mask right now and continue to be amazed by how bright and vibrant my face feels after using it! I do my best to apply it three times per week as I swear it leaves my face glowing after each use!
  • I love reading all the New York City Marathon race recaps. It was such an amazing day not only for my friends who trained and worked so hard to achieve their goals but also for the American elites! While I loved watching the highlights from Shalane’s win, Allie Kieffer’s story left me SO inspired! It’s crazy to think that she took 26 minutes off her marathon time and placed 5th in the marathon and IS NOT SPONSORED! I especially enjoyed reading her story in Runner’s World along with some of her great advice – “If there’s anything I could pass along to younger runners: Love yourself, eat healthy through your college years, and you’ll be stronger on the other side.” What a rock star!
  • My mom and I baked this pumpkin bread for Katie’s baptism brunch last weekend and were elated that three different guests asked us for the recipe! A simple, no-fail recipe this best ever pumpkin bread recipe lives up to it’s name!
  • This emerald green dress was perfect for Katie’s baptism celebration last weekend.  The ruffle sleeves provided a dose of fun while the long, knee length allowed it to be church appropriate. I love that Boden many of their dresses in three sizes – petite, regular and tall.
  • As soon as the weather cools down, I start to gravitate towards a richer, more vibrant lip color to help bring some brightness and warmth to my face. This lipstick is free of parabens and hydrates my lips for hours. The vibrant red hue is forgiving and the color is perfect for fall!
  • After wearing this cozy sweatshirt I fell so in love with it that I ordered it in a second color! The cowl neck and longer length make it universally flattering while the thumb holes and pocket are perfect for keeping my hands warm on chilly mornings. The fit is more slim than most of my sweatshirts which provides a more flattering and tailored look.
  • When I was on L.L. Bean’s website ordering a second sweatshirt, I saw a model wearing this camel poncho. After reading the reviews and seeing that it is less than $50, it quickly found its way into my shopping bag!  While I’ve never worn a poncho, I love the idea of pairing this with dark jeans, tall boots and a blouse or turtleneck. I’ve seen a number of these on other sites for 4-5x the price so I figured it was worth giving it a try!
  • I’m only half way through this Pulitzer Prize winning novel but find myself reaching for it each night before going to bed. This memoir not only tells the story of Katharine Graham but also of the Washington Post and the many events in American political history that took place during her time.

Okay, now it’s your turn. What book are you loving right now?

 

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored and instead is a list of the things of my favorite things this week. As normal, it includes lots of beauty and fashion items which means there are a few affiliate links via ShopStyle. It takes time and money to maintain a blog so I thank you for the support and few cents that come from clicking through the links!

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