Easy Chicken Chili

Sometimes I think back on my old life, and I just shake my head in disbelief. I didn't know how to cook for the longest time because I had this image in my head of cooking taking a long time and a lot of preparation.

There certainly are meals that require more time and process than others. I make them on special occasions or if I'm just feeling adventurous. But my daily life demands quick eats.

One of my favorite quick meals is rotisserie chickens you get from the grocery store. I absolutely love Costco rotisserie chickens. $5 for a 5lb cooked bird. We'll usually eat a half for a meal with steamed veggies and mashed potatoes. Then there's a whole half bird left for me to make something else with. I'll usually tear the meat off the bones, then make a wonderful chicken broth/stock with the bones.

Today with leftover chicken meat from the rotisserie chicken, I'm making a chicken chili. I just shredded the meat and put it in a crockpot with a can of tomatoes, diced onions, bell pepper, and my own southwest seasoning mixture containing cumin, coriander, ancho chili powder, garlic powder, and chipotle chili powder. I also added some red and black beans.

It's simmering in the crockpot right now, and smells so good! I'll serve it later with lime wedges, rice, and sharp cheddar cheese.

If I had only known how easy it was to make these kinds of meals back when before I started gaining weight...