Soup for supper ...

It's finally cool enough for socks, sweaters and soup! And nothing beats a great, hot soup on a crisp fall evening! We finally turned on the furnace last week, although Tom wanted to hold off until November! I recently had a conversation with a friend about the wisdom of calling this recipe chili since it doesn't contain any chili powder! But there are beans so I guess it's "almost chili." It's got a lively, fresh flavor from the addition of the lime juice and cilantro. I got the original recipe from Better Homes and Gardens and made a few changes, which I have included below. By the way, the Wasatch Mountains are in Utah ... I checked!
WASATCH MOUNTAIN WHITE CHILI
Ingredients:
1 medium onion, chopped
1 Tbsp. cooking oil
1 15-16 oz. can hominy, rinsed and drained
1 15-16-oz. can great Northern beans, rinsed and drained
1 15-16 oz. whole kernel corn, rinsed and drained
3 14-oz. can reduced-sodium chicken broth
3 baked chicken breasts, cubed
1/4 cup lime juice
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
Shredded colby and Monterey Jack cheese, Monterey Jack, or cheddar cheese
Bottled green salsa
White corn tortilla chips
Fresh cilantro leaves
Directions:
In a large saucepan cook onion in hot oil over medium heat for 3 minutes. Stir in hominy, beans, corn, chicken broth, chicken, lime juice, cilantro, cumin, and pepper, and simmer, stirring occasionally. Serve topped with cheese, salsa, tortilla chips and fresh cilantro.

Ahhh ... refreshing!

A Moscow Mule has been my favorite summer drink for years. My parents made them in the 50's and I started making them in the 70's! Strictly a warm weather drink, they're incredibly refreshing on a hot August night. I'd never drink one in winter! A Moscow Mule is a cocktail made with vodka, ginger beer and lime and served in the traditional copper mugs. Ginger beer is peppery, kind of like ginger ale. I put lots of fresh lime in mine. I've managed to collect several of the trade-mark mugs, serving them "frosted" (To Frost: Chill the glass or mug by sticking it in the refrigerator or freezer. Condensation will adhere to the glass, causing frost to form and keeping it cold longer. This gives each glass a white, frosted, ice-cold look and feel ... very appealing!).
MOSCOW MULE RECIPE
Ingredients:
1 to 2 oz. vodka
4 to 8 oz. ginger beer
1 oz. Fresh squeezed lime juice
Sprig of fresh mint, if available
Sliced lime
Pour vodka over ice in a copper mug or high ball glass. Top with ginger beer and squeezed lime and stir. Garnish with mint and lime.
CHEERS!