- Home >> Lifestyle: Meat
& Seafood:
-
- "Something Different"
- Chili Mac Is A Super Bowl Star
- BY DANA JACOBI FOR THE AMERICAN
INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RESEARCH
It's back! Super Bowl Sunday
is upon us, this year for the 40th time. Over the decades, the
focus of this event has evolved from a clash of athletes to a
media circus known more for the half-time entertainment, and
occasionally for unanticipated revelations, than for what happens
on the playing field. Food-wise, fans gathering to celebrate
this unofficial holiday now rack up snack and beverage sales
second only to those for New Year's Eve.
Menus for Super Bowl parties
have filled out considerably since 1966, when pre- and post-game
commentary were succinct, and the half-time show consisted of
marching university bands. The chips with onion dip, pretzels
and pizza that fed fans during those early championship games
would barely serve as a warm-up today. And ideally, many of us
have replaced them with more health-conscious salsa, whole-wheat
pretzels and lean fajitas.
Currently, football feasts,
especially on this day of days, often consist of four "quarters,"
starting with crudités and dip, followed by nachos and
quesadillas, then a main course during half time, and finishing
with sweets like brownies and chocolate-dipped strawberries,
or perhaps fruit kebabs for those who fired up the grill earlier
in the game.
Following the Super Bowl's
geography, many dishes have Southern and Southwestern roots,
even if played in Los Angeles, or up North, as it will be in
Detroit this year. Honoring this heritage, try making a hearty,
California-style chili using flavorful ground sirloin and antioxidant-rich
pink beans. Then, bringing in another all-American but especially
southern favorite, combine this lean chili with macaroni and
grated cheese, turning into it into ChiliMac, the ultimate comfort
food. If you wish, you can combine them ahead in a casserole
to reheat while watching the game.
Superbowl Chili Mac - Makes
6 servings.
- 1 Tbsp. canola oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, seeded
and chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, chopped
- 3/4 lb. 93% lean ground sirloin
- 2 Tbsp. chili powder
- 1 Tbsp. ground cumin
- 1 Tbsp. dried oregano
- Salt, to taste
- 1 can (28 oz.) tomatoes, drained
- 1 cup chopped cilantro
- 1 can (15 oz.) pink beans,
rinsed and drained
- 4 cups cooked whole-wheat
macaroni (4 oz. dry)
- 1 cup (2 oz.) shredded reduced-fat
Cheddar cheese
Heat the oil in a large Dutch
oven over medium-high heat. Sauté the onion, green pepper
and garlic until the onion softens, about 5 minutes. Add the
meat and, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, cook until
it is browned, about 4 minutes.
Mix in the chili powder, cumin,
oregano and salt. Add the tomatoes, breaking them up with the
spoon. Mix in the cilantro.
Simmer 20 minutes, until the
chili is moist and the meat is soft. Mix in the beans.
Just before serving, mix in
the pasta. Divide the Chili Mac among six deep bowls, sprinkle
with the cheese and serve.
Per serving: 365 calories,
10 g. total fat (4 g. saturated fat), 46 g. carbohydrate, 27
g. protein, 8 g. dietary fiber, 331 mg. sodium.
_______________________________________
"Something Different"
is written for the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR)
by Dana Jacobi, author of The Joy of Soy and recipe creator for
AICR's Stopping Cancer Before It Starts.
AICR offers a Nutrition Hotline
(1-800-843-8114) 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday-Friday. This free
service allows you to ask a registered dietitian questions about
diet, nutrition and cancer. AICR is the only major cancer charity
focused exclusively on the link between diet, nutrition and cancer.
It provides a range of education programs that help Americans
learn to make changes for lower cancer risk. AICR also supports
innovative research in cancer prevention and treatment at universities,
hospitals and research centers across the U.S. It has provided
more than $70 million for research in diet, nutrition and cancer.
AICR's Web address is www.aicr.org.
AICR is a member of the World Cancer Research Fund International.
_______________________________________
RECIPE POSTED
JANUARY 30, 2006
|
WHAT'S NEW?
