white chicken chili

i don't know what it is exactly, but as the temperatures get colder, i just start making soup. like, i seriously have a september soup problem. some people go to apple orchards or pumpkin patches. others make pumpkin bread or halloween party plans. but seriously - i just make soup. it's all i'm good for when the mercury falls below 55 degrees. a few nights ago, it was tomato. tonight, it was white chicken chili. it was easy and delicious, so check it out.

you will need:
1 onion, chopped
3-5 cloves of garlic (to your taste), minced
1 Tablespoon cumin
2 teaspoons oregano
dash of cayenne pepper (more or less to taste)
salt and pepper to taste
1 4-oz. can of diced green chilies
3 cups of cooked and diced or shredded chicken (diced is neater, like you're working for progresso or something; shredded is more rustic. you choose.)
2 cans of white kidney beans, drained and rinsed (yuck, get all that gross stuff off of those lovely beans)
1 can of either whole kernel white corn or hominy, drained (see aforementioned "yuck")
32 oz. chicken broth

get out your soup pan and get it all worked up over medium heat. add a few splashes of olive oil/bacon fat/butter, just enough to "grease the skids".

when the oil gets hot, toss in the onion, then the garlic on top of it. did you know that putting in the onion first makes a little bed for the garlic so that the garlic doesn't burn? genius.

sprinkle your spices over the onion and garlic. let it cook for a few minutes, until the onions start to soften.

toss in everything else and let it simmer for a few minutes. give it a taste and adjust the seasonings. let it simmer again for 20-25 minutes, then taste again. serve with whatever garnishes you'd like. we did chopped avocado, greek yogurt and green tabasco. sour cream would be delicious, if you're into that kind of thing. and i'm sure some shredded cheese would be nice, but i was just too damn lazy.

*note: if you want more heat, a diced jalapeno would totally work. just chop and toss in with the onion and garlic. i didn't do it because i'm feeding toddlers, one of whom thinks that soda water is "too spicy!". so, do what works for you.