Butternut Chicken Stew    

Butternut squash, chicken, kidney beans, red bell pepper, tomatoes and corn make up this simple hearty stew.

This recipe is similar to the Butternut Squash Chili recipe I posted last January.  Only this time, I added a couple of roasted chicken breast I had stored in the freezer, a red bell pepper, and made it with half beef broth and half chicken broth.  I don't know if that sounds strange to you, but it was delicious to us.  I was glad that I made a large batch and have plenty to keep us full for a couple of days.

HERE'S ALL IT TAKES TO PUT IT TOGETHER

• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 small red bell pepper, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 2 tablespoon canola oil

Cook in a large pot over medium heat until onion has soften.

• 1 (14.5oz) can tomatoes with garlic & onions
• 2 cooked chicken breasts, shredded
• 2 cups cooked kidney beans or 1 (14oz) can
• 1/2 small butternut squash, peeled & cubed to make 1 1/2 cups
• 1 1/2 cups approx. beef broth
• 1 1/2 cups approx. chicken broth
• 1 1/2 teaspoon New Mexico Chili pepper powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Simmer the next ingredients from above together for 15 minutes.  First bring it to a boil, then LOWER heat to a simmer.

• 1 cup frozen corn

Add the frozen corn last and cook another 15 minutes.  YOU'RE READY TO EAT!

I JUST WANT TO SAY OUT LOUD:

If you don't have cooked chicken already on hand.  No biggy.  Just do a little rearranging.

Go ahead and chop up two uncooked, skinless, boneless, chicken boobs into 1 1/2 inch pieces and put them in when you add the tomatoes.  Stop there and allow the chicken to cook through until all the pink is gone.  It won't take but 7 to 10 minutes?, depending on how small or large, you cut up the chicken.  Once the chicken is cooked, move on with the rest of the recipe as follows.

Another thing.
About the broths, I said 1 1/2 cups, but I'm really guessimating that number.  I poured them out evenly until there was enough liquid to call it 'stew.' I can tell you that I have two half cartons of each in the frig right now.  So you won't need more than a couple of cans or one carton of each broth.