Enjoy white chili and lose weight

The book: "Eat Well Lose Weight: More Than 500 Deliciously Satisfying Recipes" by Better Homes and Gardens. 550 pages, $29.99. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.

What you get: If you want to get healthy and lose weight while enjoying real, delicious food, this book has a lot to offer: many tips for losing weight, a nutrition guide, and chapters that include Breakfasts & Brunches, Appetizers & Beverages, Meats, Poultry, Fish & Shellfish, Meatless Meals, Main-dish Salads, Pizzas & Sandwiches, Restaurant Remakes, Soups & Stews, Shortcut Meals, Slow Cooker Recipes, Special-occasion Recipes, Side Dishes, Breads, Snacks and Desserts.

In her own words: "When you're excited about the food you're cooking, eating healthfully is easy. Knowing you're dining on delicious and nutritious food is a strong motivation for sticking to a healthful meal plan. Let these delicious dishes inspire you and your family to eat well every day." — Jan Miller, editor.

What we made:

SPICY WHITE CHILI (P. 341)

Makes 8 servings

2 cups chopped onion (2 large)

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 4.5-ounce can diced green chiles

3 teaspoons chili powder

1 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

3 15-ounce cans cannelloni beans (white kidney beans), rinsed and drained

2 14/5-ounce cans reduced-sodium chicken broth

5 cups cubed cooked turkey or chicken

1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese with jalapeno peppers (4 ounces)

Fat-free sour cream (optional)

Shredded Monterey Jack cheese with jalapeno peppers (optional)

1. In a Dutch oven cook onions and garlic in hot oil over medium-high heat for 5 to 6 minutes or until tender, stirring frequently. Sir in green chiles, chili powder, oregano and cayenne pepper; cook for 1 minute. Mash one of the cans of beans. Stir all the beans and the broth into the Dutch oven. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 10 minutes.

2. Stir in the turkey; cook about 10 minutes or until heated through. Stir in the 1 up cheese until melted.

3. Ladle chili into serving bowls. If desired, top with fat-free sour cream and sprinkle with additional cheese.

Our assessment: At only 355 calories per 1 1/3 cup serving, this chili may help you get thin as it satisfies your craving for full-flavored food. I recently served it to the entire Dayton Daily News food and dining staff, and everyone devoured it. I froze another batch and am enjoying some as I get back on track after succumbing to too many holiday cookies and other treats. Do take the time to mash a third of the cannelloni beans to thicken up the base of the chili; otherwise, it will be soupy.

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