Obama Can Cook? President Obama’s Chili recipe

By San Diego Entertainer | May 9, 2011

President Barack Obama has time to cook?  Apparently so.  On the colder days this week, enjoy President Obama’s very own chili recipe from Clara Silverstein’s “A White House Garden Cookbook: Healthy Ideas from the First Family for Your Family” as she captures recipes from First Families, past and present.

President Barack Obama’s Chili

Serves 6-8

1 large onion

1 green bell pepper

Several cloves of garlic

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 pound ground turkey or beef

1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon ground oregano

1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric

1/4 teaspoon ground basil

1 tablespoon chili powder

3 tablespoons red wine vinegar

Several fresh tomatoes, depending on size (or

1 15-ounce can of diced tomatoes with juice)

1 (15 ounce) can red kidney beans

Tip: I suggest starting with 4 cloves of garlic and 2 cups of chopped fresh tomatoes. You can substitute 1 teaspoon of fresh chopped oregano and 1 teaspoon of fresh chopped basil for those two dried herbs on the ingredient list. Of course you can adjust everything to taste, including the spices. It’s the people’s choice!

1. Peel and chop the onion. Wash the pepper, remove the seeds, and chop. Peel and chop the garlic.

2. In a pot over medium heat, heat the olive oil. Add the onion, green pepper, and garlic. Sauté until the vegetables are soft.

3. Add the ground meat and sauté until it browns.

4. In a small bowl, mix together the cumin, oregano, turmeric, basil, and chili powder. Add to the ground meat.

5. Add the red wine vinegar to the pot and stir to combine.

6. Chop the tomatoes and add to the pot. Simmer until the tomatoes cook down.

7. Drain the kidney beans in a colander in the sink and rinse with cold water. Add the beans and cook for a few more minutes.

8. Serve over white or brown rice. Garnish with grated cheddar cheese, onions and sour cream.

Clara Silverstein’s “A White House Garden Cookbook: Healthy Ideas from the First Family for Your Family” is packed with a whole section on deliciously light and healthy springtime recipes, making the most of seasonally available fruits, vegetables, and herbs! Best of all, the recipes all have kids in mind, and are intended to get kids to try and love new fruits and vegetables!

The recipes come from First Families as well as from kids’ and community gardens around the country. The spring chapter contains 30 fantastic springtime recipes, including Spring Stir-Fry, Cilantro Pesto, Michelle Obama’s famous White House No-Cream Creamed Spinach, and many more.

Visit www.redrockpress.com/delicious” for more information about “A White House Garden Cookbook: Healthy Ideas from the First Family for Your Family” by author Clara Silverstein.