He has raised three children with the chronic disease, cystic fibrosis (including myself and losing my brother to the disease) and has always been a pillar of strength and determination, leading the battle charge to cure CF (he serves on the national CF board). He also has taught me to live life with an eternal perspective, with loving family and serving others as our very top priority. No matter how crazy his work was growing up (he runs a publicly traded company which adds the additional stress of performing well for shareholders), he was always right by my side at every hospitalization. The second he was the least bit successful, he began his own nonprofit charity, The Sabin Children’s Foundation, which serves thousands of underprivileged children worldwide. For my dad’s 60th birthday, my siblings, nieces and nephews compiled a book of 60 memories or qualities we admire about him. Each of the siblings contributed 10 items. Out of a lifetime of memories and from a bottomless treasure trove of qualities to choose from, each sibling (4 total), all said one thing in common. Goulash. We all remember coming home late on Friday nights from a long afternoon of piano lessons to my dad’s homemade goulash. What is goulash? you might ask. We could never quite be sure. It would be a soup/stew/chili with a tomato or cream of chicken soup base with any freezer vegetables, meat or canned goods my dad thought “worked.” We were always excited to see what dad’s goulash would be, even if we weren’t excited to eat it. As I reflect back on dad’s goulash, it was one of his sweet ways of loving my mom (who no doubt had a long day with 5 children complaining about piano) by preparing dinner the only way he knew how. Like I said, the man is a saint. So like my dad’s goulash, this Mango Black Bean Chipotle Coke Chili is created with love. Unlike my dad’s goulash, you can be sure you are getting the most delicious bowl of chili every time. And I mean seriously delicious! So delicious, in fact, that I am going to go ahead and presumptuously assume this will be your new favorite chili. Because it is my new favorite chili and one of my favorite recipes I have ever created. It is so delicious, I want to make it all the time. And because all the time might be a bit obsessive, I have already made it into enchiladas and have big plans to make fajitas, tacos, chimichangas, etc. I have plans. Big plans. All self serving plans so I can eat this Mango Black Bean Chipotle Coke Chili all the time – in one form or another. I almost don’t even want to begin to describe how good this is because my words simply can’t do it justice. Let me just say the sweetness of the coke and mangos is perfectly balanced by the smoked paprika and chipotle chili peppers, creating a smoky, sweet chipotle bath that envelops the black beans, tomatoes, mangos and meat, all topped with sweet, fresh mangos, Monterey Jack cheese and cilantro so each bite is smoky, cheesy, and a little spicy – everything a chili should be – and more….so much more! And if you are intimidated by cutting mangos – do’t be, just check out my How to Cut A Mango Post that teaches everything you could ever want to know about mangos! So, like you have heard from me before, I really hope you make this! And when I say make, I really mean brown some meat, throw in some spices, dump in some cans and chop some mangos and chipotle peppers and let the chili simmer on cruise control (seriously, just look at the directions!). It is the perfect company, plan ahead, or busy night meal. Its the perfect meal all the time. Perfect because its created with the love of my father’s goulash.
Looking for More Mexican Soup Recipes?
Chicken Fajita and Rice SoupMexican Chicken Corn ChowderChicken Tortilla SoupSalsa Verede Chicken Tortilla SoupCheesy Taco SoupWhite Chicken Chili
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