If you’ve ever had a bridal shower in your honor (or any type of shower for that matter), you’ll know what I mean when I say that opening the presents can be both the best and the worst part.

It’s the best for obvious reasons I suppose.

However, it can totally be the worst when you open up that one present that you have NO idea what you are going to do with.  No idea where you might be able to return it, you of course can’t see yourself re-gifting it, and you know that you would never be caught using it.  You put on a nice face and say “thank you!” and then stash it away for a few years until you figure out what exactly to do with the gem.

Please tell me I’m not the only one this has ever happened to!  My husband and I got probably two or three gifts like this when we got married.  And we’re still moving them around from apartment to apartment trying to figure out what exactly to do with them.

I remember sitting at one of my bridal showers, eyeing my gift pile and seeing a small (cute) basket with some canned food in it.  I had already received other gifts that had food and they were great!  But this gift I thought was… a little different.  All that I saw were some cans of beans in it.  Who wants canned beans for their wedding!?

Then.  I finally got to that gift and read the card.  It wasn’t from just anyone, it was from my (then soon-to-be) mother-in-law.  I read further.  She explained that in this basket were the makings to my husband’s (then fiance’s) favorite meal.  White Chicken Chili.  She included the recipe and instructions along with all the ingredients.

What a cute and meaningful gift!  I was so touched that she would give me something like that – as small and simple as it may be.  No longer will I be judging wedding gifts with canned beans in them

Returning from our honeymoon, we of course didn’t have much food on hand.  But what I did have was the makings for this chili, and I knew that my husband would love it.  I had never had it before, so I was excited to try it myself.  The results definitely didn’t disappoint.  He loved it as did I!

White Chicken Chili
Ingredients:
2-4 chicken breasts
1 onion, minced
1 tsp. cumin
2 cans great northern beans, undrained
1 can chopped green chilies
1 can chicken broth
1 pkg. white country gravy mix
1 cup cold water

Directions:
1. Cut chicken into bite-sized cubes.
2. Cook chicken, onion and cumin in a large pot until tender.
3. Add beans, green chilies, and chicken broth.  Bring to a boil.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the gravy mix and the cold water.  Stir into soup.
5. Heat gently until ready to serve.  *Enjoy!

*This chili goes well with cornbread!