Heart of the Home

Warm up this winter with a tasty bowl of chili

Cold, blustery temperatures can lead to warming up with a hearty bowl of chili after working outdoors.

A cold-weather classic, chili’s origins are difficult to determine. Many historians believe the classic chili we know today, chili con carne—chili with meat—has roots in the American West, particularly Texas. It’s believed to have been popularized in San Antonio during the 1880s when “bowls o’ red” were sold at a market by women who were named “chili queens.” A caloriedense meal, the dish was popular among cowboys and pioneers.

While traditional chili is prepared with meat, chili peppers and onions, the dish has evolved over time, with home cooks creating their own unique twists with a variety of ingredients, flavors, spices and cultural influences. But one ingredient remains divisive, and has been hotly debated for decades—beans or no beans?

Beef Chili Carnivale

INGREDIENTS 2 pounds ground beef, 93% lean or leaner 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes, undrained 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes with mild green chilies 14.5-ounce can beef broth 12-ounce bottle of beer 1 medium yellow onion, diced 2 medium green, red, yellow or orange bell peppers, diced 6-ounce can of tomato paste ⅓ cup chili powder 1 large jalapeño pepper, seeded, finely chopped 2 tablespoons minced garlic 1 tablespoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon dried oregano 2 15-ounce cans black beans, rinsed and drained, optional lime wedges and tortilla chips, optional TOPPINGS

Sliced cherry tomatoes, sliced green onions, sliced serranos or jalapeños, chopped onion.

DIRECTIONS

Pre-heat a stock pot over medium heat until hot. Add the beef, and cook 8-10 minutes, breaking the meat into ¾” crumbles, stirring occasionally. Pour off drippings as necessary. Add tomatoes, broth, beer, onion, bell peppers, tomato paste, chili powder, jalapeño, garlic, cumin and oregano to stock pot, stirring to combine. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer uncovered for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in beans, if using, and continue to simmer for 15 minutes or until chili is thickened to the desired consistency, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and black pepper as desired. Garnish with toppings, and serve with lime and chips.

—Recipe adapted from Beef, It’s What’s For Dinner

Chicken and sour cream blend together in a creamy alternative to traditional chili.

Polynesian Chili

INGREDIENTS 1½ pounds boneless pork, cut into 1” cubes 31 ounces Great Northern beans, drained 14.5-ounce can Mexican-style stewed tomatoes, undrained 1 cup chopped onions ⅔ cup chopped green bell pepper 6 ounces tomato paste 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 tablespoon chili powder 2 tablespoons ground cumin ⅛ teaspoon black pepper 20-ounce can pineapple chunks, drained

DIRECTIONS Place all of the ingredients, except the pineapple, into a 3½-quart slow cooker. Mix until well combined, cover, and cook on low heat for 6-7 hours or until the pork is tender, stirring once halfway through, if possible. Stir in the pineapple just before serving.

—Recipe adapted from Pork Checkoff, National Pork Board

Chunky Vegetarian Chili

INGREDIENTS 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 2 cups chopped onion ½ cup chopped yellow bell pepper ½ cup chopped green bell pepper 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 tablespoon brown sugar 1½ tablespoons chili powder 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon dried oregano ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon black pepper 2 16-ounce cans stewed tomatoes, undrained 2 15-ounce cans black beans, rinsed and drained 15-ounce can kidney beans, rinsed and drained 15-ounce pinto beans, rinsed and drained

DIRECTIONS

Heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium high heat. Add onion, peppers and garlic, and sauté for 5 minutes or until tender. Add the sugar and remaining ingredients, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes.

—Recipe adapted from North Carolina Cooperative Extension

White Chicken Chili

INGREDIENTS 1 pound dry white beans 2 small roasted chickens 6-8 garlic cloves, chopped 2 onions, chopped 1 tablespoon cooking oil 4-ounce can of green chilies 1 cup sour cream 8 cups chicken broth 1 tablespoon ground red pepper 2 teaspoon oregano 12 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, shredded

DIRECTIONS Soak beans overnight, or cook for 4 hours in water. Shred roasted chickens. In a skillet, sauté garlic and onions in cooking oil. Add chicken, chilies, sour cream and broth. Adjust the amount of broth and chicken to reach desired consistency. Add the spices and cheese, and heat until melted. This recipe is very easy to personalize. While it should be thick, add water if needed, or use less chicken. Also, add extra spices if it is not spicy enough for your tastes. Bringing to a boil and cooking for extra time will help thicken the chili if needed.

—Recipe adapted from Chicken Roost, National Chicken Council

Missed open enrollment? You still have health coverage options

BY ADAM CULLER

When it comes to obtaining health insurance for the upcoming year, open enrollment periods typically are the only time individuals can sign up for coverage.

While open enrollment periods vary for most businesses, the Affordable Care Act open enrollment period to purchase individual health insurance for 2023 runs from Nov. 1, 2022, through Jan. 15.

If you missed you employer’s open enrollment period or the ACA enrollment deadline, there still are options to secure some form of health coverage for 2023. Special enrollment periods

If you’ve experienced certain life events, you may qualify for a special enrollment period. These periods allow individuals to sign up for health insurance outside of conventional open enrollment periods.

According to Healthcare.gov, qualifying events for a special enrollment period include getting married or divorced; having a child; changing residences; losing health coverage due to the death of the primary policyholder; losing a job or group coverage; or losing Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program coverage.

These events generally will trigger a 60-day period in which a person can purchase health coverage and, in some cases, dental and vision insurance.

Employers who offer insurance to their employees are required to provide a special enrollment period of at least 30 days. Short-term health insurance

Individuals who don’t qualify for a special enrollment period may purchase short-term health insurance plans to provide temporary coverage. Though these plans do not meet ACA requirements for minimum coverage, they will offer basic protection against catastrophic medical expenses.

Under a Virginia law that went into effect July 2021, enrollment in short-term plans now is limited to three-month increments. If a plan is renewable, individuals are limited to six months of coverage under a short-term plan. The new law also prohibits the sale of short-term plans during the ACA

Have questions about Medicare Supplements? Call today!

Virginia Farm Bureau 1-800-229-7779

An authorized licensed insurance agent for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia, license number: 109534

This policy has exclusions, limitations and terms under which the policy may be continued in force or discontinued. For more information on benefits, please contact your agent or the health plan. Not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. Government or the federal Medicare program. The purpose of this communication is the solicitation of insurance. Contact will be made by an insurance agent or insurance company. Anthem Health Plans of Virginia, Inc. trades as Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia, and its service area is all of Virginia except for the City of Fairfax, the Town of Vienna, and the area east of State Route 123. Independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. AADVOTH006M(15)-VA 55681VASENABS

open enrollment period.

These policies do not cover pre-existing conditions, and coverage is not guaranteed for all applicants as short-term policies are subject to medical underwriting.

“Short-term health insurance policies won’t have the same provisions and coverage as plans purchased through the Affordable Care Act, but they do provide some financial protection if you missed open enrollment,” said Gina Gentilini, senior account executive for Virginia Farm Bureau’s Health Insurance Division. Other year-round options

There is no open enrollment period for Medicaid or the CHIP, and individuals who quality for coverage may enroll anytime. CHIP offers low-cost health and dental coverage to children in families whose income is too high to qualify for Medicaid.

To learn more about your coverage options, contact your county Farm Bureau office or call 800-229-7779. preventable.” Nearly one-fourth of all cardiovascular disease-related deaths are avoidable per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Altogether, about seven out of 10 Americans die each year from chronic diseases, most of which are preventable if managed with preventive care services.

Annual physicals, immunizations, medication management and any other service that would help prevent illness, injury or premature death are examples of preventive care services. The goal is to prevent illnesses entirely and promote general wellness and good health.

Detecting illness early—and addressing it immediately—also is a crucial component of preventive care, explained Dr. Amy Johnson, a nurse practitioner with Centra Medical Group and Bedford County Farm Bureau president.

“The whole premise of preventive care is to get your health screening exams regularly, stay on schedule with those exams and identify potential health concerns before they become a larger problem,” Johnson said.

“Whenever health care providers can perform appropriate screening exams and patients go for routine services like getting regular bloodwork done to make sure their cholesterol and blood sugar are good, many illnesses can be identified before they reach the disease state,” she added.

“Once those illnesses become a bigger problem, it’s more difficult to treat them and cure them.”

Most health insurance plans cover preventive care services in full, with no cost for subscribers. Most preventive health services also do not require copays or co-insurance or count against deductibles.

An annual preventive care plan should include a yearly physical and bloodwork with your primary care doctor. Physicians also recommend women visit a gynecologist annually.

Regular visits to the dentist and optometrist also are key, Johnson Using tech to check your health

In the digital age, keeping track of your health often can be achieved by a simple push—or swipe—of a button.

Technology such as smartwatches, wearable monitoring devices and smartphone apps help make health information readily available. Monitoring and acting on the collection of data also can help improve your overall health.

Johnson encourages patients to watch their blood pressure at home and take advantage of apps that keep track of their diet and weight.

“The important thing is to take the information from these apps and smart devices and communicate any abnormalities to your doctor so they can be looked into further,” she explained.

If you want to enter the world of wearable technology to better monitor your health, here are a few suggestions:Prioritize your health by taking advantage of preventive care services

BY ADAM CULLER

According to the American Cancer Society, nearly half of all cancer-related deaths in the U.S. in 2021 were caused by potentially preventable causes. These causes include alcohol intake, physical inactivity, smoking or an unhealthy diet.

Harvard University medical research found that about nine out of 10 cases of Type 2 diabetes “are largely asserted. Numerous diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers can be identified through routine dental and vision exams.

“Whether it’s your physical, oral or dental health, it’s always beneficial to stay ahead of everything,” she said.

Smart watches – can help track your heart rate and pulse, count your steps and allow you to set reminders for medications and physical activity. Blood pressure monitors – can assist at-risk individuals keep tabs on their blood pressure and manage it in real time. The benefits of self-monitoring include early detection of high blood pressure and better control and tracking of how related treatment is working. Smartphone apps – track sleep, exercise and other vital health information.