Cincinnati Style Chili

Sounds Good 

I thought that I had just about as much as I could handle with two children with food allergies, then I became pregnant with a third child.  I prayed nearly every day of my pregnancy that our newest baby would not have food allergies.  The good news was that the prayer worked, my new baby could eat anything!   The bad news, he had a benign tumor in his pelvis. 

His condition was a bit of a mystery; we did not actually know he had a tumor until he was 18 months old.  He spent his first week of life in the intensive care unit.  We took him home with a possible diagnosis and a prescription for ‘wait and see’.  He continued to have issues with chronic constipation and we felt like we needed better answers.   After a series physicians, exams, tests, scans, and biopsies, it was determined that whatever was ailing my son, needed expert surgical intervention.  We were referred to the world’s leading expert and pioneer in pediatric bowel surgery: a surgeon in Cincinnati, Ohio by the name of Alberto Pena. 

Dr. Pena took one look at an x-ray of his pelvis and diagnosed his condition over the phone and recommended surgery.   It turns out, he had a rare condition.  A tumor had formed in his pelvis in utero and caused damage to his bones, spinal cord, and intestines.

First meal in 10 days

It was exactly 4 years ago this week that our son underwent an extensive surgery to repair the damage caused by the tumor and to have the tumor removed.  The surgery did not erase all of the damage, but it was a complete success.  He has a normal life of 5 year old boy.   He skips to school every day, loves Legos, and eats anything and everything.  His favorite is spaghetti.

We spent nearly three weeks in Cincinnati for his surgery and recovery and became acquainted with the local cuisine.  In honor of Sebastian, Dr. Pena, and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, I offer a recipe for Cincinnati Style Chili.  It’s allergy friendly, gluten free, and full of fiber!

Cincinnati Style Chili

It's all about the noodles

1 box of gluten free pasta, break noodles in half and cook according to directions.

1 pound of ground beef or turkey (optional)

1 yellow onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, mined

1-3 teaspoons red chili powder

1 teaspoon of cumin

1 can of hot chili beans

1 can of black beans

1 can of kidney beans

1 can of diced tomatoes (optional)

Brown the ground meat, add onion and garlic.  Sauté for 5 minutes.  Add spices, beans, and tomatoes.   Cook at medium heat for at least 30 minutes.  

Serve chili over a bed of noodles.  Top with cheese and diced red onion.

A toothless kindergarten smile

We continue to be so thankful for the people at Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Dr. Alberto Pena. His life's work has helped so many families around the world.