Chicken and Chickpea Chili

Ingredients

• 3 cups of baby spinach, cut into thin strips
• 1 bay leaf
• freshly ground black pepper
• 1 can (28- ounce) of crushed tomatoes
• 4 cups of Chicken Stock
• 2 teaspoons of chili powder
• 2 cups of chickpeas (preferably, dried beans that have been soaked/cooked)
• 2 tablespoons garlic, chopped
• 1 pound of ground chicken
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• kosher salt
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 cup of whole-wheat orzo pasta
• 1 teaspoon of paprika
• 1 teaspoon of sugar

Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven or soup pot.Flame should be medium to low.
2. Add onions and cook for about 5 minutes, or until soft and translucent.
3. Add the garlic. Cook for about 1 minutes.
4. Add the spices and move around pot for about 1-2 minutes.
5. Add the ground meat, 1 teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of pepper. Cook meat until completely cooked thru.Then add the chickpeas.
6. Add the tomatoes, sugar and chicken stock.Bring the soup to a bowl.Then reduce heat and allow to simmer for about 40-45 minutes. Taste.
7. Add more salt and pepper if necessary.
8. Add the orzo pasta. Cook for 6 minutes.Turn off heat and add the spinach.
9. Serve with crusty bread or crackers