BBQ Chicken (or Turkey) Chili Recipe using True Made Foods Sauces

This post has been sponsored by True Made Foods in conjunction with NC Blogger Network. I received compensation in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

Since July, I've accepted very few campaigns or really have not done much writing in general on the HinesSightBlog. The why is simple. My husband told me that my priority was to get us moved to our new house, and get our other house ready to sale. 

We are living in our new house and I wish I could say that my home is picture perfect now, but that would be the biggest lie ever. I'm writing this post surrounded by boxes in my office, and at night, I watch TV on lawn chairs because we decided to purchase brand new living room furniture that may not even arrive til after the new year. We are in transition, to say the least. 

I am cooking, though, and I have a new recipe that incorporates some sauces with North Carolina ties. I still have lots to do around this house, but I accepted this campaign because the company believes in providing healthier choices for consumers. The day that my True Made Foods sauces arrived to try, it was cold enough here to enjoy chili. True Made Foods, a new D.C. start-up company, is making American food healthy, turning empty calorie foods into nutrient dense foods filled with fresh veggies. 


BBQ Chicken Chili w/True Made Foods sauces are filled with veggies. Half the sugar.


Let me tell you now that their sauces are finger-licking good. I loved each one and then I used all three when I cleaned out my pantry to make a BBQ chicken chili.  This company is reproducing America's favorite sauces - Ketchup, BBQ Sauce and Hot Sauce - but what is unique and appealing to people like me who want less sugar and artificial, is they are adding spinach, carrots and butternut squash to naturally sweeten these sauces which cut the added sugar in half. The carrots and butternut squash are from an Eastern North Carolina farm. 

The Ketchup tastes like the ketchup you expect but has half the sugar of top leading brands.. and tons of nutrition from the vegetables. True Made's Veracha is a 100% vegetable Sriracha - made from tomatoes, carrots, butternut squash, jalapenos, spinach and cayenne, it has all the flavor and no sugar. This stuff is fantastic. I've put it on everything lately. I'm addicted. I love these sauces and I love that I'm getting these vegetables even more. 

I don't even think I was supposed to review the BBQ sauce, but I love BBQ sauce and it's so hard to find a sauce without high fructose corn syrup on the market. True Made BBQ is delicious. It was the basis for my chili, but I look forward to baking BBQ chicken in the oven with it, too. 

These new healthier sauces can be found at Lowes Foods, Super Target and Whole Foods.


This recipe can be adjusted to what is in your pantry, but the secret is in the sauce.


I had never made a BBQ chicken chili before, and I found many recipes. I adapted several to fit what I had in the pantry so this is a Hines original without the Heinz ketchup that you know. Instead, this chili is certainly high fructose corn syrup free. 

With Thanksgiving approaching, you could use leftover turkey in place of chicken. I used chicken breasts that I had frozen in the freezer. You can use any beans you want. I chose white kidney beans and pinto beans because it was already in the pantry in addition to a green pepper, diced tomatoes, and an onion. If you are using leftover turkey or already cooked chicken, then you can reduce cooking time. I did my chili in the crock pot for eight hours on low. 

Enjoy. The secret to the goodness in this recipe is definitely the sauce. I highly recommend adding them to your pantry. 


Great weeknight meal on a cold day.  Quick and Easy BBQ Chicken Chili.


BBQ Chicken (Turkey ) Chili 

3 chicken breasts
28 ounces of diced tomatoes with juices
2 cups of chicken stock
1 can of pinto beans, drained and rinsed (black beans would have been even better)
1 can of white kidney beans, drain and rinsed
1 chopped onion
1 chopped green pepper
1/2 cup of True Made Foods BBQ sauce 
1/4 cup of True Made Foods Ketchup
1/4 cup of True Made Foods Veracha sauce (add more if you like spicier)
1 tsp of chili powder
some fresh chopped garlic
Himalayan Pink Sea Salt and Black Pepper to season

Cook on low for 8 hours. 

Serve with sour cream and cheddar cheese on top. I like to add a little True Mades Veracha sauce when serving. You could even add avocado. I now eat the Veracha sauce on plain avocados. So good. These new sauces have spiced up my house for the better. 


Learn more about True Made Foods and its sauces.







#FamilyTravel: Grab a Table at The Cheese Shop in Colonial Williamsburg

Say Cheese!


Deli and Market in Colonial Williamsburg
The Cheese Shop in Williamsburg via @Hinessightblog Instagram

The Cheese Shop is an adorable and delectable eatery in the Merchant's Square area of Colonial Williamsburg. This locally-owned restaurant is outside the main entrance to the historic area, which requires an admission ticket. Unlike some of the Williamsburg taverns, you can dine here without an admission ticket. The Cheese Shop has been a staple in Colonial Williamsburg for over 40 years. 

The Cheese Shop made an impression on me, and I will return. Next time, I want to spend more time in the wine area. 

The Cheese Shop is wine, beer, cheese, deli, gourmet foodie store, all in one. When it's busy, and it certainly was on the day we visited, it can be a little confusing on what to do because people are waiting everywhere for their food and space is limited. 




Since it resembles a market, you order sandwiches at the counter. You grab chips from the chip aisle and you grab a drink down the drink aisle, and you don't pay until you leave the store. 

Bread is made fresh daily. Cheeses and meats are of the highest qualities, and truthfully, the prices are extremely reasonable.  It's casual.   It's fresh.  It's good.  Depending on how busy it is, your wait may be long.  It took us about 25 minutes to get our sandwiches, and thank goodness, we arrived before 100 Boy Scouts walked in the door.  Your lunch is bagged, and then you head outside to a table on Duke of Gloucester Street. Seating is at a premium. 


Cheese Sandwich at The Cheese Shop in Colonial Williamsburg


The Cheese Shop is known for its homemade house dressing.  When in Williamsburg, give this local restaurant a try. 




Want to Go:
The Cheese Shop
410 W Duke of Gloucester Street
Williamsburg,  Va


The Cheese Shop is Colonial Williamsburg is in Merchant's Square and is great for a quick lunch or dinner with the kids



A look at the Williamsburg Lodge in Williamsburg, VA

While in Colonial Williamsburg, my family stayed at the Williamsburg Lodge, and it is an official HinesSight Blog recommended property.  You may read about the hotel in my "Pack Your Bags" feature




Personal: Wonder Woman and the Scary Guy

Where do you begin after taking two months off from this blog? That has never happened before.  Unfortunately, I didn't come back today with a snazzy new design or rebrand. I'm just coming back to this writing space because I needed to get back to the HinesSightBlog. Life got in the way with buying a house, selling a house, moving, and serving as PTA President.  You know the drill. You have busy lifestyles, too.

It's not that I didn't have anything to say. It's just that I didn't have time to write it down. And my new house. Well, it's just a mess right now. But, that's OK.  I'm back now and I've got some stories to tell. Oh, so many stories and new ideas.

I'll be quick today and say that my kids are growing up. We had to get a creepy costume this year and he took to his role quite well. No more cuteness from him, I guess. And Wonder Woman?  Well, she knows  how to rock some Michael Kors gold boots and strike a pose.





In our new house, we gave out over 500 pieces of candy. It was quite a night.

During the past two months, I did write some freelance pieces for Skimbaco Lifestyle. Check out the fall edition of Autumn Spice.


Why the Hyatt House in Raleigh's Midtown is a Good Choice for Families

There is a new kid in town in the North Hills area of Raleigh. 


Hyatt House in North Hills Raleigh, NC
Hyatt House Instagram via @hinessightblog 


It's the Hyatt House. 





You may have seen on Instagram that I had the opportunity to stay in a two-bedroom suite with friend of mine, and her two daughters for a girl's weekend at this new hotel last month. The space was the perfect opportunity for us to chat, and let our girls play. We don't live in the same town any longer so we don't see each other often enough. For this visit, we spent a full 24-hours together under the same roof. which reminded us of the times we spent together before we had children. Our three girls are quickly becoming friends. 



The luxury of the two-bedroom suite was that we were able to retreat to our own bedrooms at night, but still be together most of the time. The suite had a queen bedroom, a bedroom with two double beds, and a pull-out sofa. It was extremely roomy and spacious. 



The Hyatt House location in North Hills is top-notch. Really, you can't beat the location. If I were visiting Raleigh, and wanted to stay where I could walk to restaurants then I would to want to stay in Downtown Raleigh or in North Hills.  I mention this in the article of Where to Stay 36 Hours in Raleigh, N.C. 


North Hills Shopping Center in Raleigh, NC 

Downtown Raleigh hosts our museums, performance venues, and historic sites. North Hills, in Raleigh's Midtown area, is our area's premiere shopping destination and it's a short distance from Downtown. It's also not a cookie-cutter mall, but rather an urban outdoor shopping venue with apartments, restaurants, boutiques and entertainment. When you go here, you feel like you've been to a destination.

Over 60% of the 135 businesses are locally-owned and operated. The restaurant selection is fantastic. Honestly, North Hills is an area that locals enjoy frequenting. It's a place where you can find something as high-end as Tory Burch or a boutique gem for under $100. Target and JCPenney anchor the shopping center along with a movie theatre. 


Each suite at the Hyatt House has a kitchen
Each Hyatt House suite is equipped with a full-kitchen

The Hyatt House is in the heart of Raleigh's North Hills, conveniently located near the Harris Teeter, which is great for an extended stay since all rooms have full-kitchens. 

The decor is modern. The beds are comfy and have triple-sheeting. Hyatt House is an upscale self-service hotel that offers a lot of value. 



Included in your room rate, is a complimentary breakfast.  I was impressed with the Hyatt House morning spread. Omelets are made to order. 




The coffee and tea bar is conveniently set up in a separate area from the food so there is not a lot of congestion in one area. The coffee was tasty. 




The Hyatt House has more of a communal set-up for dining. That's not really my cup of tea because I prefer to keep to myself in the morning. As a result, I like dining tables set up to accommodate two or four people, but communal dining does give the hotel more space, and it is just a matter of preference. 




The Hyatt House is great for those individuals seeking more space.  It has complimentary high-speed internet service, and grocery shopping for the kitchen. 


Hyatt House is located in Raleigh's North Hills

Rates vary depending on availability and season. 

Overall, I liked the Hyatt House concept and believe this hotel brands gives guests an affordable upscale option when traveling. It's definitely worth checking-out if you want to have more space for a girls weekend or for your family. After my stay, I feel comfortable recommending the brand. 

Hyatt House is a hotel that is a good choice for families staying in Raleigh, N.C. It is located in North Hills or Raleigh's Midtown.


Want to Stay:
Hyatt House
Raleigh North Hills
160 Park at North Hills Street
Raleigh, NC 

How to Decide What to Keep and What to Throw Away When Moving

I guess by now you have seen that the HinesSightBlog has been on a hiatus for posting. Summer has  a way of making that happen. I hope you are enjoying yours. Here's what is up with me.

 Moving


Tips for Moving: Do you Take or Toss?


The Hines are decluttering this summer. We've lived in our current house for twelve years, and in exciting news, we have a new home closer to downtown Raleigh under contract. We will close in the fall.  In every spare moment, I'm going through drawers, closets and getting our current house ready to sale. It's not on the market yet, but as soon as it is, you'll be the first to know.  It will be listed with Raleigh Realty Mom.  I can't wait to share more about our new home, but I will wait until after closing. It's so hard to decide what to keep and what to toss, but Will is determined that we do not take the trash with us. It can be so hard deciding what to take and what to toss when moving. Wish us luck.

Beautycounter


Beautycounter at Target

My partnership with Beautycounter is better than ever. I am meeting more and more people daily who want to look beautiful and use products that do not have health risks. Beautycounter bans 1500 ingredients from its products that are known to be unsafe and cause health risks such as hormone disruption, cancer and more. Beautycounter is about to have a special limited run in Target in September for nine weeks only.  It's an exciting time as we begin to reach 65 million new people with our brand. If you have a passion for the beauty industry and our message of #BetterBeauty, contact me. Beautycounter is looking for more consultants. I encourage each of you to also go to Target to learn more about the Beautycounter brand. I offer the full-size brand items on my website. Target will have smaller. limited-sizes and here is a preview.


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