Whether Making Dinner Or Baking, Redlands Man Enjoys Being In The Kitchen
May 8th, 2008 | By admin | Category: Foods
A time for worship is also a time for baked treats.
At least that’s how Chris Bonn, of Redlands, sees it.
Each Sunday he brings sweets such as berry cobbler, banana cake and chocolate-chip cookies for his church group for couples at Pathway Church in Redlands.
“It’s kind of nice to get into the church group, as you’re discussing the Bible, you have a little snack,” said Bonn, the subject of this week’s Home Cooking Profile.
“The church group looks forward to his food,” said his wife, Tamara, who nominated him for the profile.
So does she.
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Greg Vojtko / The Press-Enterprise
Chris Bonn prepares Three Bean Chili Plus at his Redlands home. His wife nominated him for the Home Cooking Profile.
“He cooks dinner every night,” she said. “I can’t remember when I’ve cooked dinners. … When I come home, dinner is all prepared and waiting.”
It’s an arrangement that suits their schedule. Chris works as a data systems technician for AT&T in Riverside from midnight to 8 a.m. while Tamara teaches at Arrowhead Christian Academy.
Referring to his mealtime efforts, she said, “He doesn’t even mind cleaning up.”
“You kind of start enjoying being in the kitchen,” Chris said. “It makes you feel good doing something nice for people.”
He said, “The comments before and after a meal are great confidence boosters that you did something right.”
One of his signature dishes that he makes for his family is chili — whether it’s with ground beef, sirloin, turkey or chicken. “You get kind of creative,” he said. “Your taste buds expand with time.”
“He’s inventive; he’s not afraid to try anything new,” Tamara said.
While hearth and home is the reason he cooks each day, his real fire is for baking. “Baking is my passion,” he said. “I enjoy making cookies, and I love making cakes.”
He joked that his sweet tooth is so large only surgery could remove it.
His dream is to spend his retirement honing his pastry skills in a formal educational setting. “I will go to the RCC academy and study pastry there,” he said.
If he became a professional chef, he said he would work in a pastry shop and travel with a cook wagon so he could cook for men’s ministry events.
15.5-ounce can kidney beans, drained and rinsedGrated Cheddar and Colby cheeseFresh chopped tomato
Heat the oil in large pot or Dutch oven over moderate heat. Add the onion and saute until opaque. Then add bell peppers, carrots, zucchini and celery. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are soft, about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, brown the meat in a separate pan. Add the cumin and chili powder to the vegetable mix, cook for about 1 minute. Add the ground beef, then stir in the canned tomatoes, water, chipotle chile and adobo sauce, oregano, and salt and pepper. Cook, partially covered, stirring from time to time for 30 minutes. Stir in the beans and continue cooking, partially covered, 20 minutes longer. Top with grated cheese and fresh chopped tomato.
Tags: amp, arrowhead, banana cake, bean chili, carrots, china, chocolate chip cookies, dis, dl, dutch oven, fir, grate, heart, home cooking, ins, love, moderate heat, professional chef, retirement, signature dishes, sweet tooth