Citrus Math Chili

I know, I know. You're probably thinking "What does math have to do with chili?" Well, if you've got a child who doesn't "get" fractions, proportions, or ratios (or you don't do so well with them yourself), this is a great way to work on understanding them. For younger children, this is also a great way to teach how to measure things. And for the adventurous cook, it is a way to teach eyeball measurements compared to standard measurements. Can you tell I teach math and science yet? Toppings: Sour Cream, Green Onions, Cheese, Jalapenos, Tortilla Chips, Crumbled Cornbread,

• Ready In: 55 mins
• Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

• 1  small bay leaf
• 1⁄8 teaspoon allspice
• 1⁄4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1⁄4 teaspoon cumin
• 1⁄4 teaspoon  ground thyme
• 1⁄4 teaspoon hickory smoke salt
• 1⁄4 teaspoon oregano
• 1⁄2 teaspoon cayenne
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ginger
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  granulated garlic
• 1⁄2 teaspoon lemon pepper
• 1  tablespoon  cola  syrup (I used the cola syrup from our soda stream machine)
• 1  tablespoon  chicken base, better than bouillon
• 2  tablespoons salted butter
• 2  tablespoons key lime juice
• 6  tablespoons lemon juice
• 6  tablespoons cranberry juice
• 6  tablespoons  sparkling grape juice or sweet red wine
• 1⁄2 cup  instant rice
• 1  cup sparkling water, or club soda (any unflavored carbonated water will work)
• 1 1⁄2 cups water, tap or filtered
• 2 (10 3/4ounce) cans  tomato soup
• 1⁄4 sweet onion
• 2  clementines (peeled and wedges separated)
• 12 -14  breaded chicken nuggets

Directions

1. Gather all ingredients and measure them.
2. Combine bay leaf (whole), all teaspoon and tablespoon measurements in a large saucepan.
3. Heat until butter has melted. Take a moment to review your fractions and how many clementine parts it takes to make a whole clementine, half, quarter, etc.
4. Add onions and clementines.
5. Heat to a boil. (Bubbles on the surface and steam rising).
6. Add the cans of tomato soup and stir.
7. Add the sparkling water and watch the release of carbon dioxide (harmless) from the mixture. (See all of the bubbles? That is what you are looking for.) Just be sure to watch from the side and not directly over the pot.
8. Stir and let the mixture come to a boil again.
9. Add the tap water. Notice that it doesn't have the same effect as the sparkling water? That is because there wasn't carbon dioxide added to the water.
10. Add the chicken nuggets.
11. Stir and bring to a boil again.
12. Add the rice, stir, and remove from heat (don't forget to turn the burner off and set the pot on a cold burner or a hot pad.).
13. Wait 5-10 minutes.
14. Divide into the required number of bowls. You've just combined lots of things into something that became a new whole. By serving it to others, you are dividing your new whole (the chili) into fractional parts.
15. Top with your favorite toppings and enjoy!