It's amazing how with just a few ingredients you can make a fantastic salad. Usually I load salads up “Jedd Style,” with tons of vegetables and some quickly sauteed seeds. But looking around the kitchen for a quick lunch today, I spotted an orange and a red pepper in the hanging basket. And I had a few strands of onion sliced in the fridge that were begging to be used.

So, in less than 3 minutes I had a beautiful salad to munch on while I read an Entertainment Weekly review and listened to the melodious sounds of “dunk dunk” from the Law and Order opening on television.

Apparently we were very good this year, because Keith the Elf* and Santa left us a beautiful food processor, bunches of new dishes, a ton of dried chilies and grapefruit spoons!

But this post is about the dried chipotle and adobo chilies, because they have been the base for my newest favorite meal. How favorite, you might ask? I've made it 4 out of the last 6 nights.

It's that good.

And the grilled chicken in a chipotle and ancho chili marinade only takes about 3 minutes of hands-on time. Then it's off to the fridge for a half an hour. And then it just takes a few minutes on the grill for the chili marinade to caramelize the chicken. To round out the meal I just marinate some red peppers and cherry tomatoes in olive oil, sea salt and black pepper and then I grill those too. Bonus: a spicy and citrusy kiwi salsa to serve on the chicken.

This meal couldn't be easier, healthier or simpler to make. And it's also colorful, which we desperately need in January.

They're great on a pizza, a sandwich or just as a snack. But, sun dried tomatoes aren't cheap, and for $1.99 you can make them yourself. Not only will you have the satisfaction of saving a few dollars – but you get to have the simple childlike joy of performing a Mr. Wizard-like experiment in your own kitchen.

Launie and I are real suckers for a pretty ingredient. Especially if it's one that we've never cooked with before. Launie's been known to squeal a little when she finds one. It's kind of endearing - and delicious, because she carries that enthusiasm all the way from the vegetable bin to the kitchen to the plate.

Our introduction to the many-monikered cranberry bean was no exception.