Buena Mexi Chicken Chowder

Cooking Time
25 minutes

Serving Size
10 cups

Kettle Size
4 quarts

Ingredients

Dehydrated potato cubes, potato flake, dehydrated celery leaf stalk, dehydrated carrot, arrowroot, herbs and spices, salt and pepper

Great Ideas for Dressing up your Buena Mexi Chicken Chowder

Milk Substitute:

Cashew milk. Using blender, add 1-1/2 cups water and 1/2 cup raw cashews. Blend until creamy. Use equal amounts as a milk substitute.

Add

1/2 cup white wine or 1/2 cup sour cream. Top with grated cheddar cheese or Velveeta cheese or chives. Substitute bacon with ham or sausage.

Vegetarian

Prepare without meat, discard the yellow chicken base packet. Use 15 oz. vegetable broth and reduce water by 2 cups. If desired add meat substitute. Add any of your favorite vegetables such as carrots, summer squash, etc.

Tid Bits of History - Buena

Buena Washington is a little known but important junction in the lower Yakima valley. The Buena junction takes off at I-82 exit 50 onto highway 22, heading south it takes you into the city of Toppenish known for the many western themed murals that can be seen painted through out the city. The murals attract thousands of visitors each year and it is worth a drive to view them.

This area is an agricultural hub surrounded by lush fields, vineyards and orchards. During WWII Yakima Valley farmers were in great need of laborers. Most of the American young men were in the armed forces and many U.S. laborers had gone to the Puget Sound area to work in defense plants along the Pacific coast. The federal government established the Bracero Program which allowed Mexican laborers to enter the United States on a temporary basis during the harvest season. Today there are many migrant workers that live in this area and work with a variety of crops including hay, all types of produce, hops and orchards.
The area is stunning in its diverse geographical area, continuing south on Highway 97 there is an amazing view of the snow capped volcanic peak of Mt Adams. It continues through the open, sagebrush and grass covered, hills of the Yakama Indian Reservation. There are dramatic changes in scenery as you make the steep inclines and descents on highway 97 as it brings you into the forested and beautiful Satus Pass, as it runs through the Simcoe Mountains. This opens up again at Goldendale, Washington where you can see the wide expanse of dry land farming. An especially dramatic scenic portion of the drive appears as Highway 97 cuts through the dry land farms making a dramatic drop into the Columbia River gorge where it meets up with the Oregon state line. Make sure to take time to stop at Stonehenge memorial, Mary Hill Museum and plan a picnic and swimming at the Mary Hill State Park along the Columbia River.