Chicken Tortilla Soup... a Favorite

One of our favorite recipes is Chicken Tortilla Soup. I would post a picture to go with it but it looks like chicken tortilla vomit so at the risk of turning everyone off from the recipe we are going to leave what it looks like to your imagination. Trust me is delightful. I got the recipe from one of my freshman roommates, she had two awesome recipes meatloaf (which I never got sadly) and this. This is a winner... so delicious. I have made a few modifications over the years but all in all it is a good recipe, and yes easy and cheap enough (if you omit ingredients) that a college student could whip it up in their poorly stocked and filthy kitchen. oh and it feeds a small to medium sized army, but reheats really really well...no really.

Kendra's Tortilla Soup (edited)
1/2 onion diced
3 cloves garlic diced
4 c. low sodium chicken broth
1 can diced tomatoes
1/2 c (at least) cooked chicken breast (diced/shredded/whatever)
1/2 c monteray jack/cheddar cheese shredded
1-2 T sour cream
1 can black beans (drained and rinsed)
2 cans (no really 2) creamed corn (yeah that's right)
1 T cumin
1 T chili powder
1 T cajun spice
1 shake (yeah specific) cayenne pepper
5-7 shakes Louisiana hot sauce
salt (to taste)

Toppings: limes, avocado, cheese (dont skip), sour cream (dont skip), tortilla chips (even stale ones work).

Saute your onions, garlic, and spices. Going to be honest I start with those spices and add more to taste later. But saute the onions for a bit with the spices in olive oil, add your garlic and cook until fragrant (you can smell it).

Pour the onion mixture (all of it), the chicken broth, and the tomatoes in their juices into the blender. Blend until everything is well blended and pour into the pot.

In the meantime cook your chicken. I usually just do mine in the crockpot... only for this recipe. So how do you do that? Put 2 frozen chicken breasts in your crockpot, pour some Monteral Steak Seasoning on them, cover, and cook on low for 5-6 hours (haha) or high for 3-4 or until the internal temperature reaches 165.  Shred/chop/cubed whatever shape you want the cooked chicken and set aside.

Meanwhile back at the ranch, start simmering your blended broth, add your beans, corn, sour cream, and cheese. Let heat all the way through and then add the chicken. Let that heat all the way through and then taste it. At this point I usually start dumping in spices. Start slow, a little bit of cumin goes a really long way, and Lousiana Hot Sauce, wow you better believe it. Okay when it tastes good let it simmer for 10 minutes.

Serve... with the yummy toppings. It is creamy and delicious... and fast if you do the chicken in a crockpot.

That's right this recipes knocks your socks off. Sit back, enjoy and have what I refer to as a "Dad Moment" (one of those moments where you congratulate yourself because let's face it, it's true you really are just that awesome).