Chicken Tortilla Soup

3 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) (or chicken schmaltz)
3 tbsp Butter
2 Carrots - Diced
2 Celery Stalks - Diced
1/2 Large Onion - Dice
2 Cloves Garlic - Diced
1/2 Red Pepper - Diced
1/2 Green Pepper - Diced
1 Large Jalapeno - Seeds Removed - Diced
1 Can Black Beans - Drained & Rinsed
1 Can Petite Diced Tomatoes
1 Can Hominy - Drained
2 Chicken Breasts - Boneless, Skinless - Grilled w/ salt, pepper, taco seasoning. Shredded.
2 tbsp -Kosher Salt
1 tbsp - Pepper
2 tbsp - Cumin
1 tbsp Taco Seasoning
1/2 Cup Tortilla Soup Seasoning (if you can't find, then just up the other spice levels)
4 Cups - Chicken Stock
4 Cups Vegetable Stock
2 Cups Water
6 Corn Tortillas - Finely shredded

Garnish:
Tortilla Chips
Cheddar Cheese - Shredded
Cilantro

In a large pot over med/high heat add EVOO & Butter.  Add in onions and cook about 2 minutes.  Add carrots and cook about 2 minutes.  Add in celery, garlic, peppers.  Stir to combine.

Add in salt, pepper, cumin, taco seasoning and tortilla soup seasoning.  You might have to add in about 1/2 cup of water.  Cook about 10 minutes.  Add in black beans, tomatoes, hominy.  Cook about 10 minutes.

Add in the chicken stock, vegetable stock and 2 cups of water.  Stir to combine.  Add in shredded tortillas.  Bring to a boil and add in the chicken.  Simmer about 30 minutes.

Adjust seasoning accordingly.  I garnished w/ cheddar cheese, tortilla chips and cilantro and served w/ corn muffins.  Maybe a squeeze of lime and some sour cream would be good too.

#Enjoy #foodie #cheftainment #mexicanfood #foodnetwork #healthyfood #soup

Roasted Turkey Tortilla Soup

10 Corn Tortillas - Cut in half then into 1/2" strips

3 Corn Tortillas - Finely diced

2 tbsp EVOO

1/2 Large Onion - Small Diced

2 Large Garlic Cloves - Small Diced

3/4 Green Pepper - Small Diced

1 32 oz Box of Swanson Mexican Tortilla Soup Broth

2 Cups Turkey (or Chicken Broth) - Shredded

1 14.5 Can Petite Diced Tomatoes

1 15 oz Can Black Beans - Drained and Rinsed

1 Cup Frozen Corn

1 tsp Cumin
1 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Pepper
1 tsp Paprika
1 tsp Roasted Mushroom Powder (I make my own so you can omit this)

In a 400 degree oven, on a large baking pan add the tortillas and roast for 7 minutes.

In a Med / Large Pot, over medium heat add the EVOO.  Add the onion and garlic.  Cook for about 10 minutes.  Add in the pepper and cook for another 5 minutes.  Add in the finely diced tortillas and cook for about 3 minutes.

Add in the cumin, salt, pepper, paprika and mushroom powder.  Stir to combine and cook for about 2 minutes.

Deglaze with 1/2 cup of the Tortilla Soup Broth.  Cook for about a minute then add the rest of the Tortilla Soup Broth.  Add in the shredded turkey, corn, black beans.  Cook for about 5 minutes then add in the 2 cups of turkey stock.  Simmer for 10 minutes.

Top with the fried tortillas and Enjoy!

Roast Chicken Tortilla Soup

1 Package Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs (about 12)

1 Cup Apple Juice

1 Tbsp Salt

1 Tbsp Pepper

1 Tsp Garlic Powder

1 Tsp Onion Powder

1 Tbsp Fajita Seasoning (or Taco)

In a bowl combine seasonings and coat chicken.  In a large pan add the apple juice and then the chicken.  Bake in a 400 degree oven for 25 – 30 minutes.  Cool for about 15 minutes then remove the chicken and shred.  Put the remaining juices in a small saucepan and reduce by half. Skim off the fat and set aside.

1 Cup Wild Rice (I used a wild rice mixture)

2 Tbsp Bacon Fat

6 Cups Water - boiling

Over high heat in a med. sauce pan add the bacon fat and the rice.  Cook about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Add the water, cover w/ lid, reduce heat to low simmer and cook for 45 minutes.  Drain off any residual liquid.

4 Tbsp Bacon Fat

1 Med. Onion – Diced

2 Carrots – Diced

2 Celery Stalks – Diced

6 Garlic Cloves – Minced

½ Anaheim Pepper – Diced

1 Tsp Salt

½ Tsp Pepper

1 Tsp Cumin

¼ Tsp Cayenne

¼ Tsp Red Pepper Flakes

8 Cups Chicken Stock - boiling

1 Can Diced Tomatoes

1 Can Black Beans – Drained

1 Cup Frozen Corn

5 Corn Tortillas - torn

In a large pan add the bacon fat, onion & carrots.  Cook for about 5-7 minutes.  Add the celery and garlic and cook about another 3 minutes.  Add the Anaheim pepper, salt, pepper, cumin, cayenne, red pepper flakes and cook another 5 minutes.  Add the chicken stock, the reserved from earlier chicken juices, bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer for about 30 minutes.  Add in the chicken thighs, tomatoes, black beans and corn.  Cook for about 10 minutes.  Add in the torn corn tortillas and cook about 10 minutes.

Take 10 Corn Tortillas (taco size) and cut into strips.  Spray w/ cooking spray and sprinkle w/ fajita seasoning.  Bake on a cookie sheet in a 400 degree oven for about 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

Serve soup w/ a garnish of the baked tortillas on top and maybe a few slices of avocado and a squeeze of a wedge of lime.

Tortilla Crust Pizza

In the mood for pizza but don't want to wait for take out and don't want the frozen pizza option?

I always have various sizes of flour and whole wheat tortillas in my fridge.  They are prefect to mix various leftovers together and wrap them up as a burrito or make a quesadilla.  But what if you're in the mood for pizza?

It's the ultimate thin crust.  Top with whatever ingredients you like, cheese, mushrooms, peppers, chicken, whatever.  Place on a cookie sheet or pizza rack, place in a 400 degree oven for 11-15 minutes and viola, the ultimate (healthier) thin crust pizza that you're craving in minutes.