Tortilla Soup

1 can (10 1/2 oz.) condensed chicken with rice soup, undiluted
1 1/3 c. water
1 c. salsa
1 c. canned pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1 c. canned black beans, rinsed and drained
1 c. frozen corn
1 c. frozen diced cooked chicken
1 tsp. ground cumin
Crushed tortilla chips, shredded cheddar cheese, and sour cream

In a large saucepan, combine the first eight ingredients. Cook over medium-high heat for 5-7 minutes or until heated through. Serve with tortilla chips, cheese, and sour cream.

*If you want, you can cut tortillas into strips and bake them for a few minutes to make homemade tortilla strips. Yum!

Yield: 5 servings
Prep/total time: 10 minutes

Taste of Home Simple & Delicious Cookbook

White Chili

1 T. vegetable oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 T. minced garlic
1 stalk celery, divided
2 cans Great Northern beans, drained
2 cups cooked, cubed chicken
3 chicken boullion gubes
1 can chopped green chilis, drained

In a medium soup pot, heat vegetable oil. Add onions, garlic, and celery, and saute until tender. Add drained beans, cooked chicken, 3 cups water, boullion cubes, and drained green chilies. Bring to a boil. Simmer for 25-35 minutes. Allow to cool slightly before freezing. Transfer toa freezer bag to freeze.

To prepare for serving, Heat frozen soup gently over stovetop. Simmer for 15 minutes or until soup reaches desired thickness.

White Turkey (or Chicken) Chili

1 1/2 cups chopped onions
2 cloves minced garlic
1 jalepeno pepper minced (I take out the seeds and ribs so it is not too hot)
1 can (4 oz) chopped mild green chilies
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp salt
1 c chicken broth
1 can white kidney beans (I add 1-2 cans of any white bean I want)
2 cups cooked turkey or chicken (cubed or shredded)
cilantro and monterey jack cheese

Saute onions and garlic in olive oil over med. heat until onion is tender. Add jalepeno, chilies, cumin, oregano, cayenne pepper, beans, broth and meat. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 20-25 minutes. Stire in cilantro and sprinke with cheese on top when chili is done.

*As a note, I usually double this recipe and like triple the broth and even add water. I just add liquid until I like the consistency. I don't make this as an exact science. You can add more or less meat, beans or liquid. I completely leave out the cilantro because I don't like it. And then I cook it as long as I need it to stay warm, anywhere from 30 minutes to even an hour and a half. You may need to just add more liquid if you do this. Enjoy!!!!

Great Green Chili

8 cups fat-free, reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 onion, finely chopped
8 portions chicken breast (about 2 lbs)
2 packages Knorr Roasted Chicken Gravy Mix
3 cans (7 oz each) mild diced green chiles
6 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1/2 tsp ground cumin
2 jalpenos, seeded and chopped
1 can (28 oz) white hominy, drained
8 (6-inch) flour tortillas
1 tomato, diced
1/2 cup fat-free sour cream

1. In a large pot, combine chicken broth, onion, and chicken breasts. Heat to boiling over high heat. Then reduce heat to low and simmer until the chicken is no longer pink in the center, about 20 minutes. Remove chicken from the broth and set aside to cool.
2. Use a whisk to blend gravy mix into the broth. Then add chilies, garlic, cilantro, cumin, jalapenos, and hominy. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; then reduce heat to low.
3. Shred the cooked chicken by pulling it apart with 2 forks, and add it back into the broth. Cover and simmer about 40 minutes.
4. Warm flour tortillas by placing them between two damp paper towls o nhigh for 45 seconds.
5. Spoon a potion of the green chili into each bowl, top with a spoonful of diced tomato and a tablespoon of sour cream.
6. Serve with warmed tortillas for dipping.

Yield: 8 servings
Prep Time: 1hour, 15 minutes.

Santa Fe Chicken Soup

1/3 c. brown rice (uncooked)
4 portions chicken breast
1 lime, halved
2 tsp taco seasoning
6 corn tortilaas
1 Tbsp olive oil cups fat-free, reduced sodium chicken broth
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 onion, chopped
1 can (4 oz) diced green chiles
6 cups fat-free, reduced-sodium chicken broth.

4 Tbsp salsa

1/4 cup fat-free sour cream

2 Tbsp cilantro, chopped

1. Cook brown rice accordgin to its package directions. While the rice is cooking, place chicken breasts in a shallow dish; cover with lime juice, and lightly coat both sides with tao seasoning. Then place chicken on a hot grill and cook for approximately 6 minutes on each side. Let the chicken cool slightly, then cut it into strips and set aside.

2. Preheat oven to 350* F and cut corn tortillas into 1/2-inch strips, then place them on a baking sheet. Bake for about 15 minutes or until they are crispy, then set aside.

3. While the tortilla strips are baking, heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add garlic and onion; saute until the onion is transparent, about 8 minutes.

4. Add cooked rice to the pot and saute for 3 minutes. Add green chilies and saute for 2 more minutes. Then pour fat-free chicken broth into the mixture and bring it to a boil. Add sliced chicken and reduce heat to low. Simmmer for about 25 minutes.

5. Place a few baked tortilla strips in the bottom of bowls, and spoon about a fourth of the soup into each. Garnish each bowl with a a few more tortilla strips, a sponful of salsa, fat-free sour cream, and cilantro. Serve and enjoy!

Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 55 minutes

Eating for Life Cookbook