Chicken Tortilla Soup

Remember when I said I would post more things besides recipes? I lied.

I've just been cooking so much lately! Heaven help me....and my thighs.

(Here's a newer/better photo!)

Here's a recipe for a delicious Chicken Tortilla Soup. It makes a whole bunch, so be prepared to share and freeze some.

The cast of characters.

In other words, a whole bunch of stuff!!!

Chicken Tortilla Soup
(click here for printer-friendly version)

Ingredients

• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 tablespoons margarine
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3 (14 ounce) cans chicken broth
• 4 cups half-and-half
• 1 (10 3/4 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup 
• **Recommended addition from my mom: 1 small can of tomato soup**
• 1 cup salsa
• 1 (15 ounce) can creamed corn
• 3 cooked boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 1/2 tablespoons fajita seasoning mix
• 3 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
• 16 ounces tortilla chips
• 8 ounces monterey jack cheese, shredded 
• Bread bowl - optional
  

First: cook the chicken breasts. I didn't photograph this. Sorry, it wasn't all that exciting! I boiled mine in water in a sauce pan with a bay leaf. Then, Keith shredded it and set it aside.

Chop the 3 cloves of garlic and one onion

Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a big soup pot. This is going to get really full, so use the biggest one you have!

Add the garlic and onion to the melted butter. Saute for 5 minutes.

Add 2 tbsp flour and stir well, cooking one minute more

Next, you're going to add the chicken broth and half & half

Broth

The good & evil. Half & half.

Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low

Add the condensed soup

1 cup of your favorite salsa

Can of creamed corn

All that shredded chicken

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 package fajita seasoning

Chop up the cilantro

And add 2 tbsp to the soup

{sorry some of the pics are blurry, my handy assistant snapped these in a hurry}

Stir and continue to heat for 15 minutes

To serve, I put crumbled chips in the bottom of a bread bowl, ladle in the soup and top with more chips, monterey jack cheese, a bit of sour cream and more cilantro.

It's very good!!