Tortilla Soup

I owe my soup fixation to this blog. I just love souping. Maliya loves soup, Easton can eat soup- soup is a great all around dish. It can be a starter, side or main dish. You can load it up with nutritious ingredients for the kiddos! Makes great leftovers. And you really can't go wrong. You really don't need a recipe to follow- just get yourself a base going and add whatever you want to it. Blend it up to make a bisque or pile on the veges- The world it yours. I think we should consider a separate Soup version of this blog. Friends and Soupies forever. Thoughts? =) Anyway, it's too damn hot in PS to be makin soups all the time. But, i can't wait to start refining my Gazpacho recipe!

And without further ado, ladies and gentlemen...tortilla soup:

Ingredients (don't let anything hold you back here, people. Cut stuff you don't like/don't have. Add stuff you want. I learned here that i love hominy. Threw the leftover can on my salads throughout the week)

• 3/4 onion, chopped
• 2-1/4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2-1/4 teaspoons olive oil
• 1-1/2 teaspoons chili powder
• 3/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 3/4 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 3/4 (10.5 ounce) can condensed chicken broth
• 3/4 cup and 3 tablespoons water
• 3/4 cup whole corn kernels, cooked
• 3/4 cup white hominy
• 3/4 (4 ounce) can chopped green chile peppers
• 3/4 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• 1-1/2 boneless chicken breast halves, cooked and cut into bite-sized pieces
• crushed tortilla chips
• sliced avocado
• shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• chopped green onions

Directions

1. In a medium stock pot, heat oil over medium heat. Saute onion and garlic in oil until soft. Stir in chili powder, oregano, tomatoes, broth, and water. Bring to a boil, and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes.
2. Stir in corn, hominy, chiles, beans, cilantro, and chicken. Simmer for 10 minutes.
3. Ladle soup into individual serving bowls, and top with crushed tortilla chips, avocado slices, cheese, and chopped green onion.
   
   *remove the cheese and chips and this is fight food