Chicken Tortilla Soup

I have a lot to blog about but both a lack of time and motivation, it seems.  One of these days I’ll go back and post Halloween pictures, pumpkin patch pictures, etc.  For today, I feel compelled to share a new recipe. 

It is rare that I cook dinner and when I do, it’s rare that I get very adventurous.  However, I recently ran across a recipe for Chicken Tortilla Soup made in the crock pot.  Since Monday nights are normally crazy here, I decided to give it a try today.  It’s been simmering for about 5 hours and the aroma is so very tempting…I just had to sneak a taste…and it’s good!  Really good!  And its so quick and easy to throw together, too.  A perfect meal, in my opinion!

Chicken Tortilla Soup

1 lb shredded, cooked chicken (I used a deli rotisserie chicken because I’m lazy like that)
1 (15 oz) can Red Gold Mexican Fiesta diced tomatoes
1 (10 oz) can red enchilada sauce
1 can black beans
1 medium onion, chopped
1 (4 oz) can chopped green chiles
2 cloves minced garlic (I used a spoon full of the minced garlic in a jar. Again…laziness…)
2 cups water
1 (14.5 oz) can chicken broth
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp salt
1 bay leaf
1 pkg frozen corn
1 tbsp chopped cilantro

Mix all ingredients together in the crock pot. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.

The original recipe explains an elaborate ritual whereby you cut tortillas into strips and coat them with oil and then bake them in the oven to make crispy tortilla strips. Here in the land of cheap and easy, we’ll be using a bag of tortilla chips.

I made a double batch of the recipe posted above and it filled my largest crock pot to the very top. I don’t have high hopes for 2 of the 4 kids liking this so I imagine we’ll have plenty of leftovers which I plan to freeze it for another meal.

When I re-heat it, I might add something to make the broth a little thicker…maybe a can of cheddar chese soup and a little milk…or I might just use corn starch. I really think this would make a good creamy soup. I hesitate to make such grand modifications on my first attempt at making a recipe. There is a very real possiblity that my “adjustments” will end in disaster.