Chicken Corn Tortilla Soup

INGREDIENTS:

1 onion - chopped

1 whole garlic - minced

Chile powder, to taste

Cumin, to taste

Salt & Pepper, to taste

2 lbs chicken - cubed or whole to shred when cooked

1 can diced tomatoes with diced green chiles

1 can diced green chiles

2 lbs frozen corn

1 can black beans 

1 can refried beans

4 cups chicken broth

(Additional water for broth as needed with chicken bouillon)

Cilantro - chopped

Lemon - topping

Shredded cheese - topping

Tortilla strips - topping

Heat some oil and add onions & garlic on medium heat until softened. 

While that is softening up, season the chicken thoroughly with salt & pepper, chile powder, cumin...I season heavily.

When onion and garlic is fragrant and softened, add seasoned chicken and cook the outsides...do not cool through, just no pink on the outsides.

Add diced tomatoes, diced green chiles, sautée for a few minutes, then add chicken broth.

Start adding the corn and beans and put on high heat. Store frequently.

When it looks close to boiling, add 3/4ths of the cilantro, save the rest for topping. Let boil 5 minutes and turn heat off.

Top each serving with lemon, shredded cheese & tortilla strips. My boyfriend also likes to add hot sauce. 

Enjoy!

Spaghetti Muffins

The other night I decided to, yet again, experiment.  I wanted pasta, but I wanted something "manageable" when I was serving myself, and, the honest truth, I just wanted to see how it would work.

What I found is, it still tastes mostly the same, but has some crunchiness to some parts due to the baking.  Most importantly, I realized this would probably make a great party food.  Easy to serve, fun to look at, and tastes like your favorite spaghetti.  I would say the effort doesn't change the way it tastes, but it sure was fun making it!

INGREDIENTS:

Angel Hair Pasta

1 jar Prego

1 lb ground turkey - Italian seasoning

1 can diced tomatoes

1 can mushrooms 

Chopped onions

Minced garlic

Parmesan Cheese

Heat some oil and add onions & garlic on medium heat until softened. Add ground turkey and Italian seasoning and brown - do not cook all the way.

Add tomatoes, mushrooms and Prego and reduce. Set aside a cup or so of sauce for "topping".

In a stock pot cook angel hair pasta.

Once pasta is cooked and sauce has reduced, combine pasta, remaining sauce and about a cup of parmesan (to bind).

Oil muffin pans with olive oil. Filled with mixed pasta & sauce. Try to swirl the pasta to help with the structure. Top with remaining sauce.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. Remove from oven and let sit for at least 30 minutes to set. You should be able to pull out with a spoon and fork when ready. 

Enjoy!