Chicken Tortilla Soup

Its getting to be that time of year... so I figured I'd start posting my favorite soups for Soup Sundays!

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Ingredients:
1tbsp olive oil
1 lg. onion, diced (or a bag of already diced onion from Weggies!)
4 oz. green chilies, drained
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/4 - 1/2 tsp Cayenne pepper - I like it spicy - so I go 1/2 or a bit more!
6 cups chicken broth
chicken - cooked and cut up
1 cup corn
1 can black beans (or your favorite bean)
2 - 14 oz cans diced tomatoes (I like to experiment with the different kinds) OR crushed tomatoes OR one of each!
salt and pepper to taste

1. Heat oil and saute onion in soup pan
2. Add chicken, chilies, chili powder, cumin, garlic, oregano and cayenne
3. Stir in stock and tomatoes
4. bring mixture to a boil and simmer 1 hour
5. Add corn and black beans and simmer 10 minutes - season with salt and pepper

Garnish with cilantro, crushed tortilla chips, cheddar cheese

Italian Wedding Soup

My latest FAVORITE soup!!!  I like to double/triple it and serve it at a fall party as an alternative to chili.

*****FOR AN EVEN EASIER WAY TO MAKE THIS SOUP, SEE THE NOTES UNDER THE RECIPE!

Ingredients:

1 medium onion, diced                               

3 stalks celery, diced                     

2 cloves garlic, minced

4 T. olive oil

4-5 oz

. acin de pepe, cooked to directions       

8 cups cups chicken broth

 meatballs  (go ahead and make your own mini meatballs if you like, but I use Rosina's Italian Style.  Warm them in microwave a but until defrosted enough that I can cut them in quarters)

8 oz. spinach, chopped (or kale)

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

salt and pepper  to taste

Directions:

In a large soup pot, add olive oil, sauté garlic briefly. Add onion and celery, sauté until tender. Add broth. Bring to a boil. Stir in remaining ingredients, except cheese. Bring to a boil. Add cheese when done.

******WHEN DOUBLING - do NOT sue 10oz of acin de pepe, I don't think I've ever used more than 7 oz. in a pot of soup.  

NOTES:
Because I can be very lazy (well, b/c I have 3 little kids and sometimes the time I can spend cooking is limited) -  I go to Wegmans and buy already chopped celery and onion  - the finely chopped one.  If I make just one batch, I only need 1 bag, but I almost always double it, so get 2!

Sloppy Joeys

I told you this recipe blog was all about EASY, right??!!  

I hadn't made these in a long time, but we had them for dinner Sunday night and everyone ate them!   I like to use the McCormick packet for this.  BUT - I also do a few other things to make it a bit yummier.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 lbs. ground beef (or turkey if you prefer)
1 can tomato paste
1 1/4 cups water
2 - 3 slices of bacon
BBQ sauce
Rolls

 In a large frying pan, cook up about 2 slices of bacon.   Get rid of the grease and add your ground beef (or turkey).   Cook up the beef, add the McCormick packet, water, tomato paste AND.... about 2-4 tbsp of your favorite BBQ sauce.   Simmer for 10 minutes and enjoy on a roll!

Chicken Parm

This dish is sure to make many appearances this fall and winter.   I tried it this week and here's what I  love about this recipe:  it took me 10 minutes to put together, everybody ate it, only ONE DISH to do afterwards and it was DELISH!!!  I'm all about a dinner I can put together during the kids' naps and still have time to play on facebook!  Check out the blog I got it from to watch the video of how to make it - http://foodwishes.blogspot.com/2008/02/end-of-chicken-parmesan-as-you-know-it.html


To make this quick and easy chicken parm dish:

put about 2 tbsp EEOV in the bottom of a 9 x 13 casserole dish with some garlic and crushed red pepper flakes.    Place chicken breast in the dish.  (I used 4 large breasts and cut them in half).   Then, cover with out 2/3 of a jar of spaghetti sauce.   Sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese.  On top of the cheese.... GARLIC CROUTONS! I used a 5 oz bag and then a little more from another bag, but 5 oz would be plenty - I just like lots of crunch!   Top the croutons with another cup of mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup parm. cheese.  Pop that in a 350 degree oven for about 40 - 60 minutes (depending on the size of your chicken breasts, my halved breasts took about 45 minutes.)    The result:  crunchy top and flavorful chicken.  Serve it over some spaghetti and its an easy dinner that tastes like it took much longer than 10 minutes to put together!

French Apple Pie

My FAVORITE pie of all time!

Ingredients:

1 pie crust for 9 in. pie plate

3/4 cup sugar
1/4cup flour
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp Cinnamon
dash of salt
6 medium apples thinly sliced and pared

Crumb topping:
2 cup flour
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
(mix with a fork until crumbly)

Heat oven to 425.  Line pie plate with pastry.   Stir together sugar, flour, nutmeg, cinnamon and slat.   Mix lightly with the apples. Pour into pastry lined pan and sprinkle with crumb topping.  Bake for 40 -50 min.

Pie Crusts - MAKES 5!!!

Because its almost that time of year....   

Every September,  I make 5 pie crusts and pop them in the freezer for my pies during the fall.  (Once they're all gone, I return to Pillsbury!)  I love this recipe because it makes 5 and they can be easily frozen until I need them.    I got this recipe from my friend's mom several years ago.

5 cups flour
1 tsp salt
2 1/2 cups shortening
2 tsp vinegar
1 egg beaten lightly   (Put egg and vinegar in a 1 cup measure and add water to make 1 cup)

Mix flour, salt and shortening until crumbly. Ad cup of egg/vinegar/water and mix well.  (Don't be afraid to use your hands... it really makes the job much easier - and more fun!)  Divide into five equal balls.   To free the dough, wrap the dough-balls in wax paper and store them in a freezer bag. 

Hot Taco Dip

YUM!!   My favorite appetizer at a Naab party!   My sister-in-law, Phyllis, makes this for almost every event and it is crazy good and crazy easy!  Its hard to find a way to take a picture to make this look as good as it tastes... but trust me, its good stuff!

In a 9x13 casserole dish (or something close to that size), layer the following:

a block of cream cheese

can of diced green chilis

can of Hormell Chilli with beans - hot

shredded cheddar cheese.

Bake in a 350 oven until hot and bubbly!