Chicken Tortilla Soup

‘Tis cold my friends.

There’s frost on the pumpkins in the mornings! Oh wait – there are no pumpkins in my garden because those evil squash bugs killed them!!

But I digress.

It is cold enough to start craving some tummy-warming soups, like this family favorite Chicken Tortilla Soup. (Especially after a cold day outside cleaning up the remains of the pathetic, pumpkin-less garden! :))

I was able to use some of the bits and pieces of remaining garden produce to make this already cheap meal even cheaper.

For the can of crushed tomatoes, I took the skin off some fresh tomatoes and quartered them.

For the can of chile peppers, I used fresh jalapenos and sauteed them with the onion.

I added more chicken broth in place of the water for more flavor.

It’s a great way to use up some left-over chicken and can be made in advance and kept warm in a crock pot!

Chicken Tortilla Soup

1 pound chicken, cooked and chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 can (28 ounce) crushed tomatoes
1 can (10.5 ounce) chicken broth
1-1/4 cups water
1 can (4.5 ounces) chopped green chilies
1 can (15 ounce) black beans, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped (optional but yummy!)
1 package corn tortillas

In a large saucepan, heat olive oil and saute onion and garlic until soft. Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Simmer for 20 – 30 minutes stirring occasionally.

Meanwhile, cut corn tortillas into strips. Place them on a cookie sheet and bake at 400 degrees for about 10 minutes or until crispy. Watch them carefully!

To serve, scoop the soup into bowls and top with corn tortillas. You may also add sour cream, cheddar cheese, onion, peppers, or even black olives.

This is really yummy over a pile of rice, or with a hunk of homemade bread!

For you THMer’s – this would be a solid E with either the baked corn tortillas, a side of brown rice or a piece of plan approved bread. Substitute 0% fat free yogurt and a wedge of laughing cow cheese for the sour cream and cheddar.

Enjoy!

I’ve linked this post up with the THM Tuesday at Gwen’s Nest.

Digging Out

After the craziness of the fair died down (By the way – the kids did great – a thank you to everyone who wished them well!) – it was time to dig out the garden.

Once I found the plants again, I had some pleasant surprises!The corn has been growing fast and already has tassels and silk. My mouth waters just looking at it!
I found several baby watermelon tucked away under the leaves.
The winter squash, pumpkin and some volunteer gourds have taken over the bottom section! I see several little pumpkins and butternut squash forming, but absolutely no zucchini or summer squash.

Am I the only one in the world who can’t grow a zucchini?

But I can grow cucumbers! I had to pull a lot of weeds before I even uncovered the plant – and very excited to find this guy hiding in the leaves. Isn’t it beautiful? 🙂

And then there’s our summer staple – the fresh green bean. We’ve had just enough to eat fresh – lightly steamed and served with butter. Yum!

Somehow all the sweat and hard work is worth it when you see those fresh veggies on the table!

I’ve linked this post up with the Tuesday Garden Party at An Oregon Cottage.

Gleaning

Gleaning: To gather grain or other produce left by reapers.

The ancient practice of gleaning (think Ruth in the Bible) still has some very practical applications today.

Actually, we practiced it just yesterday. Some dear friends have a large strawberry bed full of luscious berries. (Yes, I will admit to envy when I see their beautiful and bountiful bed!)

After picking for over 2 hours on Saturday evening, our friends decided they just couldn’t keep up with all the berries.

So they asked us in church on Sunday if we would like to come and pick the rest of the patch. We were dressed in our Sunday clothes, it had just rained, and I had company coming for Sunday dinner. So of course I said “Sure!”

I borrowed some buckets, took off my shoes and waded into the strawberry bed with my oldest son and husband. We quickly and carefully picked two buckets, washed our hands off and invited our friends to join us for lunch to say thank you.

Gleaning can bring you some wonderful, free produce, but there are some things to remember.

Always pick at a time it is most convenient for the owner, even if you need to rearrange your schedule.
Remember that when dealing with produce, it needs to be picked when ripe, not when it’s convenient.
Always bring your own containers.
Be courteous and careful in their garden and yards.
A small thank you gift or note is always a nice touch, maybe some homemade jam or fresh loaf of bread.

Gleaning is an ancient idea that still has Thrifty value for today.