Island's Tortilla Soup

Recently, Eric told me that my soup was better than the restaurant's. I am glad because it is pretty easy to make and cheaper than going out!

Here's the recipe if you want to try it!

Island's s® Tortilla Soup

Rotisserie Chicken from Store (Or you can roast your own, but why)
16 Cups (1 gallon) water
1 Medium Spanish onion, diced, (2 cups)
1 Medium red bell pepper, diced (1 cup)
2 Medium carrots, diced (1 cup)
2 Anaheim peppers, diced (3/4 cup)
2 Cloves garlic, minced (1 tablespoon)
4 6-inch yellow corn tortillas, diced (1 1/2 cups)
juice of 2 large limes (3 tablespoons)
1 Tablespoon salt
1 Teaspoon chili powder
1 Teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
2 Tablespoons minced fresh cilantro

Tortilla Strips
2 Cups vegetable oil
6 6-inch yellow corn tortillas
1 Teaspoon chili powder
1/2 Teaspoon garlic powder
3/4 Teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
1/2 Teaspoon salt

Garnish 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese 2 avocados, diced

INSTRUCTIONS:
Removed meat from cooled chicken. Discard skin and use bones for stock.

Add bones to water in a large sauce pan or stock pot. Bring just to boil and reduce heat, simmer 30 minutes.

Remove a tablespoon of drippings from chicken package (or use olive oil) into large skillet over medium heat. Saute onion, peppers, carrot and garlic in hot skillet for 10 minutes over medium heat.

After bones have simmered 30 minutes, remove from water, and add sauteed vegetables, 1 1/2 cups diced corn tortillas ,chicken meat, lime juice, salt, chili powder and cayenne pepper.

Simmer about 30 mintes and then add cilantro. Simmer up to 30 minutes longer, until vegetables are cooked through.

Heat 2 cups of vegetable oil in medium saucepan.

Make crispy spicy tortillas strips by cutting a pile of 6 small corn tortillas into 1/4-inch strips. Fry strips, half at a time, until crunchy. About 4-5 minutes. Drain on paper towels.

Combine seasonings for strips (chili powder, cayenne and salt) in a bowl. Toss tortilla strips with seasoning until strips are coated.

Serve bowls of soup topped with a 2 tablespoons of shredded Jack cheese, about 2 tablespoons of diced avocado. Top with a handful of tortilla strips.

Yields 8 servings


I often skip the sautéing step if I have time to let the soup cook for a few hours, it cuts out that tablespoon of fat calories and saves me from having to wash another pan. I just follow the recipe but still wait til 30 minutes before serving to add the cilantro.

Dinnertime!

Sunday Night I made Sliders for Dinner. Ever since I saw the cute little hamburger things in a sale ad, I have wated to make them. We LOVE the ready to eat bacon around here 4 slices are 70 calories and that makes this dieter happy. The only thing I didn't love were the buns. They were dry and i could have done without them. We had cheese, tomatoes, bacon, avocado and anaheim peppers to go on them. I made some Elotes in a cup as a side, but learned that you have to use real Mexican cheese or the fake parmesean. The real parmesean doesn't do well in this dish.

I'm Lovin It...

Someone whose blog I read did this so I am going to too...

Some things I currently love...


Jurassic Park, The Ride! I love flume rides, and this is better than any other one ever... Why? BECAUSE THERE ARE DINOSAURS! I don't however love it when you have to share a row with people who try to squeeze your lungs out by pushing down on the lap bar....



It hasn't come out yet, so I am not positive I will love it, but the previews are amazing, and it has the incredibly good looking Johnny Depp in it... I want this poster!



A couple of Sundays ago, my friend bridget bought me a snack of regular Hot Cheetos upon her discovery that I had never tried them. I have become a HUGE fan in only a week, and I actually like the baked ones better, because there is less grease!



I love the color blue! It is a happy color and it makes me smile! I also love the Universal Tram Ride!

In Case You are wondering...

So. It has been an interesting week. I am however, looking very much forward to Spring Break which I guess is officially started.

Friday night I came home from work and fell asleep. I didn't eat dinner, I didn't go online for hours. I went to sleep. At 7pm! I did wake up in the middle of the night but was apparently still ready to sleep because when it was time for me to wake up on Saturday for work. I really didn't want to.

Saturday I had a staff meeting at work. We had this most amazing banana choc. chip nut bread. I want to know how to make it. Or go buy like fifty loaves to keep in the freezer. Yes, it is that good.
I created a gator headband craft to match one of the stories from storytime.
I went to El Pollo Inka with Denise and Jessica, where I ate my amazing #8 no egg and put about a third of a bottle of the amazing green sauce on my food. I would put it on almost everything I eat! I love it! One day I will get the Chaufa and eat a whole bottle of it. It is a dietary goal. I will need many Inka Colas that day.
Went back to work and then from 3-5 cleaned out the craft supplies and toy giveaways section of the workroom. I laughed when I discovered that we have a whole basket worth of Harry Potter party supplies. I have corrupted the library. I am looking forward to the party we may or may not be having in July. I <3 Harry Potter.

I came home intending to stay in bed and read. Then one of my coworkers texted me to let me know that her check was already in and so mine probably was too. It was. I am so excited. So, I went out to dinner and the movies with Denise. I tried the new Buffalo Chicken pizza at CPK. It is not bad, but I would like it better if they put the celery on after it came out of the oven. It is probably my number 3 pizza on the menu after the BBQ Chicken Pizza and the Chicken Club Pizza. They are yummys. As always I enjoyed more than one glass of the glorious sugar free peach Iced Tea. It is amazing stuff!

Today I have Sunday School and Church, then I need to get some stuff done at home so that I can go to Disneyland tomorrow! I am going with some coworkers and it should be a lot of fun. I really want my back to co-operate with me though, because one of my co workers hasn't been in a really long time and I want her to have fun.

Then tonight is twenty-somethings bowling! I am bringing at least one and possibly two friends. It should be a blast.

Tuesday I am planning on spending the day around here getting some stuff (taxes!) done and then working in the evening.

Wednesday I am on a normal Wednesday schedule.

Thursday I am supposed to go see the German Cold War art Exhibition at LACMA with a friend from school.

Friday and Saturday I work all day.

I would like to squeeze a trip to the Aquarium in at some point this week, but it depends on how things go.

More details as events warrant! LOL!


Also, tomorrow is the LAST day to get in entries for the plastic egg challenge of the month. Try to wow me folks!

Monster Cheese and Onions

SO today I went to work, where we suffered through yet another day of no heat. But I still had a little bit of fun, even though we were all Chilly Willy status.

After that I went to Sarah's house. Then we went to the British store where I bought Lemon Curd for my amazing moonbeam cookies, and my favorite Chocolate buttons. I love the chocolate buttons.

After that we went to Jo Ann's where we bought felt to make our own versions of ugly dolls, I made a not so ugly yeti that is almost done. As soon as he is I will post a picture.

Then I went to the store where I shopped like a relatively healthy thinking person by avoiding the center aisles and shopping around the outside of the store, and I bought ingredients for three yummy meals. Now All I have to do is decide which one I feel like making tonight.

My options are Spaghetti with Italian Sausage
French Onion Soup with yummy Muenster Cheese and Bread and Salad
or Salad and a grilled ham and cheese sandwich

The last option is fastest but the first one sounds amazing
whatever I dont do tonight between the sapghetti and the soup I will do tomorrow. Oh well, off to figure out dinner...