NEW RECIPE #5: CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP

I can't believe it is already 5 weeks into the new year and I have actually kept up my resolution to make a new recipe every week.  Last Friday I made the most delicious chicken tortilla soup.  I love chicken tortilla soup and for some reason have never made it.  I am not kidding when I say that this recipe ranks up there with some of the best I have ever had!  I know that is a pretty bold statement but fer realz.....this soup is good.  I think the secret ingredient was the corn meal you add close to the end of the cooking time.  It really added a certain depth of flavor that was such a pleasant surprise.  It slightly changed the consistency to a thicker soup also which I loved. 

I got the recipe from www.pioneerwoman.blogspot.com.  If you have never read this blog I beg you too.  I love the woman who writes it and I am also begging you to make this soup.

CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP:
2 whole boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 T. Olive oil
1 1/2 tsp Chili powder
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 T. Olive oil
1 C. diced onion
1/4 C. diced green bell pepper
1/4 C. Red bell pepper
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 can Rotel tomatoes and green chilies
32 oz. low sodium chicken stock
3 T. Tomato paste

4 C. hot water

2 cans black beans, drained

3 T cornmeal or masa

5 whole corn tortillas, cut into uniform strips around 2-3 inches

GARNISHES (A must in my opinion!)

Sour cream

Diced avocado

Diced Red onion

Salsa or Pico De gallo

Grated Monterey Jack

Cilantro

INSTRUCTIONS:

Preheat oven to 375.  Mix cumin, chili pepper, garlic powder, and salt.  Drizzle 1 Tbs. olive oil on chicken, then sprinkle a small amount of spice mix on both sides.  Set aside the rest of spice mix.  Place chicken breasts on a baking sheet.  Bake for 20-25 min, or until chicken is done.  Use two forks to shred chicken.  Set aside.

Heat 1 Tbs. olive oil in a pot over medium high heat.  Add onions, red pepper, green pepper, and minced garlic.  Stir and begin cooking, then add the rest of spice mix.  Stir to combine, then add shredded chicken and stir.  Pour in Rotel, chicken stock, tomato paste, water, and black beans.  Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer.  Simmer for 45 minutes, uncovered.

Mix cornmeal with a small amount of water.  Pour into the soup, then simmer for an additional 30 minutes.  Check seasonings, adding more if needed.  Turn off heat and allow to sit for 15 to 20 minutes before serving.  Five minutes before serving, gently stir in tortilla strips.  Ladle into bowls, then top with whatever the H you want!

TIPS:  I added a packet of taco seasoning and a ton of extra cumin.  Now go do yourself and your family a favor and whip this up TONIGHT!

Jules

SWEET SHOT TUESDAY

Well...here is my picture for my m3b p52 and sweet shot Tuesday.  It's sort of in honor of Valentines day coming up.  This is a picture of my table on my deck.  The hole is where the umbrella is supposed to be inserted in the summertime.  I didn't realize how tricky it was to photograph snow.  It is early evening in this picture so lightning isn't the greatest.  If it ever gets sunny here then I am going to try to take some more shots of the snow.  Visit http://www.my3boybarians.com/ for some other cool shots!

Jules

I HEART FACES: INNOCENT WONDER

I am entering this photo in the I heart faces contest this week.  The theme is innocent wonder.

This picture is full of innocent wonder.  Go check the others out at http://www.iheartfaces.com/.

Jules

NEW RECIPE #4: LEMON CHICKEN BREASTS

I can't believe the lemon chicken breast recipe is the first recipe I have tried out of my new Ina Garten cookbook.  I actually had the pleasure of going to listen to her speak and get my autographed copy of her new cookbook!  I am not one to go crazy over celebrities.  In fact, I can't really imagine who else I would ever go listen to again.  There is just something so calming and reassuring about Ina.  She makes you feel like you can cook anything.  She seems so happy and relaxed.  I feel like she is smiling and cooking all day everyday in her beautiful rustic Hampton's home, where her show is filmed.  I would love to be her house guest.

The recipe is a perfect weeknight meal.  Very simple ingredients.  How can you go wrong with chicken, lemon, garlic and white wine? The chicken was very juicy and the sauce was delicious!
Even my boys (all 3) liked it.  Brady did douse the chicken with BBQ sauce but he still liked it.  Jake said it was soooo good that he didn't need anything on it :).

LEMON CHICKEN BREASTS: Serves 4

1/4 C. Olive oil
3 TBSP minced garlic (9 cloves)
1/3 C. Dry white wine (I used Vermouth)
1 TBSP. grated lemon zest (2 lemons)
2 TBSP. fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 Tsp. dried oregano
1 Tsp. minced fresh thyme leaves
Kosher salt and black pepper
4 boneless chicken breasts, skin on (6-8 oz. each)
1 Lemon

Preheat oven to 400
Warm olive oil in a small saucepan over medium low heat, add the garlic, and cook for just 1 minute but don't allow the garlic to turn brown.  Off the heat, add wine, lemon zest, lemon juice, oregano, thyme, and 1 tsp. salt and pour into a 9x12 inch baking pan.

Pat chicken breasts dry and place them skin side up over the sauce.  Brush chicken breasts with olive oil  and sprinkle them liberally with S and P.  Cut lemon in 8 wedges and tuck it among the pieces of chicken.

Bake for 30-40 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken breasts, until the chicken is done and the skin is lightly browned.  Cover pan tightly with foil and allow to rest for 10 minutes.  Sprinkle with salt and serve hot with pan juices.

We will definitely be making these again!  I served this with lemon scented angel hair pasta and sauteed mushrooms.  My boys were stuffed!

Jules

SWEET SHOT TUESDAY

So I decided to play along with "sweet shot Tuesday" with Darcy over at http://www.my3boybarians.com/.  Every Tuesday you submit your sweet shot of the week.  This is also my submission for my mb3 P52.  You know...where I have a "shot of the week" for a year. 

I was fortunate to get my late Grandmother's collection of teacups and linens among other things.  I LOVE all of the teacups but never use them.  I thought I would pull one out and play around with the camera. You should go check out the other shots this week!

Jules

SHOT OF THE WEEK

There is a blog I started reading called http://www.my3boybarians.com/.  I like it because a lady named Darcy writes it and she has 3 boys and loves photography.  Kinda like me!  Anyway....she started a flickr group called m3b P52 which is basically a less ambitious version of a P365.  You are supposed to post a favorite photo of the week.  I thought this would be so great for me.  It will challenge me to really focus on getting great shots.  There is no theme which I like.  You can post whatever great shot you like for the week.  The picture I shared isn't really a good picture per se but I kind of came late to the party! 

It is the same scene every morning.  Nick and I look out the window and watch my two older boys board the bus for school.  Nick always smiles and waves to them.  I will be so sad when it is Nick's turn to ride the bus.
Jules

JUMP FOR JOY!

Looky what somebody bought herself:

If you know me then you are shocked and appalled that I would spend that much money on any one item.  Ahhhh.....Lightroom, how I have dreamed about you.  This is photoshop lightroom which is a photo editing software.  It is alot easier than photoshop in my opinion.  I have photoshop and can't figure anything out!  I have done tutorial after tutorial on different things and it still doesn't come easy to me.  Lightroom on the other hand is AMAZING.  It is almost criminal because you can just take mediocre photographs and turn them into glorious works of art.  I'm all about psyching people out to think I am this amazing photographer when in reality I am just skilled in Lightroom.  Now I am off to go play with LR!  Happy Thursday!

Jules