Chicken Tortilla Soup

Okay so this might actually be the best recipe I have ever created! It has a lot of ingredients, but is super easy and one of the most delicious things I have ever tasted! It makes a pretty big batch, so you will have plenty of leftovers to enjoy!!!

Ingredients:
4 large tomatoes
2 poblano chilis (optional, 1 for less spicy)
1 1/2 onions
5 garlic cloves
4 corn tortillas
2 32oz containers chicken broth
2 chicken breasts
1 taco seasoning packet
2 cups frozen corn
1 cup monterey jack cheese
1 6 oz can tomato paste

Toppings:
Cheese
Avocado
Crushed Tortilla chips or homemade tortilla strips
Lime

Directions:
In a large skillet, char the tomatoes, onions with the skin, poblano peppers, and garlic with the skin for about 5 minutes on each side or until brown.  Don't worry if it gets very dark.  This is flavor!

Remove all of the vegetables and remove the skin of the onion and garlic.  Cut the vegetables up into smaller pieces.  A few cuts should do the trick.  No need to finely dice!  Put these in a large pot with 2 32 oz containers of chicken broth, half of the taco seasoning packet, and the tomato paste.  Stir and allow to cook on medium high heat for 45-50 minutes or until vegetables become very soft.  After about 30 minutes, chop up the 4 corn tortillas and put them into the soup! I know this sounds weird, but you are thickening the soup this way!

In another pot, put the chicken breasts and fill with water so that the chicken is just covered.  Stir in the second half of the taco seasoning packet.  Cook on medium heat for about 30 minutes, or until chicken becomes tender.  After 30 minutes, shred the chicken and put it back in the pot of seasoned water on medium low heated until needed.

In the same large skillet you charred the vegetables before, char the corn now.  Cook for about 5-7 minutes or until corn begins to turn brown.  Set aside.

After about 50 minutes of the vegetables cooking in the chicken broth stir to check for tenderness.  If they are tender, in small batches, blend them in the blender.  Once everything is blended, but it back in the pot and allow it to cook for another 10 minutes.

After 10 minutes, not you can add your corn, shredded chicken, and one cup of monterey jack cheese.  Allow this to cook for another 20-25 minutes.

While the soup is cooking you can get your toppings ready.  Cheese is always great on the top.  I also like avocado! Don't forget to squeeze some lime on the avocado so it does not turn brown.

You can also crush up tortilla chips, but I made my own tortilla strips.  Slice a couple of corn tortillas into strips while a pot of hot oil is coming up to temperature.  About 375 degrees is a good temperature to fry at. Toss in the corn tortillas and cook for about 2-3 minutes or until golden.  Drain on a paper towel and season with salt as soon as they come out of the fryer.

Once the soup is ready, pour a big ladle full into a bowl and top with cheese, avocado, and those delicious tortilla strips! Enjoy!

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Ultimate Chicken Nachos

Ingredients:
Nachos:
shredded chicken
sour cream
guacamole
tortilla chips
queso

Chicken:
2 large chicken breasts
2 cups water
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon salt
4 garlic cloves, smashed
3 tablespoons paprika
1 teaspoon hot sauce
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Queso:
1 teaspoon oil
1 teaspoon flour
1 cup milk
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup goat cheese
1 jalapeno, seeded and deveined

Guacamole:
1 Haas Avocado
1 lime
1/4 of a red onion
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 jalapeno, seeded and deveined

Directions:
Preheat oven to 250 degrees.

In a small casserole dish, place the chicken breasts and the water.  Put all of the spices and stir around.  Cover with foil and bake in the oven for 90 minutes.

In a saucepan, heat up the oil for the queso.  Finely dice the jalapeno and add to the oil.  Stir and cook until the jalapeno begins to brown.  Whisk in the flour and cook for about 2 minutes to cook out the raw flour taste.  Slowly whisk in the milk and cook on medium heat to thicken the sauce.  Once its thick add in the goat and mozzarella cheese and stir until it melts.  Taste it to check the salt.  Add salt to taste.  Set aside until the chicken is done.

In a small bowl, put in the flesh of the guacamole.  Do this by slicing it across the midline, removing the pit, and scooping out the inside.  Squeeze in the juice of one lime and stir.  I use a fork to mash the flesh of the avocado.  Stir in the diced red onion and the diced jalapeno.  Sprinkle in a little salt and stir.  Set aside.

Once the chicken is done, allow to cool and begin to shred on a cutting board.  Once all of the chicken is shredded, put it back in the liquid in the casserole dish and stir.

On a large platter, pour the tortilla chips and separate into one layer.  Top with the chicken and spread evenly.  You can drizzle with a little of the cooking liquid if desired.  Then top with the queso, making sure it is still warm.  Dollop with sour cream and guacamole and enjoy!

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Stuffed Chicken Breast

Ingredients:
4 chicken breasts
1 package frozen spinach
8 oz goat cheese
1 egg
1 cup flour
2 cups bread crumbs
salt
pepper

Directions:
Butterfly each chicken breast.  Butterflying just means to "unfold" the meant you are using.  Basically just slice the chicken breast in half creating a hinge by not cutting all the way through.  Now you can pound the chicken breast by using any heavy object to pound untilt the chicken is about 1/4 inch thick.

Microwave the spinach based on the package directions and squeeze all of the water out.  Now place 1/4 of the spinach over each chicken breast in a thin layer going 1 inch from the edge.

Now spread 2 ounces of goat cheese over the top of the spinach on each chicken breast.

Now starting from the short end, tightly roll the chicken breast up to create a pinwheel effect.  You can also fold the oddly shaped ends in like you are making a burrito.  Once it is rolled up place toothpicks at the seam to hold the chicken together.

Now salt and pepper the chicken on all sides before doing a standard breading procedure.  First each chicken breast goes into the flour, then into the beaten egg, then into the bread crumbs.

Heat a large skillet on high with 1 tablespoon of oil.  Brown the chicken on all 4 sides in the pan.  About 3 minutes each side or until chicken is browned. 

Now bake chicken in a 350 degree oven for 10-12 minutes.  Serve and enjoy! (Don't forget to remove the toothpicks)

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