Tasty Tortilla Soup

I found this recipe in a healthy cooking recipe, so you don't need to feel guilty for indulging! This recipe was great, but is not my favorite tortilla soup recipe of all times. I'm very picky about my Mexican food and will post my favorite another time.

Tasty Tortilla Soup

Ingredients

·        1 large onion, chopped

·        2 green onions, thinly sliced

·        2 Tbsp butter

·        4 garlic cloves, minced

·        2 Tbsp flour

·        4 ½ cups chicken broth

·        2 cans (14.5 oz each) diced tomatoes, undrained

·        1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce

·        1 can (4 oz) green chilies

·        1 tsp oregano

·        2 tsp cumin

·        ¼ tsp pepper

·        3 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded

·        2 Tbsp minced cilantro

·        1 1/3 cup crushed tortilla chips

·        7 Tbsp shredded cheddar

Directions

1. If you do not have cooked chicken on hand, I throw 2 defrosted chicken breasts in the oven at 375F for 35-45 minutes or put frozen chicken breasts and ½ cup water in the crockpot on low for 6 hours.
2. In a large pot, sauté onion and green onions in butter over medium high heat until tender.
3. Add garlic; sauté 2 minutes longer
4. Stir in flour until blended; gradually add broth
5. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato sauce, chilies, oregano, cumin and pepper.
6. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cover for 20 minutes.
7. Add chicken and cilantro and continue heating.
8. Enjoy!

Homemade Calzones

Some of you might be scared to make dough from scratch. My high school students can follow this recipe, which means you can too!

• 1 packet yeast (2 ¼ tsp.)
• 1 cup warm water (30 seconds in the microwave is perfect)
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 1 Tablespoon sugar
• 1 ½ tsp. salt
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 2 ¾ cup flour (you may need more/less)

1. In a large bowl, dissolve yeast and 1 tsp. sugar in warm water.  Stir with fork and allow to rest/dissolve for 5 minutes.
2. Stir in 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 ½ tsp. salt and 1 tablespoon olive oil.
3. Stir in flour, 1 cup at a time, until it makes a soft dough
4. Knead until smooth – like playdough! (About 5 minutes, It should not stick to your hands anymore)
5. Rub outside of dough lightly with olive oil and place in bowl
6. Let rise for 1 hour
7. If baking on a pizza stone, place stone in oven and preheat to 450 F. If using a cookie sheet, just preheat oven to 450 F.
8. Split dough into 4-6 (depending how many or how big)
9. Lightly flour your countertop and rolling pin
10. Roll out into an oval shape
11. Place sauce and ingredients on one half
• Pizza sauce
• Italian seasoning
• Onions
• Pepperoni
• Peppers
• Mushrooms
• Garlic
• Mozzarella
12. Fold dough over and twist under
13. Mix egg and 2 Tbsp water; brush over each calzone
14. Cut 2-3 slits into the top of a calzone

Bake for 12 minutes or until crust is golden brown. I serve it with extra dipping sauce!

Get your ovens started!!!!!!!!!!!

I was spending time with my fabulous girlfriends last weekend, when some of them began making fun of me and my husband for planning our weekly menu and grocery shopping accordingly. The teasing turned into a request for the recipes and the grocery list. Next, I told my mom and co-workers, who asked to be added to the email list.

I thought why not start a blog where I could post the recipes that I use all the time at home for others to use as well. All the recipes have been tested at least once in my own kitchen. I will try to post pictures as well! Please feel free to comment with how it turned out if you try it at home or post questions if something is confusing!