Cookbook Sunday

It's been rainy again today....I always pause when I write that now, because my friend Brenda, from Brenda's Canadian Kitchen said, that it always surprises her, because she thinks of Nevada as sunny and dry.  Well, it is....90% of the time.  Just not this fall.  I think we've had more rain than normal. 

Last year on my blog, I was taking a picture every Wednesday to see the changes that take place right outside my kitchen window.  I let it slip away somewhere along the way...the garden blog.  I guess it was just too much to keep up so many blogs. (in simplifying my life, I've condensed all my blogs into one....and am hoping that no one quits reading)

This is what it looks like today.... we're really not lazy, we just have really big trees and they all decided to lose their leaves at once.  Today was going to be "raking day", but then it rained.  So, now all these leaves that we have to rake and bag are wet.  Wet and heavy.  Which means the won't blow down easy from our little hill.

Since  it was raining and kind of a 'curl up with a good book or an old movie, and  warm homemade cookies, or hot soup kind of day', I decided  to do them all!!   I'm that kind of girl.....give me all or give me nothing.

I thought it was time I made tortilla soup again.  Heather from Girlichef has a year long Tortilla Soup Challenge/Roundup, to aid her in her quest of the best tortilla soup ever!  I previously made a tortilla soup for the round-up, but I have three more I want to make before the year is up.

This tortilla soup was not like my last one...this one was actually pretty healthy.  No cream, no cheese, no sour cream.  I was prepared not to like it.  Not to like it at all....until, the Handyman said,  "this is really good", so I tasted it and guess what?  I liked it  too!   It had a great taste.   A great broth and some fresh chilies and lime.  We both had seconds.
One disappointment for me, from the last tortilla soup I made, was that in this one it it just had us crush tortilla chips on the top.   Store bought tortilla chips!  I like the fried ones from fresh corn tortillas I used last time.

I am like Heather, this is going to be hard to choose which one is my favorite, when all is said and done.

Black Bean Tortilla  Soup

Good Housekeeping--Comfort Food edition 2009

1 tbsp vegetable oil

1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless, chicken thighs, cut into 1/2 inch wide strips

1/2 tsp salt

1 lg onion chopped

2 medium poblano chilies, seeded and chopped

2 cloves garlic, crushed with press

1 1/2 tsp cumin

1 tsp coriander

4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth

2 cups water

1 cup frozen corn kernels

32 oz black beans, rinsed and drained (about 2 cans)

1/4 cup fresh lime juice

1/4 cup loosely packed chopped cilantro leaves

coarsely broken tortilla chips

In a 6-quart sauce pot, heat oil.

Sprinkle chicken thighs with salt. Add chicken to pot in 2 batches, cook for 5 minutes per batch or until lightly browned.  Transfer to a bowl once its browned.

Add onion, poblanos and garlic to oil in pot; cook on medium for 10 minutes or until veggies are lightly browned and tender.

Stir in cumin and coriander; cook 1 minute.

Add broth and water; cover and heat to boiling.

Return chicken to pot, stir in corn and beans.  Heat to boiling on med-high; reduce heat and simmer for at least 10 minutes to blend flavors.  Stir in lime juice and cilantro.

Ladle soup into bowls. Serve with tortilla chips for sprinkling on top of soup.

I am linking this to Cookbook Sundays.  I DID  use a cookbook.   Just one I have already used, so I can't count it in my own personal cookbook countdown.

Brenda didn't say we couldn't re-use a cookbook for Cookbook Sundays.   Did she? Can I loosley follow the rules, because I like to be a part of it?  I'm going to this time.
I'm also linking to  Girlichef's Tortilla Soup Roundup.  Of course, because it's really all about the Tortilla Soup.
And...(I'm not through yet)  Deb at Kahaki Kitchen's Souper Sunday,  Pam at Mommy's Kitchen's  Potluck Sunday and Beth at Bethfish Read's Weekend Cooking!

You should check them all out....they are great blogs.
I'll show you the cookies I made later on in the week.

Have a good Monday!