Sunday, November 7, 2010

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 SundayPam 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!

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Debbie, I've used Ina Garten's Barefoot in Paris THREE TIMES now for Cookbook Sundays, lol. Yes, I made up that rule about a month ago that we can re-use cookbooks to our heart's content. :o) Wow, what a lovely, huge backyard you have. Holy smokes, I so envy you. And even though your soup doesn't have any cream, or cheese, or sour cream, it still sounds delicious. Especially on a rainy day. Thanks so much for sharing with Cookbook Sundays!

Melynda@Scratch Made Food! said...

Another great recipe for thighs! This looks delicious. I agree with Brenda, your back yard is great. Personally I would like all your leaves to use as mulch, I don't have enough!

bermudaonion said...

I was thinking that soup couldn't be any good either without cheese or sour cream. I'm printing out this recipe.

Michelle B said...

I had to laugh when I read all your link-ups. You are an all or nothing kinda girl!

I think the leaves should stay on the ground for a while just to make sure we all know it's fall.

Without cheese or sour cream, I would have been suspicious too.

Lyndas recipe box said...

This is yummy sounding soup. Im looking for another tortilla soup recipe too, so I'll give this a try.
We've had an unusal fall too.Ours has been rather dry. We usually have more rain, so I guess there is no excuse to not get out and rake those leaves. :)

Karen said...

I'm so glad soup weather is here. I'll regret saying that in the middle of January.All our trees are really bare now. I've got venison stew on the stove. It snowed a little bit this morning. I've got to go to KMart to get Emily some flannel sleepers that are on sale. Ummmm... that's all I got. LOL

Karen said...

Oh yeah, I *love* the spoon in your tortilla soup. Nice pictures!

Heather S-G said...

I KNOW! It is just so hard to choose...there's so many variations out there. I think this version sounds awesome...love all of the fresh flavors and the black beans in there. Another triumph, I'd say :) I, for one, am so glad that you're loving the Tortilla Soup as much as I. Keep 'em comin' ;)

Beth F said...

This sounds so easy and so delicious. I just might have to make it tonight.

Couscous & Consciousness said...

I've never actually eaten a tortilla soup, but this sure does look pretty good. As does your garden, by the way :-)
Sue

Deb in Hawaii said...

Your tortilla soup is gorgeous. I love how light it is too. I agree--once you have the homemade chips/strips you can't go back to store-bought. This is a good one for girlichef's challenge. Thanks for sending it to Souper Sundays too. ;-)

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