Tortilla Soup

From Susan, a friend of Vern's family. This soup is similar to the tortilla soup you can find at Cafe Rio. :-) It is a delicious and filling soup. Yum! We eat it often. This recipe is also very easy to modify to your own tastes. For example, I like it with a little more rice. Tortilla soup is also good for leftovers for lunch the next day!

The recipe's ingredients are included in bold.

Boil and cube:

4 chicken breasts

Simmer the following in canola oil:

6 cloves crushed garlic (2-3 TB.)

1 medium onion minced

1 green bell pepper cubed

1 TB cilantro

Add chicken and saute for a few minutes.

While the chicken is cooking, place the following in a large pot:

5 cans chicken broth

2 small cans tomato sauce

2 cans black beans (drained)

1 can of corn (drained)

1 small can of diced jalapenos (optional)

1 cup uncooked rice

3 celery sticks chopped

Add the following spices to the soup:

1 tsp. thyme

1 tsp. paprika

1 tsp. oregano

1 tsp. cumin

Add the chicken mixture to the rest of the soup and simmer until rice is fully cooked.

Serve with grated cheese and sour cream. Makes 4 quarts.