Chicken Tortilla Soup

This soup is awesome! Definitely a favorite staple in our house.
The best part is that it is so easy!

Chicken Tortilla Soup
Ingredients:

• 2-3 Chicken breasts
• 2 can diced tomatoes, can substitute with 1 can Ro-Tel if you like spice
• 1 can diced green chilies
• 1 Tbsp butter
• 1 clove garlic, diced
  
• 1 c. salsa
• 2 c. corn, frozen white tastes awesome in this
• 1-2 Tbsp cumin
• 5 c. chicken broth
• Juice of 1 lime, plus more at the end
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• 1 Handful cilantro
  

Cooking Directions:
Put butter and garlic in and allow butter to melt to slightly saute garlic. Add the rest of the ingredients and cook on low for four hours.

Top with:

• Cubed cheese
• Extra cilantro
• Lime
• Tortilla chips
• Sour cream
  

Santa Fe [Chicken]

This is a very versatile meal. It's great on rice, in tortillas, as a vegetarian dish or just by itself with tortilla chips -I serve it without the chicken as a chip dip for company sometimes.
It is very simple, tasteful and makes great left overs. If you have cilantro, I would definitely sprinkle it on top. Can't go wrong with cilantro!

Santa Fe Chicken (serves 5-6)

Ingredients:

• 1 can black beans, drained, rinsed
• 1 bag frozen white corn
• 1 can Ro-tel (replace with a little extra salsa if you don’t like spice)
• 1 small can green chilies, mild
• 1/2 c salsa
• 2 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless (can use frozen)
• 1-2 tsp Cumin
• 1/2 8 oz package cream cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste
  *For vegetarian meal, don't add chicken, can add an additional 1/2 can of beans
  

Cooking Directions:

Combine all ingredients except the cream cheese in a crock-pot. Cook on low for 3 to 4 hrs (depending on crock pot). Shred chicken and mix in cream cheese, cook another 10 min, until cheese is melted. Stir and serve.

Serve over rice, in tortillas or w/ tortilla chips.

BBQ Chicken Sandwich

A year-round staple for us. Easy- delicious meal. And once you've found Trader Joe's BBQ sauce, you can't get enough of this sandwich.

BBQ Chicken Sandwich (serves 4-5)

Ingredients:

• 3 Chicken breasts
• Your favorite BBQ Sauce
• 1/4 c. Honey
• 1 Tbsp. Mustard
• 1/2 tsp Garlic powder
• Cilantro, chopped
• 1/4 c. Red onion, diced
• Rolls (we like Portuguese best)

Cooking Directions:

Place chicken breasts in crock pot and fill half way with water (I usually dump a little BBQ sauce in for flavor). Cook on low for 2-4 hours, depending on your crock pot. Drain water, and shred chicken. Pour ample amounts of BBQ sauce over. Pour honey, mustard and sprinkle garlic powder over. Cook for another 20 min.

Serve on rolls with cilantro and onions to add on top if desired

Carnitas

It's what my husband requested for Father's Day. I hadn't made them before but something like it so I looked up a few recipes and made my own. Can I just say, they rocked (which is why I'm recording it now...so I can recreate it later)!

Carnitas

• Pork roast- I'm sure it will work with any other meat as well
• 1 7oz can diced green chilies
• 1/2 -1 c. salsa- medium added just the right amount of kick
• Lots of lime juice, fresh is always best
• Salt, garlic salt, pepper, cumin, chili powder

Cooking Directions:
Brown the meat in sauce pan, season with salt, pepper, and garlic salt. Fill crock pot with enough water to almost cover the roast. Cook on low for 4-5 hrs or until meat pulls apart easily. Drain water and shred meat. Mix in salsa, chilies, cumin, chili powder and more salt and pepper. Squeeze in lime juice and mix. Cook another 2 hrs.

Serve in taco shells or on tortillas with desired toppings. May I suggest a lot of sweet onions.