Slow Cooker Tortilla Chicken Soup

The cafeteria at the hospital served this last week and it was so tasty that I decided to make it for the family. I started with the following recipe from the Betty Crocker site.

I added a diced red bell pepper and thickened it up with some mashed potato flakes. It was delicious!


6 boneless skinless chicken thighs (1 1/4 lb)
1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
3 (6-inch) corn tortillas, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 1/2 cups frozen whole kernel corn, thawed
1 can (15 oz) chick peas or garbanzo beans, drained, rinsed
1 can (4.5 oz) Old El Paso® chopped green chiles
3/4 cup salsa verde
2 cans (14 oz each) chicken broth
1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)
2 tomatoes, seeded, chopped
Chopped fresh cilantro leaves, if desired
1. In 3- to 4-quart slow cooker, mix all ingredients except tomatoes and cilantro.
2. Cover; cook on Low heat setting 5 to 7 hours or until juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (180°F). Stir to break up chicken thighs. Stir in tomatoes before serving. Garnish with cilantro.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): No change.

The tortilla pieces will dissolve during cooking, adding flavor and some thickening to the soup.

Nutrition Information:
1 Serving: Calories 330 (Calories from Fat 80); Total Fat 9g (Saturated Fat 2 1/2g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 45mg; Sodium 1160mg; Total Carbohydrate 37g (Dietary Fiber 7g, Sugars 5g); Protein 26g Percent Daily Value*: Vitamin A 20%; Vitamin C 10%; Calcium 8%; Iron 25% Exchanges: 1 1/2 Starch; 1/2 Other Carbohydrate; 1 Vegetable; 3 Lean Meat Carbohydrate Choices: 2 1/2
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.© 2010 ®/TM General Mills All Rights Reserved

Carrie had a little hat...

I made this little hat today, first time using the eyelet pattern.

Time to make the bread...

I have a goal. I will defeat the yeast and make home-made bread. Today was not that day, though. Sigh.

I made whole wheat oatmeal bread from scratch. The dough was so tough that my shiny red mixer (I think from here on out, it will be referred to as SRM, ha ha), had a rough time mixing the dough. I've decided that I need a bread dough hook for it if I am to continue on my journey of bread perfection. I followed the directions to the last detail (including the 10 minutes of kneading by hand) and I still could only get it to rise about halfway up to what it should. It turned out "dense", as James described it, but good.

While the oatmeal bread was rising, I decided to give my old bread machine that's been sitting in the garage for four years one more try and if it did not make a good loaf, I would throw it away. No use taking up space if it does not work. Back when I was using it weekly, the bread stopped rising. I was always using a boxed bread mix and I assume the yeast was old, if that's a real thing. I made whole wheat honey bread in it today and it turned out great.

The inspiration:


Adding the honey:


The SRM:


The whole wheat honey bread:


The oatmeal bread:

Bread

Home made bread is my next goal. I have never had success with yeast. Ever. Details, pictures and hopefully success to follow soon.

I'm going to be channeling my inner Martha....

Funeral Potatoes...yum.

Not just for funerals! These are so good, I'm thinking of making them for my Nephew Kyle's party this weekend...he is leaving for his Mission next week.


1 Large bag of frozen shredded hash brown potatoes (not already browned, raw)

2 cans of cream of chicken soup

1 pint of sour cream

1 small bunch of green onions (just the green part cut really fine, I just use scissors!)

GOBS of grated cheese, I use cheddar/jack combination but any is fine. (what is a GOB? Oh about 2 large handfuls, but more is good too.)

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl, plop in a 9x13 pan and cook at 350 degrees for about ½ hour.

Optional: Crushed Corn Flakes on top, or Crushed Potato Chips, or Bread Crumbs W/melted butter etc, be creative.

Recipe stolen from HERE

Harmony

My second great niece decided to make an attempt at arriving at 34 weeks this morning, thankfully she did not! I thought since I was in a crafting mood, I should make a crib card for her like the one I made for Noah. Only problem....I have no PINK paper! I was able to find a tiny bit in my scraps and make it work.

I left room at the bottom right for her picture once she arrives:



This one looks very plain, it is just for her footprints to go on and hang outside of her Mommy's hospital room door:

Crib Card

Since I can't be there to with my family as they are dealing with baby Noah, I decided to get crafty and make a crib card and pound signs for his isolette like we do for our babies room's at my NICU:







My Cricut cutter had steam coming from it's ears by the time I was done....