Chicken Tortilla Soup

INGREDIENTS:

Tortilla Strips

• 10 small corn tortillas, cut into 1/4-inch wide strips
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste

Soup

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup sweet Vidalia or yellow onion, peeled and diced small (about 1 medium onion)
• 1 large jalapeno pepper (about 4 to 5 inches long), diced very small (the seeds are where the heat is concentrated; included or discard them based on preference)
• 4 garlic cloves, peeled and finely minced
• 32 ounces (4 cups) low-sodium chicken broth
• two 14.5-ounce cans diced tomatoes and juice (I used petite diced, no-salt-added)
• one 15-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 2 cups shredded cooked chicken (use storebought rotisserie chicken to save time; or roast or cook your own chicken in a skillet)
• 1 1/2 cups corn (I used frozen straight from the freezer, fresh may be substituted)
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 2 teaspoons cumin
• 2 teaspoons salt, or to taste
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (regular paprika may be substituted)
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional and to taste
• 1/3 cup fresh cilantro leaves, finely minced
• diced avocado for serving, optional for serving
• shredded cheese, optional for serving
• sour cream, optional for serving

DIRECTIONS:

1. Tortilla Strips – Preheat oven to 375F, line a baking sheet with a Silpat or foil to save cleanup time, loosely scatter the tortilla strips, evenly drizzle with olive oil, evenly sprinkle with kosher salt, toss with hands to coat evenly, and bake for about 15 to 18 minutes, or until crisp and lightly golden brown; set aside. While strips bake, begin making the soup.
2. Soup – To a large Dutch oven or stockpot, add 2 tablespoons olive oil and heat over medium-high heat to warm.
3. 1. Add the onion, jalapeno, and sauté for about 5 minutes, or until vegetables begin to soften. Stir intermittently.
   2. Add the garlic and sauté for 1 to 2 minutes. Stir intermittently.
   3. Add the chicken broth, tomatoes and juice, black beans, chicken, corn, lime juice, chili powder, cumin, 2 teaspoons salt, pepper, smoked paprika, optional cayenne pepper, and bring to a boil. Allow mixture to boil gently for about 5 to 7 minutes. If at any point the overall liquid level looks low or you prefer your soup to have more broth, add 1 to 2 cups of water; you’ll adjust the salt and seasoning levels at the end.
   4. Add the cilantro and boil 1 minute.
   5. Taste soup and add salt to taste. This will vary based on how salty the chicken broth, tomatoes, black beans, and rotisserie chicken are, and personal preference. Make any necessary seasoning adjustments (i.e. more salt, pepper, chili powder, cumin, cayenne, etc.).
   6. Ladle soup into bowls, top with tortilla strips to taste, optionally garnish with avocado, cheese and/or sour cream; serve immediately. Soup will keep airtight in the fridge for 5 to 7 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months. Extra tortilla strips will keep in airtight at room temp for up to 5 days.

Potato Cheese Soup

2 bag frozen cubed  Hashbrowns
4 14 oz cans chicken broth
2 cans creAm of Chicken Soup
Dash of Pepper
1 8oz package cream cheese
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

In crockpot:
1.  mix cream soup and broth.
2.  Add pepper.
3.  Add hashbrowns
4.  Let cook on high for 4 hours.
5.  Add softened cream cheese.
6.  Mix in shredded cheese.

Copy Cat Olive Garden Chicken Alfredo

Ingredients

12

oz fettuccine pasta

2

tablespoons olive oil

1/2

cup + 2 tablespoons butter

2

boneless, skinless chicken breasts.              

 

     1 1/2  teaspoons salt, divided

1 1/2

teaspoon fresh ground pepper, divided

3

cloves garlic, very finely chopped

1 1/2

tablespoons flour

2

cups heavy cream

3/4

cup grated Parmesan, plus more for topping if desired

2

tablespoons chopped parsley, for garnish (optional)

• INSTRUCTIONS 1.  Cook and drain pasta according to package directions.
• 2

  Add olive oil to a cast-iron grill pan over high heat. Add 2 tablespoons butter to hot pan, then quickly add chicken breasts to the pan, seasoning with 1 teaspoon each of the salt and pepper.
• 3

  Cook chicken breasts until golden on first side, then flip over. Cover the pan and reduce heat to medium, cooking until chicken is no longer pink in the center, about 5 to 7 minutes on the second side. Place on a plate and cover with foil until cool enough to slice into strips.
• 4

  In a large, deep-sided skillet, melt remaining 1/2 cup butter over medium heat. Add garlic to pan, cooking until aromatic, about 30 seconds. Reduce heat to medium-low. Season with remaining salt and pepper.
• 5

  Whisk flour into butter, stirring until no chunks remain. Slowly whisk in cream.
• 6

  Continue to cook just until sauce is steaming and slightly thickened. Whisk 1/2 cup Parmesan into sauce, stirring until smooth. Remove pan from heat and cover until ready to serve.
• 7

  To serve, place pasta in a serving bowl or on plates. Top with sliced chicken and drizzle with sauce. Garnish with parsley and top with additional Parmesan, if desired.

Kneaders French Toast

INGREDIENTS 

For the French Toast

• 1 un-sliced loaf of cinnamon bread
• 6 eggs
• 1/2 c. milk
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 Tbsp brown sugar
• strawberries
• whip cream or cool whip

For the Caramel Syrup

• 1 c. brown sugar
• 1 c. heavy cream
• 1 c. light Karo syrup
• 1 tsp. vanilla

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Slice the cinnamon bread into 6 to 8 slices, depending on a how thick you like it. Preheat a large griddle to 325 degrees, or a large pan over the stove on medium heat.  In a large bowl, combine eggs, milk, cinnamon, vanilla, and brown sugar. Dip each slice into the mixture, be sure to completely coat, then cook on the preheated and buttered griddle until both sides of the bread are a golden brown.
2. For the syrup, combine all the ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir and heat until the sugar is completely dissolved.
3. Serve french toast with warm caramel syrup, sliced strawberries, and whip cream or cool whip.

Kneaders Overnight French Toast

Ingredients

• 1 loaf Kneaders' Chunky Cinnamon bread sliced into 8 pieces
• 8 eggs
• 3 cups milk
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 2 tablespoons butter

Servings: people

Instructions

1. Generously butter a 9x13-inch glass baking dish. Set butter aside
2. Place bread in baking dish. Layer them so all 8 can touch the bottom of the pan to be able to soak up the egg mixture..
3. Combine remaining ingredients in a mixing bowl until completely blended.
4. Pour egg mixture over bread.
5. Cut butter into small pieces and sprinkle over bread.
6. Cover and refrigerate overnight, or for at least 4 hours.
7. Bake uncovered for 45 to 50 minutes at 350 degrees.
8. Serves six to eight people.

   
   

    

   For the Caramel Syrup

   • 1 c. brown sugar
   • 1 c. heavy cream
   • 1 c. light Karo syrup
   • 1 tsp. vanilla

   
   

   
   

   1. For the syrup, combine all the ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir and heat until the sugar is completely dissolved.
   2. Serve french toast with warm caramel syrup, sliced strawberries, and whip cream or cool whip.