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Easy Tortilla Soup

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This recipe is #3 in a series of easy recipes for Cinco de Mayo.

This version of easy tortilla soup is the kind that we have been making for years. It is broth based (use chicken broth or vegetable broth) and then an assortment of “additions” go into the broth to form the basis for the soup.  Next, and we think this is the  best part, is the variety of toppings that you can use for this soup. We like to serve the soup up in bowls and then allow each person to add their own toppings at the table.

This easy tortilla soup is also a great way to use up leftovers such as rice, beans or vegetables, as the soup is so flexible.  In addition you can make this soup as spicy as you like with some of the suggestions under variations.

Because this soup is so flexible and forgivng, we are only going to give you a general guideline for amounts that you will need. You may want to add more beans or chicken if this soup is a “main dish” soup, and use less, or omit all together if this soup is going to be served along with other hearty choices.

What you need:

Soup:

  • Trader Joe’s vegetable or chicken stock (1 quart)
  • Cooked, diced chicken
  • 1 can beans  (pinto or black) rinsed and drained
  • 1-2 cups Leftover vegetables (or Trader Joe’s Organic Foursome frozen diced vegetables)

Toppings:

  • Diced avocado
  • Shredded cheese
  • Sliced green onions
  • Crushed tortilla chips

How to:

1. Bring the stock to a boil in a large pan.

2. Add the remaining soup ingredients and let simmer for 20-30 minutes, to let all the flavors blend together.

3. Serve the soup and pass small bowls of the toppings.

Variations:

  • Add 1 can Trader Joe’s diced green chilies to the soup for more spice.
  • Add cooked rice to the soup
  • Add cooked chorizo or taco meat instead of chicken
  • Additional toppings include: Chicharrones (fried pork skin), diced tomatoes, sour cream or Durango dip, olives
  • Squeeze of lime juice

As you can see, this recipe is almost limitless in what you can add to the soup.  You could make this soup when you want to use up an assortment of leftovers (especially after tacos or fajitas some night), and just have a quart of Trader Joe’s chicken or vegetable stock on hand ready to make into this soup.

Did you make this soup? What were your favorite toppings?

Tortilla Soup, Mexico City Style

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This recipe is #4 in a series of easy recipes for Cinco de Mayo.

As you read in a previous post, we just love Tortilla soup so on our recent trip to Mexico City we had to order some, right? (I mean WOW we were in Mexico City after all!)

Well, we were surprised at what we got.

First of all, the presentation was awesome.  We ordered this soup at three different restaurants all over Mexico City, and the presentation was the same each time. (Now, this could be the way that all soup is served, but we would like to think it was special for the Tortilla soup).

This is what they did: The waiter brought a bowl to the table, which had only some skinny tortilla strips in the bottom. Next, another server came out with a pitcher (like you would serve water in) and then poured out a (second surprise) a thick tomato soup into the bowl.  Next we were presented with a small plate that had a variety of toppings for the soup, usually chicharrones (fried pork skins), diced avocado chunks, diced cheese and some diced chilies.

We were used to having tortilla soup as a broth based soup, not tomato soup! But you will be happy to know, the whole thing was fantastic! The thick creamy tomato soup with all the toppings was wonderful. We are now converted to this new, Mexico City Style Tortilla Soup.

Here is the best part:  Trader Joe’s makes it easy to prepare this soup as they sell a fantastic creamy tomato soup in a box- the basis for this whole meal already ready to heat and eat! Yeah!

What you need:

Soup:

  • 1 qt. Trader Joe’s Creamy Tomato soup

Toppings:

  • Tortilla chips (leftovers are great)
  • Diced avocado
  • Grated cheese
  • Trader Joe’s diced green chilies (optional, but they add nice heat to this dish)
  • Trader Joe’s sour cream or Durango Dip

How to:

1. Heat up the Trader Joe’s Creamy Tomato soup

2. Pour into a bowl and pass the toppings

What could be easier?

So try this easy and tasty Tortilla Soup, Mexico City Style today.

Calabacitas Trader Joe’s Style

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Trader Joe's Style Calabacitas

Trader Joe's Style Calabacitas

This recipe is #5 in a series of easy recipes for Cinco de Mayo.

This is a tasty and easy to make squash side dish. Calabaza means squash in Spanish, and calabacita means little squash or little one (at least I think…). And this dish is simply loaded with little squashes.  While this makes a nice veggie dish for Cinco de Mayo, these Calabacitas would also be a great way to enjoy all those, you know,  larger squash that appear in your garden in August…

Besides just eating them up on a plate, another great way to enjoy calabacitas is in a burrito. Many of the restaurants here in Tucson will add a scoop of calabacitas to a bean or beef burrito. We have even eaten an egg burrito with calabacitas (and cheese of course).

Again, we are giving you rounded figures for this recipe. You will need to eyeball the amounts you add to the pan to make enough for you meal.

What you need:

  • Summer Squash (zucchini and/or yellow squash) 4 medium or 6 small, sliced
  • Sweet onions, sliced or diced (about ½ a medium onion)
  • 2 cloves of garlic, grated
  • ½ cup Trader Joe’s Roasted Corn
  • Olive oil, Salt and Pepper

How to:

1. Heat oil in large sauté pan, and add onions, garlic and squash.

2. Stir frequently until the squash is nice and soft, 10 or so minutes.

3. Add frozen corn and cook until hot.

5. Season with salt and pepper.

6. Serve- Yum

Variations:

  • Season with a spoonful of Trader Joe’s Taco Seasoning
  • Add diced green chilies
  • Sprinkle with grated cheese just before serving.

We make calabacitas frequently, and we hope that you enjoy them and make them often for yourself.

How to make Potato Leek Soup

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Simmering Pot of Potato Leek Soup

Simmering Pot of Potato Leek Soup

Here is a quick recipe to make a Creamy Potato Leek Soup.

It is one of our favorites. We were inspired to make this soup for two reasons:  1. A cool spring day in Tucson, and 2. We found the leeks at Trader Joe’s when we were shopping today. YEAH!  Today really was a great day to enjoy this soup- it was windy and cloudy and cool- down to 65!

Also when we say “creamy” soup, we mean “smooth and creamy” texture, not with lots of milk or cream added – although, you certainly could add milk or cream to this recipe if you like.  We like to add sour cream to the top of the soup in the serving bowl sometimes and swirl it around with our spoons as we eat Yummz!.

What you need/ Basic Ingredients (4 servings + leftovers):

  • Trader Joe’s Trimmed Leeks
  • Trader Joe’s Chicken broth or Vegetable broth (enough liquid to cover the potatoes and leeks)
  • Potatoes- we used 4 medium sized red skinned potatoes
  • Garlic- Trader Joe’s  Garlic
  • Olive Oil, Salt and Pepper, or Trader Joe’s 21 Seasoning Salute

How to:

1. Wash the leeks to remove any dirt (see previous post-Trader Joe’s Trimmed Leeks)

2. Add a couple of spoons of olive oil to a deep pan and cook the leeks and garlic for a few minutes.

3. Add the potatoes and broth to cover the vegetables

4. Bring to a boil and then lower the heat to simmer and let cook until the potatoes are soft and falling apart.

5. Let cool off the heat for 30 minutes.

6. Blend the soup in small batches in your blender- Use caution when blending hot ingredients. You may need to add more stock or water if the soup is too thick.

7. Season with salt and pepper, reheat if you need to and serve.

Finished Creamy Potato Leek Soup

Finished Creamy Potato Leek Soup

Variations:

  • You can serve this soup cold with a spoonful of sour cream or yogurt.
  • Add leftover vegetables to the pot before blending for a new flavor.
  • Garnish soup with chives, green onions or parsley.
  • Sprinkle with bacon or ham pieces

What will you add to your soup?