Enchilada Soup

I was first introduced to Enchilada Soup when I went to lunch one day at Chili's with my grandma.  It was so delicious!  I figured it probably wasn't low-calorie, but I slurped up two or three bowls of it.  Some time later I came across the calorie content of said soup and was disgusted.  I'll never order it again.  But it was soooo good!  That is where my quest for healthy enchilada soup recipe began.  It was a long quest.  I tried several recipes.  Some were okay and some were gross.  Finally, I found a recipe for homemade enchilada sauce that turned out to be pretty good.  I put my tweaking skills to work and viola!, a healthy and delicious enchilada soup.

Ingredients:
*2-8oz cans tomato sauce
*2 cups water
*1 tsp. chili powder
*1 tsp. cumin
*1 tsp. salt
*1/2 tsp. garlic powder
*1/2 tsp. oregano
*3 Tbsp. cornstarch
*1 cup almond milk (or regular milk)
* 1 chicken breast, cooked, cubed and seasoned (optional)
*1 can black beans, drained and rinsed (optional)
*cheese for garnish (optional)

Directions:
1.  In sauce pan, combine tomato sauce, water,chili powder, cumin, salt, garlic powder, and oregano.  Bring to slight boil. 

2.  Reduce heat.

3.  Add a little water to cornstarch to make a paste.

4.  Very slowly, whisk cornstarch into soup.

5.  Add almond milk.

6.  Add chicken and beans, if desired.

7.  Garnish with cheese before serving.

Serving Suggestion:
-Goes great with quesadillas.  

Flour Tortillas

I love these. I think they're better than anything I buy in the store.

*4 cups flour (I use whole wheat.)
*1 Tbsp. baking powder
*1/4 cup shortening
*1 1/2 tsp. salt
*1 1/2 cups warm water

*In a mixing bowl, combine flour and baking powder.
*Cut in shortening until evenly distributed.
*Add salt to warm water and add to flour mixture. Mix.
*Knead with hands. (You could probably put the dough in a mixer, but its really not too bad to do it by hand.)

My recipe says to let it sit for at least 30 minutes but I skipped that part this last time and it still turned out great.

*Roll dough into 16-20 balls.
*Flatten and roll out with rolling pin until paper thin.
*In a frying pan or on a griddle, cook over medium heat for 30 seconds on each side. Do NOT over cook!

I make Stacey's Enchiladas and I use these tortillas. This is the best enchilada recipe I've ever come across. I love it. If you're looking for one, check it out.

Chicken Tacos

*2 Tbsp. lime juice
*1 tsp chili powder
*1 tsp salt
*2 large chicken breasts, cubed and seasoned
*1 can black beans
*cilantro
*1/3 cup salsa
*flour shells
*sour cream
*cheese

In a bowl,combine lime juice, chili powder and salt. Add chicken and coat well. Cook chicken. In a sauce pan heat beans, salsa and cilantro. Serve in flour shells and garnish with sour cream and cheese.

From the Critics:
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Brooklyn: 1

Damon: 1