Tomatillo Chicken Soup

I've tried a lot of soups in my day. I love soup.

Who doesn't on a cold, winter day?

I've found the one that has topped them all! My sister Stacie is always coming up with these outstanding recipes, and this soup might have changed my life for the better. Very healthy, and out of this world good!!

It's not even a question, you HAVE to try it.

{tomatillo chicken soup}
serves 6-8 people

saute in big stock pot approx 10-15 min:
1/2 large onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 lb tomatillos, diced (about 5 medium size, don’t forget to remove the husk and wash)
1 tablespoon cumin

add the rest & simmer approximately 15-25 minutes:
3 chicken breasts, cooked & shredded
1 49 1/2oz chicken broth can
1 16oz fresh salsa from the grocery store deli
1 15.5 oz cans yellow hominy (drained)
1 15.5 oz cans white hominy (drained)

**serve with:blue or white tortilla chips
avocado chunks
white rice
shredded cheese
sour cream
fresh lime juice

**these add-ons are a must! [they make the soup!]
i like to add white rice to the soup, then lime juice, sour cream, shredded cheese, and avacado slices. then, i eat it with tortilla chips.

(found at Zupas.com at the Cafe Zupas Blog)

Fighting A Cold The Old Fashioned Way

When we think of catching a cold, most of us would think back to the days when we would spend the entire day cuddled up in bed while our mother would so kindly bring us a bowl of homemade chicken noodle soup.

Well, your mom wasn't too far fetched when she was bringing you a cup of chicken noodle soup. She was dead on actually on how to help your sickness. There's key ingredients that are found in a good batch of chicken noodle soup that are helpful when fighting a cold.

With flu/cold season right around the corner, I have some information on the foods and why they are in the soup to begin with that would be good to know for next time your craving something warm and soothing.

Chicken

It's a great source of zinc, which is shown to reduce the symptoms and duration of a cold.

Carrots

They're great immune system enhancers because beta-carotene helps hold off infection.

Garlic and Onions

Are both unbelievably strong antivirals, which have compounds that speedily get to the lungs and respiratory tract to effectively attack cold viruses.

Egg Noodles

Help boost selenium intake, which makes it harder for the cold virus to multiply and mutate.

Red Bell Peppers

Are a strong source of salicylates, (f.y.i.-salicylates are chemicals that occur naturally in many plants. They usually act as a preservative to prevent rotting and also act as a defendant against harmful bacteria) aspirin's active ingredient.

Cayenne Peppers

Have more salicylates and are an effective natural decongestant.

Here's a recipe to get this season started for you!

Chicken Soup for the Cold...and soul.

Ingredients:

2 cups of chicken, cooked and diced

1/2 cups of carrots, chopped

2 (2.72 oz.)store-bought packets of chicken-noodle soup mix

2 medium onions, diced (I used white, they are sweeter)

3 cloves of garlic, minced

1 cup of enriched egg noodles (you can buy whole wheat as well)

1 red bell peppers, chopped

2 tsp. cayenne pepper

Directions:

1. Pour 8 cups of water into a large pot and bring to a boil.

2. Add the chicken, carrots, onions, and garlic, and boil for half an hour or until the carrots are tender.

3. Add the remaining ingredients and cook for an additional 5-10 minutes. Makes 8 1-cup servings.

Nutrients:

167 calories

15 grams of protein

20 grams of carbs

1 gram of fat

2.5 grams of fiber

28 milligrams of sodium

(Source: citihealth.com)

White Chili Recipe

White Chili

3 cans of Great Northern White Beans

1 chicken bouillon cube

4 tbsp. (1/2 stick) of Butter

1 Garlic Clove, minced or chopped

3/4 c. diced Onion

1 1/2 c. of Green Chile's (fresh or canned)

1 tbsp. of boneless, skinless Chicken chopped (or 2 cans of canned chicken)

1 tbsp of Cumin

1 tbsp of dried Oregano

1 to 2 tsp. or Black Pepper

Pinch of Red Pepper Flakes

Salt to taste

1/2 bunch of Cilantro

Cheese (low-fat)

Directions: Saute Garlic and Onion until soft (3 mins on Med-Low heat). Add all other ingredients except cilantro and cheese. Simmer for 1/2 an hour to mix in all ingredients. Serve with Cilantro and Cheese on top. If it's too thick, add Chicken Broth or water.

(This recipe feeds a lot, so if your making it for a small family, I would recommend cutting the recipe in half. Also, beans are very healthy for you, but high in carbs, so if you're watching your carbs like me, eat about 1 1/2 cups with a bowl of salad.) ENJOY!