TPG Blog #2: 'Twas A Few Weeks Before Christmas & Chicken Tortilla Soup Brings Joy!

Hi There!

“Simplify something complex and bring joy” is what this weekly note to you is all about.  So, let’s kick off our week with a few quick thoughts about Christmas cards and my Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe which will bring a lot of joy!

I come from a long line of Christmas card senders AND from a small town where it is mandatory to mail them out all on the same day so receipt is all at the same time and no one’s sweet feelings are hurt!  It’s been our way of sending a “we’re thinking of you, love you and hope all is well!” message every year.  My kids could do a stand-up comedy routine on the experience of taking the picture for the Christmas card and I threaten every year to send out all of the blooper pictures, always ending in “mark my words!” which I’ve never known the meaning of but it was said to me so there you go.  The outfits, the haircuts, the drive, the sun rise / sunset, the nap times, the weather – it’s been a labor of love and my lesson in “Trust the Process”.

On a white board in my son’s high school football meeting room were the words “Trust the Process”.  To be completely honest, I never really understood it but pretended I did, nodding my head in a wise “oh yes, so true” sort of way.  Recently, I found myself writing it on a chalkboard in my office, cuter but the same message.  Today, I got it.  Finally, I got it.  The process of the card creation (or the making of a high school football team) is a beautiful thing and becomes a part of our story, even more so than the card itself.  Through all of the bows and the chunky glitter and the blooper pictures – it is the process that we are to enjoy.

So simplify something complex – mail those cards, all on the same day! Let me know if you need some help addressing or mailing or whatever but here it is:  Snap a picture, write a sweet note, sprinkle some glitter and spread joy far and wide.  And something will happen in your heart – I’m the expert so trust me on this one!

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Get your heart ready for joy in a bowl - Chicken Tortilla Soup!  Your family will love you and you can fill a mason jar with it, put the jar in a cute bag and give it as a gift to your hairdresser, neighbor, friend or all three.  I've combined the recipes of my friends, Brenda Tremaine and Terri Collins, to come up with this gem – thank you, girls! 

Chicken Tortilla Soup

• (3) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked in chicken broth and shredded OR (1) cooked, whole chicken from the market, shredded (tip of the day – buy the cooked chicken, sis!)
• 3 ½ cup chicken broth
• ½ cup chopped onion
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 Tablespoon cooking oil
• 1 – 8 oz can tomato sauce
• 1 – 4 oz can Ortega green chilis, diced
• 1 – 10 oz can Ro-tell diced tomatoes & green chilis
• 1 – 28 oz can diced tomatoes
• ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• ½ teaspoon pepper

Cook onion, garlic & cumin in hot oil until tender; do not brown.  Stir in broth, tomato sauce, green chilis, Ro-tell tomatoes, diced tomatoes, cilantro, oregano and pepper.  Bring to boiling.  Reduce heat to simmer; cover and cook for 20 minutes.  Add shredded chicken and heat through.   Serve with cheddar or jack cheese, crumbled tortilla chips, chopped green onions and a spoonful of sour cream.  Take a bow to the applause of your family!

Have a great week – love to all! 

xoxo

Kelly