soup!

well, i was over @ anna maria horner's blog & saw that she's having a little contest! you enter your favorite soup recipe for the chance to win one of her new aprons & matching dish towels! if you don't know about anna maria, you should definitely browse her blog - AMAZING! she has such great tips, ideas, fabric, pictures... ahhhhh. AND she has 5 kiddos & one on the way! pretty amazing woman, if you ask me.
anyway, in honor of that, i'm posting one of my favorite soup recipes. it's mexican chicken corn chowder & it's YUM-O, not to mention fast, easy, & only one pot to clean afterwards! perfection, no??!

mexican chicken corn chowder

1.5 lbs. boneless/skinless chicken breasts, cut in bite sized chunks
1/2 c. chopped onion (i just use one whole onion b/c we love onion!)
1 clove garlic, minced (again, ++ we love garlic!)
3T of butter
2 small cubes/1 lg cube chicken bouillon
1 c. hot water
3/4 t. ground cumin
2c. half&half (sometimes i use whole milk, which works fine - just thinner)
2c. shredded monterey jack cheese w/ jalapeno flakes inside (you can always add more cheese!)
2 cans cream style corn
2 cans regular corn
1 can blk beans, drained
1 small can (4 oz) diced green chilis
1 dash tabasco (we like more!)
2 tomatos (or more)
fresh cilantro to garnish, if ya want
crushed corn chips are great on top (we love the multigrain tostitoes)

1. in large dutch oven , brown chicken, onion, & garlic in butter (if you have a nonstick pan, you don't have to do the butter) until chicken is cooked through.
2. dissolve bouillon in hot water. pour into dutch oven, & season w/ cumin. bring to boil. reduce heat to low, cover, & simmer for 5 mins.
3. stir in half&half, cheese, corns, chilis, beans, tabasco. cook; stirring frequently until cheese is melted. stir in tomato & garnish w/ cilantro & crushed corn chips!

enjoy your super fast, fairly healthy, easy clean up meal!