We Interupt The Regularly Scheduled Posting...

FOR SOUP!!! Yep that's right, I am interupting my Graphic45 Birdsong card series because I want to talk about soup. Not just any soup you see, but some Cheesy Chicken Tortilla Soup! Years ago when I worked with my friend Nancy we use to go downtown to a little place called Whimsical Heart. They sold all kinds of different things in there and in one corner of the store they had a little lunch stand. Nancy and I would love to go in there for a bowl of Cheesy Chicken Tortilla Soup and a half sandwich, the price was great and it was something different than fast food.

I have wanted to make the soup for sometime since Whimsical Heart closed years ago I haven't had a nice bowl of it. I have seen all kinds of recipes for Chicken Tortilla Soup but I wanted CHEESY!! I finally found a recipe on AllRecipes.com and then I tweaked it a little bit. I also doubled the recipe because we are suppose to have some bad weather come in and there is nothing like good soup when there is snow and ice coming down!

Cheesy Chicken Tortilla Soup

1/3 c. butter 1/2 onion diced 6 tablespoons flour 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained 3 cans Rotel Tomatoes, undrained 4 c. chicken broth

2 packages Taco Seasoning Mix 4 cups shredded chicken 1 pound VELVEETA®, cut into 1/2-inch cubes 1/2 cup tortilla chips, coarsely crushed 1 lime, cut into wedges

*Melt butter in medium saucepan on medium-high heat. *Add onions; cook until crisp-tender, stirring frequently.
*Stir in flour until blended.
*Add tomatoes, broth and seasoning mix; stir. Bring to boil; simmer on medium-low heat 2 min. Add chicken and VELVEETA; cook and stir 5 min. or until VELVEETA is completely melted and chicken is heated through.
*Top with crushed chips. Serve with lime wedges.

It was late when I got to eat this soup, like after 10pm and even though I was very hungry I would say the soup was still excellent! My daughter loves the Chicken Tortilla Soup from Sante Fe Steak House and she gave my soup two thumbs up! She said it was a little spicy and I told her I thought the Rotel Tomatoes added just the right spiciness. She doesn't do spicy very well though. I squeezed my lime over my chips and it added a nice flavor.  I know this recipe is going to be a keeper for sure!