fall cooking

I just love the switch in cooking when we move from summer foods to autumn comfort.  While I adore a good pasta salad or grilled burger in the backyard in the summer, holding a steaming bowl of soup and enjoying a warm biscuit just make my heart happy. (Photo below is from last autumn, when Heather and I went to that amazing estate sale!http://ohfercute.blogspot.com/2011/10/back-in-time.html )

The Food Network was on in my house last Saturday morning to watch Ree cook on "The Pioneer Woman", and Trisha Yearwood's cooking show came on after it.  I was dealing with emails and trying to figure out how best to spend my day and it was on in the background.  I heard "Chicken Tortilla Soup" and my ears perked up.  My guys love spicy foods and anything with lots of flavor, and I love something that makes plenty of leftovers.  And at this time of my life, I like food that doesn't have to be served at a certain time, as I never really know when (or if!) Mike will be home for dinner.

So I gave it a try on Tuesday night, and the guys gave it two thumbs up.  Woot woot!

Here is the link: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/trisha-yearwood/trishas-chicken-tortilla-soup-recipe/index.html

I tweeked it a little, I used 3 cups of half and half and 1 cup of skim milk, and next time I would probably throw in a can of green chilis too.  Charlie doused his liberally with Tabasco sauce (he puts Tabasco on pretty much everything...).  I served the tortilla chips on the side (if you buy 'scoops' they are fun to eat the soup with). And I must say it was just as good the second time around!  I am not usually one to use recipes with canned soups or seasoning mixes, but this one just worked, and will be added to our regular rotation.

Looking forward to some Jambalaya this weekend (if I can find the recipe....)