Food even Mason will eat!

I have been checking out recipe books from the library and trying new recipes each week for fun. We have found many recipes that we really like. I will post our favorites when I have time. Here is our latest one that Mason loved, which really surprised me. What he liked best was being able to scoop up the soup with the "scoop chips" that Tostitos makes. I was a very happy mother!

South-of-the-Border Bean and Tortilla Soup

Hands-on time: 10 minutes | total time: 25 minutes | makes 4 servings

2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1 medium-size onion - choppe
1 can (15 oz) red beans or white beans
1 can (15 oz) black beans
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes seasoned with garlic and onion
1 clove fresh garlic, minced, or 1 t bottled minced garlic
¾ C frozen corn or 1 can corn
1 t chili powder
½ t ground cumin
1 can (14 oz) vegetable broth or 2 cups
½ t sugar
Juice of ½ lime
4 oz baked or regular tortilla chips (for 2 ½ C crushed) or to taste
1/3 C shredded Mexican-blend cheese (optional)

1. Heat the oil in a 4 ½ -quart soup pot over medium heat. Peel and coarsely chop the onion, adding it to the pot as you chop. Raise the heat to medium-high and cook, stirring from time to time.

2. While the onion cooks, rinse and drain the red beans and add them to the skillet. Add the black beans with their juice and the tomatoes with their juice. Add the garlic, corn, chili powder, and cumin to the pot. Stir to blend well. Add the broth, sugar and the lime juice. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, 7 to 10 minutes to blend the flavors, then serve.

3. When you are ready to serve, crush the chips lightly and divide them among four soup bowls. To serve, ladle the soup over the chips and sprinkle with the cheese, if desired. (Or buy Tortilla scoops and scoop up the soup with the chips. This is more fun!)

***Note: Fat-free chicken broth or homemade chicken stock can be substituted for the vegetable broth.

To print and try yourself, click here:

South-of-the-border Bean and Tortilla Soup