From the Kitchen: Crockpot Chicken Tortilla Soup

Since I've gone back to work, the crockpot has gotten a lot of use.  I can't bring myself to spend time in the kitchen cooking dinner when I get home from work when I'd rather be playing with Carter!  This chicken tortilla soup is one of our staples. If you want a thicker soup (more like a stew), omit the chicken broth.  For a thinner soup, add a 32-ounce carton of chicken broth.

Crockpot Chicken Tortilla Soup

Ingredients:

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 - 15 oz can crushed tomatoes

1 - 10 oz can of red enchilada sauce

1 - 4 oz can chopped green chilies

1 - 10-oz can diced tomatoes w/ green chilies

1/2 white onion, diced

½ zucchini, sliced

½ yellow squash, sliced

1 cup frozen or canned corn

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

Handful fresh cilantro, chopped

Optional: 1 – 32-oz carton chicken broth

Optional toppings:

Cilantro

Shredded cheese

Tortilla strips

Diced avocado

Sour cream

Directions:

      Put all ingredients (other than the toppings) into a large crockpot (mine is 7 quarts). Cook for 6 to 8 hours on low or 3-to 4 on high.  Remove the chicken breasts from the crockpot and shred with 2 forks; return to crock pot.  Serve, adding toppings as desired.

     If you want to make this ahead of time as a freezer meal, put all of the ingredients except the chicken broth in a zip-top freezer bag.  When ready to make, slightly thaw the bag enough to break the soup into large chunks.  Place in the crockpot, add chicken broth, and follow the cooking directions above.

Friday Favorites

I'm linking up with Momfessionals, Grace and Love, and A Little Bit of Everything to share my Friday favorites!

1.  My New 'Blardigan'

I've wanted one of these for months but couldn't justify the $90 price tag until my husband surprised me with it for my birthday last week!  Don't mind the Nordstrom model wearing it with lingerie - although you'll find it in the lingerie department, it can be worn as normal clothes or as loungewear (or both! in the same day!)  It is soooooo comfortable - true to its nickname, it's half blanket, half cardigan, and made of the softest material ever.  So warm.  So cozy.  I'm probably never going to take it off this winter.

2.  Crabtree & Evelyn Hand Cream

With the onset of freezing cold weather (since Dallas doesn't have a fall season), my hands are already dry - running the heat and washing bottles are a killer combo on my hands!  I love Crabtree & Evelyn's Hand Therapy Creams - they are the best moisturizer without feeling greasy. I love the avocado scent (which doesn't smell anything like avocados, but does smell delicious).

3. Peppermint White Chocolate Mochas

I had my first Starbucks peppermint white mocha of the winter season this week, and it was amazing!  Yes, I'm aware that you can order this drink year-round, but something feels wrong about drinking it before it's cold outside and served in a red Starbucks cup!  I like it best with nonfat milk and only 2 pumps of syrup in a grande size (it's too sweet for me full-strength).  I can't wait to try the new Chestnut Praline Latte this year!

4. Hue Wide Waistband Leggings

I love leggings and knee-high boots in the winter, and Hue leggings are the BEST!  After years of buying plain black leggings at Target or Old Navy, last year I bit the bullet and tried the Huge leggings.  Yes, they cost more than the $8 pair at Target (normal price $36, but currently on sale for $27 at Nordstrom!!), but they are much better quality.  I always feel like cheap leggings are see-through, but Hue leggings are completely opaque.  They wash well, and the wide waistband is both comfortable and flattering (no muffin top!)  I bought my second pair this season and they're both getting plenty of wear! In fact, Hue leggings and my blardigan are pretty much my new weekend wardrobe.

Buy This, Not That: Sound Machines

I wasn't sure on having a sound/white noise machine in the nursery, but our pediatrician recommended it, as well as the Moms on Call book, which I essentially consider my baby instruction manual.  I do think it helps C sleep; our pediatrician said using a white noise machine has something of a "Pavlov's dog" reaction where it actually helps them fall and stay asleep (and fall back asleep if they wake up during the night).  At the very least, it drowns out background household noise and keeps them from startling awake during daytime naps.

Good: Sleep Sheep Sound Machine

This plush sleep is pretty much the cutest sound machine on the market!  It has 4 different sound options (Mother's heartbeat, spring showers, ocean waves, whale songs) and can be set to run for 23 or 45 minutes.

Better: Conair Sound Therapy Sound Machine

This sound machine isn't nearly as cute as the Sleep Sheep, since it's not actually a baby product; it's just a normal sound machine.  However, it's better than the Sleep Sheep in several ways.  One, it can either run for an hour, or ALL NIGHT.  The key to a sound machine is that it has to run all night; otherwise, it doesn't help your baby fall back asleep on their own if they start to wake up during the night; secondly, sometimes the shutting-off of the sound machine can actually wake the baby up.  Secondly, this one has a true white noise setting, which the Sleep Sheep doesn't.  White noise is the ideal setting for drowning out other noises, because it is a constant background noise.  Heartbeats, rain, and ocean waves all have pauses between sounds, which decreases the sound machine's effectiveness at drowning out background noise.  Finally, the Conair sound machine has a power adapter, while the Sleep Sheep runs on batteries (the Conair has the ability to run on batteries too, which might be nice if you're traveling).  If you haven't learned yet, you will soon - avoid battery-operated baby products at all costs!  Those batteries always seem to run out at the worst times!!  And...for a bonus perk...the Conair sound machine is about half the price of the Sleep Sheep.