McAlister's Chicken Tortilla Soup

3 cloves garlic, minced (or a 2 teaspoons garlic powder)
1 onion, chopped
3 Tablespoons margarine
2 Tablespoons flour
3 14oz cans chicken broth (or 5 c bouillion)
4 cups half and half
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup salsa
1 can creamed corn
4-6 boneless chicken breasts (cooked, skinned, torn)
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 packet dry fajita seasoning
3 Tablespoons fresh cilantro-if you have it

To serve:
tortilla chips
shredded cheese

*In a large pot sautee garlic and onion in butter for 5 minutes.
*Add flour. Stir well. Cook 1 more minute.
*Add broth and half and half. Bring to a low boil then reduce heat to low.
*Add soup, salsa, corn, chicken, cumin, fajita seasoning and 2 T cilantro.
*Stir well, continue to heat 15 minutes more.
*Crumble tortilla chips into individual bowls or serve chips on side of plate. Top with shredded cheese.
*Top with more cilantro if you wish.

Notes:
I just made this last night and Jon told me that our family now loves this recipe! When he walked in from work he told me that it smelled JUST like McAlister's soup! I got in on the internet, and don't even remember where!

As far as making it...I followed the recipe exactly and the soup seemed awfully thin and watery....so.... I mixed some flour and milk to add in and thicken it up. I think I got it a little too thick, so in the future I will just increase the flour in the recipe to 4 Tablespoons. I served dinner as soup and baked potatoes and it was a great!

Taco Soup

1 lb ground anything
1 small onion chopped
1 pkg taco seasoning mix
1 pkg HiddenValleyRanch dressing mix
1 15 ounce can corn, drained
1 10 ounce can rotel
1 15 ounce can tomatoes, chopped
1 15 ounce can tomato sauce
1 15 ounce can Bush chili beans (2 if you like it thick)
1 15 ounce can water

*Brown meat wth onion. Drain.
*Add taco seasoning mix and dressing mix. Stir.
*Add remaining ingredients.
*Simmer on stovetop for 2 hours or in crockpot on low all day.
*Serve with grated cheese and Fritos.

Notes:
This is one of our very favorite meals to eat all fall and winter! Great to serve to a crowd while watching a football game! :)

Chicken Noodle Soup

2 cups cooked chicken, cut up
2 quarts water (8 cups)
8 chicken bouillion cubes
3 1/4 cups egg noodles
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 cup sour cream

*Boil water with cubes.
*Add noodles and cook uncovered until tender. DO NOT DRAIN!!
*Add soup and chicken. Stir until hot.
*Stir in sour cream until well blended.
*Serve with crackers.

Notes:
My family loves this soup! It is perfect for a chilly day, but not too heavy to eat when it's warm out too. I usually make it in the morning on the stovetop then put it in the crock pot on "keep warm" until dinnertime.

I got this recipe from Julie Rudolph.