Fall is my favorite time of year. The leaves are changing colors, the weather is cooler AND its the perfect time for slow cooker recipes and soups.
Chicken tortilla is one of my favorite recipes because its so easy to make, and it makes a big dish of leftovers I can eat all week long. When Drew and I first started dating, I made this recipe up and brought it all the away across town to him when he was sick. His favorite joke is telling people that this soup is why he married me.
This is a super easy recipe and one of my favorites for starting in the morning in the CrockPot and enjoying for dinner that night. It also works great stove top if you don’t have the time for slow cooking.
Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe
For this recipe you can either start with diced raw chicken or shredded rotisserie chicken. I’ve even used leftover chicken from Qdoba catering in the past and it turned out amazing! You’ll also want 2 cans diced tomatoes, 1 can of Rotel with Green Chilis, 1 can of Corn, and 1 can of black beans. If you want to take the heat up, add an extra can of green chilis.
The primary seasoning in this recipe is McCormics Taco Seasoning. Since we make this so regularly I buy the big canister at Costco
but if you want just a 1 time amount you can pick up a packet of taco seasoning at the regular store.
Measure out 2 cups of shredded chicken. When I’m using a rotisserie chicken I like to have a good mix of both white and dark meat. Rotisserie chicken is perfect for soups and two cups is about half of the chicken. I like to save the other half by freezing it for another meal later.
Next toss all the cans into the crock pot and turn it on low. Add the chicken and 3 tablespoons of taco seasoning.
Mix everything together and put in 3 cups of chicken broth. I like to use Better Than Bouillon for my broth but you can use regular canned broth as well.
At this point the soup is going to look a bit thin. This will cook down as you slow cook. Set your CrockPot to Low and plan to leave for 6-8 hours.
If you want to add rice to make your dish a bit more hearty, there are 1 of two ways. I usually have pre-made rice frozen so I toss 1 cup in about 30 minutes before I am done cooking. If I don’t have any frozen rice on hand, I use 1/2 a cup and put it into the pot an hour before I plan to eat. You don’t want to add the rice in at the beginning since it will absorb too much of the broth while cooking.
Once the soup has thickened, its time to serve. Top off the dish with cheddar cheese, sour cream and of course a few tortilla soup and you have the ideal fall meal!
[tasty-recipe id=”2677″]
Thanks to Siri, Alexa and the wide array of access we have to technology I find myself regularly stating we live in the future. It’s not the kind of future with hover boards (although those do exist) or Rosie from the Jetsons but it is pretty close.
A few weeks ago I received the opportunity to get an insider peek at the hottest tech coming to CES this winter. CES or the Consumer Electronics Show is an annual event showcasing the best of the best in tech for the coming year. For Tech nerds, CES is the holy grail of events! The event I attended was a sampling of the amazing things that will be announced during the January event.
This spring, you can expect to see more devices using the Voice Effect [Hey Siri], more tools working towards full connectivity, and more ways to engage on three screens [computer + tv + phone]. Ten Years ago in 1998 the technology landscape was a bit different. The top electronic item was a Color TV and the second most popular home device was a VCR. Flash forward 10 years and you’d be surprised to find a home without a TV, Smartphone and Laptop. Technology has become increasingly accessible and it’s integration in our day-to-day lives has become indispensable.
I had the opportunity to demo a few of the highlights we’ll see at the January event and I have to say I am excited about the direction technology is going in. The theme of the event I attended was Home and Health tech and there are some exciting new products headed our way this spring.
I love learning about things that help make life a bit easier and the technology coming out around living healthier lives fascinates me. Like most people, I love listening to music when I work out but as a woman, most workout gear is without pockets. I have yet to find a pair of headphones I really enjoy, since in ear headphones get gross with sweat and cords make me feel tangled.
After the event I received a pair of the Aftershokz Trekz Air to demo and I have to say I LOVE the thought that went into these headphones. These wireless headphones sit over the ear [not in] so that you can hear what is going on around you. This is perfect for runners who might need to be aware of cars. Note: I received a pair of Aftershokz to keep and demo.
As a night owl, I’ve found that sleep doesn’t naturally come easy so when I heard of the Philips SmartSleep system I was intrigued. The first wearable technology that has been clinically proven to enhance sleep, the SmartSleep headband uses customized sound tone to naturally improve the wearers ability to obtain deep sleep. Initially it looks somewhat difficult to wear but the device is actually very light and would be easy to sleep in.
I first heard of TENS devices a few years ago and I love that these easy to use medical tools are finally making it out into the consumer market. The Omron Avail is a wireless TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) designed to provide management of pain or sore muscles, completely without drugs. The unit works similar to acupuncture by trigging the muscles to relax with low intensity electronic pulses.
Smart Homes are going to be the big buzz of the next year and I am excited to see how voice activation becomes more integrated with smart home products. The iDevice Instinct is taking home automation to a new level and embedding the power of Alexa directly into light switches so there’s no need to waste limited counter space. I love keeping my counters clean so this is such a great way to get to use Alexa without actually having another speaker in the house.
I am not joking when I say that a smart garage opener would be a game changer in my house. I regularly have to loop back around to make sure that my garage door is shut. The Senclo Fi is a new high-end garage door opener that allows you to fully automate your garage and even open the door as your approach the home, all through GPS tracking. The best part, it attaches directly to your existing unit so you don’t have to mess with installing an entirely new opener!
This was such a fun event to attend and I can’t wait to hear more about what amazing technology comes out of the official CES event this January!
Disclaimer: I was invited to attend this event and received an Aftershokz Trekz Air during this event. All writing and opinions are my own.
When I was in college, tailgating at Colorado State meant getting up early to load up a car, timing things correctly to get everyone into the lot at the same time, and enjoying some Natty light in the dirt parking lot next to Hughes Stadium. As an alumni, tailgating is a bit more of an art, especially now that CSU has moved to an on campus stadium.
Just a couple of weeks ago I was honored to be asked to help share some tailgating tips with the crew at Fox31 Denver in honor of National Tailgating Day and the Rocky Mountain Showdown. The full video clip of the segment is below.
In addition to what I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, I wanted to put together a few of my favorite tailgating tricks for planning the ultimate alumni tailgate that you can try on no matter where you went to school!
Alumni Tailgate Tip 1: Take the Food Up a Notch
We’ve officially ‘graduated’ from the mini charcoal grill.
My all time favorite tailgating tool is a discada. The first time I saw a discada was while visiting family in New Mexico. Different parts of the country call these outdoor cooking tools different things, a disco, cowboy wok, etc. Discada’s are old plow disks that have been recycled and refinished to be used over a burner stand.
The 22″ discada and 12″ burner stand from Carolina Cooker is my new go to tailgating tool. Easily transportable, the propane powered setup allows me to cook my favorite meals and serve a big crowd at the same time!
Discada Recipes
- Tailgate Breakfast Tacos
- BBQ Bacon Burgers
- Whole 30 Tailgate Stir Fry [coming soon!]
This entire set up costs approximately $73. Shop now on ArgiSupply.com
If you need inspiration for what you want to cook, I’m loving the new ‘Official SEC Tailgating Cookbook’. When you love football you have to appreciate the SEC’s ability to take college sports to a whole new level.
Created by the team at Southern Living, each SEC team has a section featuring food and recipes football teams across the country will love. My personal favorite is the Creole Gumbo which I’ll be mixing up for a tailgate as soon as the weather is cold! [Tailgating tip: The Carolina Cooker Stand from the discada can be used with a stock pot!]
The Official SEC Tailgating Cookbook is available on Amazon now and would make a perfect holiday gift for a football fan.
Alumni Tailgate Tip 2: Show off your tailgate mixology
Say goodbye to the suitcase of beer.
In college, the cheaper the beer, the better the party. As an Alumni I’ve found that I value the flavor of the drinks I consume and a mixed drink is a 100x better than a sour watered down light beer.
Thanks to having a car with an outlet in the back one of my FAVORITE new ways to tailgate is with the Bibo Barmaid. No need to have that friend who’s always the bartender, the Bibo helps to make a perfectly mixed drink on demand.
ket of your choice and Bibo will add the correct amount of water to the mixer. Finish it off with the recommended alcohol and you have a bar quality mixed drink in minutes, without needing to store a ton of mixer bottles at your tailgate.
Today I am making a Ram-a-Rita using the Bibo Barmaid Margarita mix, and adding tequila and beer to my finished drink.
The Bibo Barmaid is available on Amazon for $195.
If you don’t have easy access to an outlet, mixing drinks the old fashioned ways is always an option. One of my favorite easy drinks to pack and mixup on game day is a Black and Gold Whiskey Tea using Clyde May’s Alabama Style Whiskey.
We all know that Alabama KNOWS football and when picking the perfect football beverage you can’t go wrong with Clyde May. With origins during WW2, Clyde May is an apple-infused whiskey perfect for adding to sweet tea or even drinking straight. It has a sweet finish, but is not what I would call fruity despite the slight apple addition.
Black and Gold Whiskey Tea Recipe
- Sweet tea infused with lemon left to sit overnight
- 1 shot Clyde May’s Whiskey
- Serve on the rocks.
Clyde May is available in Denver at Argonaut Liquor or Total Beverage.
Alumni Tailgate Tip 3: Game like a Pro
Beyond beer pong.
During college a folding table and a few plastic cups made the perfect set up for hours of entertainment. As an alumni, spending several hours outside means you need to socialize more than drink (or socialize while you drink). Playing a few games is the ideal way to do that!
Larger than life yard games are a fun way to catch up with friends during a tailgate.
Giant Jenga from the Tammie Rose Collection is an ideal way to enjoy a game among friends AND scar the pants off your neighbor when things come crashing to the ground. These beautiful sets include a easy to use carry case and are stained to make your set really stand out.
Cornhole is a tailgating classic and these beautiful boards from Colorado Cornhole Guy can not be beat. With the ability to print any design you want on the top, these are quite honestly the most beautiful board set’s I’ve ever seen. Each board is constructed with a smooth top, ensuring that nothing snags the top of the set.
Another game that only becomes more fun when giantized is Jenga. The classic dice game is perfect for killing time while waiting for food to cool. This school color personalized Jenga set is available from Mile High Gifts on Etsy.
If you have a large crowd, Corkaine is the perfect way to get everyone involved in the tailgating festivities. Up to four players can enjoy trying out one of 12 games with this fun and unique yard game set. The object of the game is for competitors to launch corks into the various cups on the game board. The team with the most corks in a single cup wins the cup!
I’m so excited that tailgating season is officially underway! What are your favorite things about tailgating? Leave a note in the comments and let me know what tips you’d add to this list!
I’m done with Whole30 now, but spending a month focusing on eating only healthy, natural foods was eye opening. One of the biggest challenges was giving up my regular schedule of eating out since so many restaurants lack in the ability to do a true Whole30 compliant meal.
There are only a handful of places that can be called a true whole30 restaurant in Denver. Lucky for me, Boulder just welcomed a brand new fast casual restaurant who fit the bill for eating out AND staying Whole30 complaint. Located just off 28th street, Flower Child focuses on healthy scratch made food that makes eating out and eating healthy a breeze.
From the moment you walk into the restaurant it’s obvious this isn’t another mass produced chain where volume matters more than the time you spend eating. The bright colors, fun decor and welcoming seating makes it feel like you’ve gone over to a friends house for dinner.
The open air kitchen allows you to see into where the food is prepared, demonstrating first hand that fresh produce is an important part of the menu.
While Flower Child is not exclusively Whole30, the ability to customize each dish made eating there super easy. We started off with three of the small plates. Intended to be shared, these tapas style dishes are a great way to experience the depth of the Flower Child menu.
The first dish we tried was the Heirloom Tomato and Watermelon. This simple dish was full of fresh flavors. Using mint, basil, vinaigrette and sea salt, the robust flavors make this dish one of my favorite options on the menu.
The red chili glazed sweet potato combined flavors you might not naturally think to go together. Red chili sauce complimented the natural sweetness of the sweet potato and the bok choy and sesame seeds added texture to this hearty side dish.
Adding avocado to a meal was my whole30 staple so I definitely wanted to give the Avocado, Sea Salt and Olive Oil a try. The olive oil gave the avocado a more refined flavor, making it the perfect addition to the top of my entree.
I ordered the Strawberry Fields Salad topped with grass-fed steak. To make this dish Whole30 compliant I dropped the toasted oats, goat cheese, and substituted in the lemon avocado dressing (sugar-free, dairy-free, gluten-free dressing). I’ve never had dried mulberries before so this topper was a fun experience that I’ll definitely be putting on salads at home in the future. The arugula and strawberries added a fresh natural flavor while the steak was the perfect hearty compliment to make this salad a full meal.
My dining companion was not eating Whole30 so she had one of the Flying Avocado and didn’t make any changes to the intended dish. Smoked turkey, gouda, romaine lettuce, tomato, avocado and hummus all wrapped up in a whole wheat wrap made her selection a filling and flavorful meal.
Overall I loved the atmosphere of the restaurant and I can’t wait to go back and experience some of the items that are not Whole30 as well. It’s so nice to find a Whole30 restaurant who also has plenty of options for people not eating a special diet. I’m looking forward to seeing Flower Child expand with more locations throughout Colorado.
Interested in learning more about my Whole30 experience? Read my week 1 take on Whole30.
I was hosted at Flower Child to facilitate this review. I did not receive any additional compensation and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
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