chicken tortilla soup for the soul

I am always looking for easy peasy ways to make dinner.

Sound familiar?

The other day, I decided that I wanted to make chicken tortilla soup.  Yes, I realize that the temperatures have been reaching the triple digits.  But like I always say, there's nothing like chicken tortilla soup for the soul*.

So I started looking around online for quick and easy recipes.  I soon found this baby.  And while some of the ingredients may or may not sound appetizing [*cough*NACHOCHEESESOUP*cough*], let me tell you, this turned out amazing.

In fact, the finished product looked something like this picture:

Picture found here, though I did not use that particular recipe.

If you don't want to click on another link, I'll do you a favor and post the recipe here:

• 1 (10.75 ounce) can Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup (Regular or 98% Fat Free)
• 1 (10.75 ounce) can Campbell's® Condensed Fiesta Nacho Cheese Soup
• 1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chilies
• 2.75 cups milk
• 2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts halves, cooked and diced
• tortilla strips

I also added one can of pinto beans, some green onions, and a little extra milk [and some light sour cream right before we served it].

And all you have to do is mix all of those ingredients together in the crock pot, cover, and cook on low for 5-6 hours [except for the tortilla strips, which go in right before you serve it].  Aka, you can put everything in the crockpot and forget about it for 5-6 hours.

Final verdict: It was a big hit and I definitely plan to make it again!

*Confession: I have never said this before.

getting food for free

I've told you that Tim and I like to get things for free, right?  Remember this?

Well have I told you that we sometimes unintentionally get things for free?

Like that time we went to Bahama Bucks and they randomly let us have our drinks for free.  Or that time we went to Oregano's and they messed up our order and gave us the whole meal on the house.

That was pretty great.

Well last Friday, we were trying to think of something creative and cheap to do.  We went through my wallet and found a few gift cards that still had a few dollars left on them.  So, naturally, we decided to make a night out of using the leftover mulah.

The first stop?  La Bocca on Mill Avenue.

We split some amazing bruschetta.  Seriously.  Awesome.

At the end, we gave the waiter our gift card.  [There wasn't enough money on the gift card to cover the whole thing, but it was enough to make it much cheaper.]  A few minutes later, he came back and said that he couldn't figure out how to use the gift card, so we could just have the food for free.  And he gave back the gift card.

Oh really?  That's too bad.  Ok, well, if I must...

The next stop was Red Robin.

We didn't have very much on the card, so we just decided on each of us getting chicken tortilla soup and french fries.  And as unappetizing as that picture may make it look, the soup was actually really good.

And, of course, I had to get a freckled strawberry lemonade.  [Because the freakin' $4.00 is worth it, unfortunately.]

At the end, our waiter brought us our check.  Tim immediately noticed that the freckled lemonade wasn't listed and mentioned it to the waiter, who said, "Don't worry about it!"

So we got that for free, too.  Whaaat!

Occasionally I wonder if things like that happen because we look pathetically poor, or something.

And if that's the case....I'll take it.

Not to mention that a few days earlier, we went to IHOP on their pancake day and got a free short stack.

Tim's sister, Melissa, suggested it and our stomachs will forever be indebted to her.

Moral of the story?  There's no shame in looking [or being] pathetically poor.

It just might pay off.

why i go to work

I have some pretty great coworkers.

This can be illustrated in a number of ways [you know...while we're working or whatever], but some of my favorite ways have absolutely nothing to do with work.

Example 1:

I had been helping my coworker Sue with a convention she was hosting on for a collector's club she's in.  I had no idea, but apparently these collector's clubs can be a big deal.  And Sue collects those Dickensian-looking Christmas villages.  Which I happen to think is pretty cool.

Anyway, as a consequence of helping her out during my down time, she gave me the opportunity of a lifetime:

The chance to hear the great-great grandson of Charles Dickens perform a one-man rendition of a Christmas Carol.  [Yes, it was October, but I'm pretty sure absolutely nobody in that audience minded one bit.]  It was incredible.  And yes, I may have cried.  [Tiny Tim gets me every time.]

To make things even better, my friend Jana got to come along, which is great, since she happens to be a big fan of Dickens [and can probably quote every line of that play verbatim].

And finally, to put the icing on the cake, Jana and I got to peruse through all of the [very mind-blowingly intricate] villages on display.

Here is the Halloween village.

[Sorry for the poor picture quality...I forgot to bring my camera along so phone pictures are all you get.]

Jana Banana reading all of the funny epitaphs on the tombstones.

At this moment in time, I was probably either laughing at something one of the tombstones said or at something Janana said.  [She loves it when I use her nicknames.  Former roommate privilege, you know.]

Ok, I know you can't see this one very well, but it's supposed to be the Courthouse Square in Prescott, which just happens to be where I'm from.  Holla.

A Christmas Village, with details right down to couples holding hands and families coming out of church.

Fact: that black blur is actually a train.

And you thought my holiday yearning was bad before.

Example #2:

My boss, Kristin, went to Iceland for three weeks [that part actually makes me kinda sad] and left us all of the food in her refrigerator [and that part makes me happy].  The goods consisted of things that Tim and I don't usually buy, but of things that we love.  We got to experiment around a lot, which was really fun.

Now, that may or may not look appetizing, but let me tell you: it was tasty.  Stuffed chicken with pesto, peppers, mozarella cheese, and other ingredients which I cannot recall at this time.

Yep, my coworkers are pretty great.

[Jealousy not encouraged.]

the secrets of panda express

Last week [I think - I'm losing track of my days], Tim and I went to Panda Express.  We usually get to meet up on Fridays for lunch because we get out of our classes at the same time and can eat together before we head to work.

Not that you really cared about that useless piece of information.

But I really like it.

Anyways.

I got an awesome fortune cookie that said:


Your sense of humor will get you through difficult times.

I felt all warm and fuzzy inside.

[I really only go to Panda for the fortune cookies.] [Just kidding.] [Kind of.]

Then Tim went to open his fortune cookie...

...and there was no fortune!

We felt so gypped.  And then puzzled.

Does Tim have no future?  Or can he just choose his own destiny?  And whereas I am doomed to having my sense of humor get me through difficult times, maybe he can choose to just be depressed during difficult times if he so wishes?

Perhaps we'll never know.

p.s.  In regards to my last blog, I have a clarification.  That first picture?  Of my new bedspread?  I did not make that.  [I owe all of that to Target.]  And I did not make the fish blanket.  Or the blanket from my mom [of which there was no picture].  In fact, I have never made a blanket.  My only talents lie in being able to blog about inconsequential nonsense.  [But thankfully, I still get to enjoy the fruits of other people's talents.]

Ok, just had to be sufficiently humble, in case there was any confusion.

Ok.  Ok bye.

what a girl's gotta do

Have you ever had a really strong craving for a roasted marshmallow whilst camping?

Well, duh.  Hasn't everyone?

Ok, well have you ever had a really strong craving for a roasted marshmallow whilst you're not camping?

Having had extensive experience in this area, I can tell you: it can get a little tricky.  Especially since my apartment complex tends to frown upon fires in the living room.

Don't worry, though.  I've found a solution.

Stove-roasted marshmallows!

Ah, yes.

Unfortunately, it doesn't have quite the same flavor.  Especially since it's a little harder to catch your marshmallow on fire over a stove.  [I like 'em burnt.  Carcinogens or not.]

But sometimes, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.  [And sometimes, her husband does whatever it takes to fulfill her ridiculous cravings.]

p.s. Just in case anyone has any doubts, I am not pregnant, regardless of my outlandish cravings.  No internet rumors please ;)

p.p.s.  Tim and I are going camping this weekend, so I'll be able to have a real roasted marshmallow.  Just ask me how excited I am.

p^3.s.  Is anyone else getting really excited for the holiday season?  I started thinking about it today in class and teared up a little.  [Regressing, I tell you.]