Corn Chowder

I love making soups in the winter! I also double my recipes and freeze some for a quick lunch. My favorite containers to do this are those "deli" type containers. You can buy in bulk at GFS. They are the perfect size serving. But, remember liquid expands when you freeze, so don't fill them all the way up! I usually do 3/4 full. This recipe was based on a chowder recipe I received at a Martin's School of Cooking class. The chef used water as a base, I use chicken broth. She also used heavy cream, but I use fat free half and half. I think the results are similar! So, here it is!

Corn Chowder (4-6 servings)
Ingredients
4 shallots, thinly sliced
1/2 pkg corn tortillas (I use Sprouted Corn type. They are Food For Life brand and can be found at Martin's Supermarket in the Gluten Free Section of the Frozen Foods)
1 poblano chili, roasted, skin removed and diced (use a small one if you like it milder)
1 pkg frozen corn
1/2 bunch green onion, sliced
1 cup whipping cream (can use fat free half and half)
2 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Method
Saute shallots in olive oil until caramelized in stock pot. Add 4 cups water (or chicken broth, corn tortillas, and 1/2 bag frozen corn to pot. Bring to simmer. Tortillas will fall apart in pot. Puree ingredients with an immersion type blender, or let cool and blend in batches with a blender. Return to pot and bring back to simmer. Add remaining ingredients. Bring to simmer again, and add salt and pepper to taste. Like I said, I double this recipe. If I want to make it a heartier soup, I purchase a rotisserie chicken and remove from bones, chop and toss it in. If you are doing a single batch, use 1/2 a chicken, or any other leftover chicken you might have.

French Dip crock pot sandwich

Tonights meal will be Crock Pot French Dip Sandwiches.  I started with 2.76 lb top round roast.  (It's on sale at Meijer this week).  I added 1 can of French Onion Soup, one can of Au Jus, and the rest was beef both to almost cover it in the crock pot. 

I then browned the roast on all sides.  I'm not sure why, but this makes a huge difference when you cook beef in a crock pot.

Then everything went in the crock pot.  I also sprinkled in a little bit (not too much, 1/4 tsp if that) of Italian Seasoning.  My crock pot is at low for 8 hours!

I plan to serve on mini sub rolls and a spinach salad!
Here's the finished sandwich

  Enjoy.