As the winter weather settles, many of us are ready to break out our favorite homemade soup recipes. So, today, I want to share one of my absolute favorites – homemade chicken tortilla soup.

It’s easy to make, good for meat-eaters or vegetarians and can serve as the perfect meal to enjoy while having one of those deeper winter conversations. Enjoy!

First, let’s start with the ingredients. Then, I’ll walk you through how I make my own chicken tortilla soup.

Ingredients for My Homemade Chicken Tortilla Soup

1/2 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons olive oil, divided use

2 boneless chicken breasts that have been precooked, baked, or store bought

1 cup diced onion

1/4 cup diced bell pepper

1/4 cup chopped light green celery leaves, the ones in the center of the bunch

4 cloves minced garlic

1/2 cup diced carrots

1 can (10 oz.) cubed or diced tomatoes

32 oz. vegetable broth or chicken broth

2 cups water

1 can (15 oz.) black beans, drained

3 tablespoons tomato paste

2 tablespoons cornmeal

5 corn tortillas for the soup

5 or 6 corn tortillas for the top of the soup

Optional: Grated Jack cheese for the top of the soup cilantro and fresh lemon or lime as a garnish

How I Make My Chicken Tortilla Soup

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Mix the cumin, chipotle chili powder, garlic powder, and salt in a small bowl.

Drizzle one tablespoon of the olive oil over the chicken breasts. Sprinkle on some of the spice mix. Save the rest for the soup.

Place the chicken breasts on a cookie sheet and bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until done. Shred the chicken when cool enough to handle. Set aside.

Heat the other tablespoon of olive oil in soup pot over medium heat. Add the onions, bell pepper, chopped celery leaves, minced garlic, and carrots to the pot with the rest of the spice mix. Stir to combine and cook until almost soft.

Pour in the tomatoes and veggie or chicken broth and water. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat.

Add the black beans and tomato paste and cook on medium-low heat for 30 minutes.

Mix the cornmeal with a small amount of water and pour into soup. Cook for another 30 minutes.

Taste to see if more salt or any other seasoning is needed.

Turn off the heat and add the first 5 strips of corn tortillas to the soup. Stir in.

Take the other 5 or 6 (you may want more of these) tortillas and cut them into very thin slices. Heat a small amount of oil in a small fry pan and fry tortillas until crisp. Remove from oil and add salt. Drain on paper towels.

Ladle the soup into bowls. Add the shredded chicken on top of the soup then the grated pepper jack cheese and top with cilantro leaves and the crisp tortilla strips. Squeeze on some lemon or lime and enjoy.

Voila! Homemade chicken tortilla soup that everyone can enjoy!

What is your favorite soup? Have you tried to make something similar to my own homemade chicken tortilla soup? What other cooking projects have you completed recently? Please join the conversation.

For some reason, bangs are always a bit controversial. Curtain bangs are no different. Some love them and some aren’t feeling them and others think people are calling long layers bangs when they’re really just a layer. Bur regardless, Ashley Benson does have new curtain bangs are they look great on her. The actress shared a video of her on set wearing a wavy bob wig and apparently, it inspired her to make a real change.

Not only did Benson get curtain bangs, but she also went shorter allover and much lighter. “The focal point of this look is the cut and color combo,” her hairstylist Joseph Maine said in a statement. “I love how the platinum color really compliments her skin and the dark root gives her a lot of depth, making her light blonde pop. The depth in her root also goes with her eyebrows and makes her eyes stand out. For the style, I wanted it to look effortless and just slightly tousled.”

Instagram.com/ashleybenson.

“I love working with Ashley because we get to try so many different looks,” the Trademark Beauty co-founder said. “She’s always up for new things. This is our first time really playing with her hair since Paris Fashion Week in March where we did eight different looks. It was fun to try something new today! While this is a wig that she’s currently rocking, we were so inspired by it that we ended up chopping her real hair super short too. It’s pretty drastic!”

Source: Instagram

Benson’s new bangs will take a little styling work to get used to but they’re very versatile. She can wear them straight forward, blown-out in a cool ’70s way or even just tuck them into the rest of her hair when she’s not feeling then. They’ll also grow out easily right into her chic bob. We love them and hope she keeps them around for a while—until she switches it up again.

For some reason, bangs are always a bit controversial. Curtain bangs are no different. Some love them and some aren’t feeling them and others think people are calling long layers bangs when they’re really just a layer. Bur regardless, Ashley Benson does have new curtain bangs are they look great on her. The actress shared a video of her on set wearing a wavy bob wig and apparently, it inspired her to make a real change.

Not only did Benson get curtain bangs, but she also went shorter allover and much lighter. “The focal point of this look is the cut and color combo,” her hairstylist Joseph Maine said in a statement. “I love how the platinum color really compliments her skin and the dark root gives her a lot of depth, making her light blonde pop. The depth in her root also goes with her eyebrows and makes her eyes stand out. For the style, I wanted it to look effortless and just slightly tousled.”

Instagram.com/ashleybenson.

“I love working with Ashley because we get to try so many different looks,” the Trademark Beauty co-founder said. “She’s always up for new things. This is our first time really playing with her hair since Paris Fashion Week in March where we did eight different looks. It was fun to try something new today! While this is a wig that she’s currently rocking, we were so inspired by it that we ended up chopping her real hair super short too. It’s pretty drastic!”

Source: Instagram

Benson’s new bangs will take a little styling work to get used to but they’re very versatile. She can wear them straight forward, blown-out in a cool ’70s way or even just tuck them into the rest of her hair when she’s not feeling then. They’ll also grow out easily right into her chic bob. We love them and hope she keeps them around for a while—until she switches it up again.

Is living with pain a growing fear as you age? Is it part of your identity once you pass the 60 gate?

When I was 10 years old, a boy swung a shovel with a rusty corner at a bee. I had just stooped down to the ground to pick something up. When I stood up, the shovel’s rusty corner came straight down into the top of my head.

I was the pain. The pain was me. I was scared to death as a literal geyser of blood sprung out of my head, drenching my clothes.

My head felt like a hammer was pounding on it. Nothing existed except the pain that consumed me. You can probably relate to hurting your thumb or foot and it does not hurt too badly when you are busy doing things during the day. But when you lie down to go to sleep, the pain fills the room. You are consumed by it.

In my twenties, I trained in biofeedback to learn more about the mind/body connection, creating endorphins and relaxation skills. The adventure of entering into my own potential with the mind and body fascinated me. It was meant to be the catalyst for my personal journey into human potential.

A Surgery on the Horizon

At 65, four years ago, it was getting difficult to walk with my enlarged bunion on the right foot. Since it was necessary to succumb to surgery, I wanted to tap my mind/body resources and human potential.

The idea of walking into the surgery center with a feeling of dread was not appealing. After some research, it became obvious that setting a positive stage for surgery was optimal for successful results.

The day prior to surgery I felt the dread of it. Fun movies were lined up to watch during recovery. In addition, I planned to complete my self-help memoir, “The Grandma Boom Chronicles… More Alive at 65!” You know that sensation that arises when you don’t want to do something but there is no choice? That is what was pulling me down. I wanted to be up so I needed a plan.

Looking at Pain in a Positive Way

I had to do something outrageous to bring a positive surge and upliftment into my spirit. The intention was to create endorphins since they help reduce pain and create an internal environment that is soothing.

I realized it was my choice to either stick with the dread and have a normal morning before surgery or decide to do something I loved. And then it hit me. Why not try SUP, Stand Up Paddle boarding? The choice was obvious when I felt the upsurge of energy just thinking about SUP.

SUP always brings a feeling of freedom and joy. I feel strong when I get that kind of core exercise that also opens me to the heavens and keeps me grounded as I balance my body, becoming one with the movement of the water.

Post SUP I felt strong and happy before surgery. While out on the lake, I did not even think about the operation. It was an amazing way to prevent worry and dread. The endorphins started marching all over my body. I was smiling from head to toe.

When I arrived at the surgery center the receptionist looked at me with compassion and a caring voice, “Now, how are you doing?” You can imagine I responded with nothing less than the voice of a cheerleader: “I am fantastic, thank you! I just got in the best mood to prepare for surgery and I am happy.”

The receptionist looked dumbfounded. “And what was that?” Explaining my view about being positive before surgery and going SUP, she looked a bit puzzled until it dawned on her that I had made a choice to have success, feel good and take responsibility in the healing process.

For decades I had been helping others learn to manage stress. I knew that research has shown the more tension generated when one is in pain, the more pain and suffering is created. Being calm and at peace, healing occurs more quickly because circulation is improved. Tension blocks and slows circulation.

Refusing to Succumb to Pain

Patience is required for healing thoroughly, as well as learning the balance of keeping a certain level of activity while not pushing too hard too fast. Expressing my creativity and formulating ways to keep a fun element in the healing process was essential for my spirit and personality.

Yes, pain was present. But I was not my pain. It was a part of me at that time and a catalyst to practice health building skills to manage it instead of pain being in control of me. I refused to succumb to the pain.

I decided to have as much fun in my recovery process as possible. Each time I went for a doctor’s check-up and got a glowing report, I celebrated with my boot that I had worn for many weeks. Decorating it brought out the most of my enjoyment in the process and I felt rewarded as well as entertained. Being creative always moves energy in the upliftment direction.

Since the bunion surgery I’ve had total hip replacement surgery. One year post surgery I am doing everything I’ve ever done including swimming 20 laps several times weekly, hiking 2-3 miles regularly, dancing my buns off and playing with grandchildren.

For a brief demonstration of how to understand and work with pain healthily, check out this video with tips on pain control.

Do you focus on pain that is bothersome, or do you find ways to take your mind off it? Are you an active Googling enthusiast to seek out blogs, research, YouTube videos and helpful tips for the kind of pain you experience? What are your coping techniques for pain? Please share your suggestions for overcoming pain in the comments.

Lisa Barlow’s Metallic Sequin Turtleneck on Instagram

Real Housewives of Salt Lake City Instagram Fashion 2020

Not only is Sagittarius season officially here (happy belated Lisa and Meredith!) but so is sequin season as made evident by Lisa Barlow’s metallic sequin turtleneck on Instagram. And although this time of year may not look exactly like it used to, that of course doesn’t mean that you can’t replicate this shimmering lewk for your next holiday party on Zoom with sweatpants.

Fashionably,

Faryn

Click Here to Shop Her Jonathan Simkhai Top

Click Here to Shop Her Laura Mercier Lipstick in ‘Fuchsia Intense’

Photo & Lipstick Info: @LisaBarlow14

Originally posted at: Lisa Barlow’s Metallic Sequin Turtleneck