By Molly Snyder Senior Writer Published Oct 13, 2008 at 3:41 AM

October is Dining Month on OnMilwaukee.com. All month, we're stuffed with restaurant reviews, special features, chef profiles and unique articles on everything food. Bon appetit!

I just started cooking about three years ago, and since then, I have learned the most about the art of cuisine from my friends. This particular recipe comes from my friend Stacy and it never fails to hit the spot. Additionally, it's easy to make and packs impressive presentation which makes the still-novice chef in me feel acoomplished.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Ingredients:
1 bag corn chips
2 lbs. chicken with bone (remove skin, optional)
6 cups vegetable broth
1 can diced tomatoes (15 oz.) (or 4-5 ripe tomatoes diced)
1 cup onion chopped
1 cup frozen corn (or canned)
1 cup black beans, drained
1 cup red or green bell pepper chopped
1 cup fresh cilantro chopped
2 cloves fresh garlic (minced)
1 lime cut into wedges
2 tsp. safflower oil (or any vegetable oil)
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper (more if you want it hot!)

Directions:
Sprinkle chicken with salt, pepper and cayenne and bake in covered glass dish at 350 for 1 hour.  Let cool and remove from skin/bone, saving meat and drippings. In soup pot, sauté garlic, onion and peppers just until tender. Add broth, tomatoes, beans, corn, peppers, chicken with drippings and spices.  Let simmer for 15 minutes. Add half cilantro and reduce heat to low, simmer 10 minutes.  Serve in bowls with rest of fresh cilantro, lime and crumbled corn chips as garnish.  Add more salt and pepper to taste, dollop of sour cream optional.  Serves 6 to 8.


Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.

Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.