EASY RECIPE
This easy and great recipe for home made Tortilla Soup was provided by our friend Julie. By putting this recipe in my blog, you now have 2/3 of my wife’s entire cookbook (see beef bourguignon). At the end of a long work day, or adventure in the great outdoors, this easy chicken meal is a super flavorful and filling dish that you can put together in no time.
Thanks Julie!
Ingredients and Preparation
1 15 oz can of whole kernel corn – drained
2 14.5 oz cans chicken broth
1 15 oz can black beans
1 14 oz can diced tomatoes, drained
1 4 oz can diced green chiles
1 tsp cumin
salt to taste
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast boiled, and then chopped/shredded
tortilla chips or corn tortillas
shredded chedder cheese
Pour corn, broth, beans, tomatoes, and chilis into large sauce pan. Add cumin, salt and chicken. Bring to boil and then simmer for at least 15 minutes.
If you want an even spicier soup, while simmering the soup add 2 tsp of chili powder.
When serving the soup top each bowl with a little cheese and do not forget the tortilla chips.
AND STUFF
As you know, from my perspective, a great vacation idea usually invovles a jet. But, an even better vacation involves a road trip after the jet lands. We took such a vacation last year, right about this time. My brother-in-law Tom and his wife Madeline suggested, and then made all the land arrangements, for an Easter trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Sue, our son, and I, along with E & T flew to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where we rented a car for the drive to Santa Fe.
Santa Fe is a very old city with Spanish influence commencing around 1607. Prior to that it was the site of a Puebloan village. Santa Fe is a beautiful quilt of culture including Pueblo, Spanish, and contemporary culture as represented by artists such as Georgia O’Keefe and others. You can even find an Irish pub in the town.
The grassy center of Old Santa Fe is surrounded by wonderful southwest architectural styled buildings, and endless tables and rugs upon which locals offer their crafts, jewelry and art.
There are so many wonderful elements to the town that I could go on for quite some time describing them. Perhaps I will in future AND STUFF editions. For now, I want to tell you about two very special aspects of the area that Tom and Madeline pointed out to us.
One of the things that stood out for me on the trip was The Loretto Chapel. While walking away from the market area, and passing the Cathedral, I turned a corner and saw a beautiful soaring chapel made of stone blocks. As I got closer I noticed the huge ornate wooden doors topped by stained glass. And looking further up the face of the chapel I saw a wonderful circular glass window framed by the stark stone blocks.
Upon entering the The Loretto Chapel it became apparent that not only is the chapel beautiful it is also a time capsule. The Loretto Chapel’s construction was completed in 1878. The interior is both ornate and colorful. Viewed from inside the circular glass window high above the floor is a breathtakingly beautiful stained glass window.
There are many significant elements to examine in The Lorreto Chapel; the stained glass everywehere, the hand made wood pews, the supporting wood beams, the ornate altar, and the detailed statues. And then Tom drew my attention to the wooden spiral staircase. Oh boy. Let’s see. Without getting all mystical on you, and just reporting the facts, there is quite a story to the spiral staircase.
When the Loretto Chapel was completed, it did not include an interior stairway to the choir loft below the circular stained glass window. Many local contractors were called in to propose a stair system, but all agreed there was no room for a stair system. The story goes that the nuns of the chapel made a novena to Saint Joseph the Patron Saint of Carpenters (no, that is not the name of a trade union). Nine days later a white haired stranger on a mule showed up at the chapel looking for work. The stranger had a small tool box which contained a few simple tools. The nuns told the stranger of their need for access to the choir loft.
The stranger made measurements and started working. When finished he had created a double 360 degree wooden spiral staircase, without the use of nails and with no visible means of support. His job completed, the stranger left before the nuns could pay him, and he was never seen again.
Ok, I know what you are thinking. But truth is, the double 360 degree wood spiral staircase is still in the chapel, still has no nails, and no visible support (except for modern retrofit). You can examine the staircase from literally an arms length away and ponder how it could have been designed without a CAD program, and with only a saw and hammer. No matter what, or who the stranger was, I think we can agree on one thing, he was a serious carpenter. To see picutures of the spiral staircase and learn more go to http://www.lorettochapel.com/staircase.html
Well, since I am on this journey of mystery, I will tell you of another profoundly unique event. Tom took us to the El Santuario de Chimayo’ shrine which is north of Santa Fe. As we drove to the shrine we travelled many miles through somewhat barren and hilly terrain. As we drove, we passed a man walking along the side of the road, and then a woman, and than others. There were many men and women walking along the road, in the middle of nowhere. I was told that because it was Easter Sunday, there were fewer walkers than earlier in the weekend, as most of the walkers had started out on Good Friday and had already completed their Chimayo’ Easter Pilgrimage.
Ok, hold on, here we go. So, the story goes, in 1810 a Chimayo friar saw a bright light coming from the hillside. He dug into the ground and found a small box containing a crucifix. The crucifix was taken to Santa Cruz. But it disappeared. The friar went back to the hillside and found the crucifix lying in the hole he had dug. The crucifix was taken back to Santa Cruz again, and once again it disappeared only to again be found in the same hole. This happened three times. It was eventually concluded the crucifix, El Santuario de Chimayo’, should not be removed from the area it had been found. It was also concluded that the dirt in the hole was blessed. As a result, a shrine was constructed on top of the hole dug by the friar. Each year thousands walk the Chimayo’ Easter Pilgrimage.
As we left the highway, we drove a short distance on a small country road, and then down a dirt road to a gravel parking lot. As soon as we got out of the car we heard the drums, and very loud voices. We walked along a path, up a hill, and then saw all the pilgrams in the courtyard adjacent to the small chapel taking part in a very colorful and energetic ritual. After the ritual concluded, we went into the chapel. The chapel is very, very unique. The interior decor is quite violent, along the lines of “The Passion”.
On the side of the chapel was a very low door. We passed through the doorway and found ourselves in a small room with a dirt floor. In the middle of the dirt floor was a hole in the ground. This is where the crucifix had been found, and to this day, the pilgrims come to gather by hand, a small bit of the healing soil.
I have got to tell you, regardless of your belief system, should you ever find yourself in Santa Fe on Easter weekend, you absolutely, positively, must travel to the El Santuario de Chimayo’ shrine to observe, in a respectful manner, the outdoor ritual that is performed at the shrine. Out of respect, I will not attempt to describe the ritual as I am certain I would not do it justice, and could even describe it in an improper manner. Let me just say the colorful and energetic ritual weaves between cultures and traditions. To learn more go to http://www.newmexico.org/experience/holidays/chimayo.php
There you go, I started with a quilt metaphor and brought it home with a weave metaphor. My work is done here.
While enjoying your meal, why not recall places and events that have impacted you. Perhaps, it was what you felt the first time you saw a giant sequoia tree, Niagara Falls, the Rocky Mountains, or an architecturally wonderful structure. Such great momments should be shared.
Good Eating and Table Talk,
Roger
