Crock Pot Comfort: Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup

Before warmer weather approaches and the crock pot goes to the back of the cabinet, I've been filling my nights with slow cooked dishes. This tortilla soup is tasty, comforting, just a little spicy and perfect for a week night meal.

Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup
Recipe courtesy of Campbell's

Ingredients
1 small red pepper, chopped (about 1/2 cup)
1 small tomato, diced (about 1/2 cup)
1 can (8 3/4 ounces) whole kernel corn, drained
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 can Campbell's Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup
1 1/2 cups water
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1 can (about 4 ounces) chopped green chiles
1/4 teaspoon chopped jalapeño pepper (optional)
2 corn tortillas (6-inch), cut into strips
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves

Directions
Stir the pepper, tomato, corn and chicken in a 3 1/2-quart slow cooker. Stir the soup, water, cumin, coriander, garlic powder, chili powder, chiles and jalapeño pepper, if desired, in a small bowl. Pour over the chicken mixture. Cover and cook on Low for 4 to 5 hours or on High for 2 to 2 1/2 hours, or until the chicken is cooked through. Stir in the tortillas, cheese and cilantro. Cover and cook for 30 minutes. Serve with additional cheese or sour cream, if desired. Serves 4.

A Journal for the Journey

If you're looking to hit the road for spring break or this summer, I've got your travel companion. The journey journal from Cracked Designs, a Milwaukee-based greeting card company, is a thin little booklet filled with checklists, space to record all your trip memories, a page for afterthoughts and a compartment for storing those little knick-knacks you collect on the road. The most appealing part of the little booklet is the cover which features a map, fasteners and string so you can trace your route. Road trip!

Going Green

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, I went on a hunt for all things green at Anthropologie. As luck (of the Irish) would have it, they currently have lots of items for your closet and the rest of your home in that perfect shade of springtime green. I fell in love with a few finds, including their atom art bowl, the soiree ring, this charming acorn birdhouse and these stylish green sunglasses. And maybe one day, I'll build up the courage to wear these green shorty-shorts and the savings to purchase this decoupage chandelier.

Pork Chops and Mustard Sauce

On a chilly night, when I'm looking for a quick supper, I often turn to Nigella Lawson, goddess of comfort food. This meal of mustard pork chops is simple and fast and perfect with a side gnocchi or mashed potatoes to absorb all the extra yummy juices.

Mustard Pork Chops
Recipe courtesy of Nigella Lawson and the Food Network

Ingredients
2 pork chops, about 1-pound total weight
2 teaspoons infused oil
1/2 cup hard cider
1 tablespoon grain mustard
1/3 cup heavy cream

Cut the fat or rind off the chops, and then bash them briefly but brutally with a rolling pin between 2 pieces of cling film/plastic wrap to make them thinner. Heat the oil in a pan, and then cook the chops over a moderately-high heat for about 5 minutes a side. Remove them to a warmed plate. Pour the cider into the pan, still over the heat, to deglaze the pan. Let it bubble away for a minute or so then add the mustard and stir in the cream. Let the sauce continue cooking for a few minutes before pouring over each plated pork chop. If you're having gnocchi with, make sure you turn them in the pan to absorb any spare juices before adding them to your plates.

Fashion First

Please excuse my recent absence. I'm still recovering from New York Fashion Week, which I attended for my day job -- I know, tough line of work. Check out some of my coverage here:
Day Five
Day Six
Day Seven & Eight

Color in the Kitchen

Orla Kiely is a designer best known for the distinctive print on her handbags, but she has recently teamed up with Target for a collection of housewares, which are not only adorable, but super affordable. The items available both in-store and online include dinnerware, mugs and an unusual pitcher. More items will be released throughout February, including napkins, oven mitts and even an apron. I love the bright colors and the cheerful prints, and everything is around $15. This could be just what I need to spring-ify the kitchen.

Key to My Heart Key Lime Tarts

Since the Super Bowl took place in Tampa, I decided to serve up a Florida-inspired dessert for the big game. These mini key lime bites provided the perfect blend of tart and sweet and were just the right size after filling up on buffalo wings and pigs in blankets all afternoon. The recommended crust of Key Lime Coolers are an easy find when I'm Savannah thanks to Byrd Cookie Company, but since I'm all the way in Seattle, I opted for a graham cracker crust instead. Just mix graham cracker crumbs with a couple tablespoons of melted butter until you get that pressable consistency.

Key Lime Tarts
Recipe courtesy of Paula Deen and the Food Network

Ingredients
24 Key Lime Cooler cookies
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 egg
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons lime juice, preferably Key lime
1 teaspoon lime zest
Fresh sweetened whipped cream
Mint leaves or lime zest, for garnish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Fill mini muffin tins with paper cups and spray cups with cooking spray. Place 1 Key Lime Cooler cookie in the bottom of each cup, flat side down. Prepare filling. Beat together cream cheese, egg, sugar, lime juice, and zest until well mixed. Fill the cups to the top. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove tarts to cool. Garnish with tiny mint leaves, lime zest or whipped cream.