Creamy Mexican Chicken Soup

 A mildly spicy but creamy soup is full of goodness and flavour that the whole family will love.

Precooked rotisserie chicken adds to the flavour, though you can leave it out, add another can of beans and change the cream cheese to a vegetarian variety, and you will have a still delicious soup. 

It's a lot of cans of this and that,

but when you haven't a lot of time to whip up a hearty meal,

this easy recipe is a true go-to.

It is ready to eat in just 25 minutes!

Ingredients:

2 x diced red onions

(You can use white onions but the red is much sweeter to taste)

1 x diced red bell pepper

2 Tablespoons Olive oil

1 x 400g can of chopped organic tomatoes

1 x 400 gram can of salsa beans in a spiced sauce

1 x 300g corn kernels (drained)

2 cups of chicken stock

2 cups of shredded cooked rotisserie chicken

1 teaspoon each of turmeric, smoked paprika and cumin

4 'generous' Tablespoons of Philadelphia cream cheese

 Method:

Fry the diced onion in olive oil in a large soup pot.

When it is soft add the diced bell pepper.

Add the canned tomatoes, beans and corn kernels.

Then the chicken stock and spices.

Bring to boil.

Remove from heat and add the Philadelphia cream cheese.

Stir until creamy.

Add the shredded cooked chicken.

Warm through but do not boil.

Plate.

Top with a garnish of parsley and sliced red pepper.

Serves 6.

Serve with warm bread rolls or crunchy toasted bread as an accompaniment.  

The printable recipe is HERE

You will find a pounds and ounces to grams and oven temperature conversions HERE

Grab a cuppa, and visit

 my Fine Art America gift store

:)

Beach & Ocean - Coastal Style

    

 Beach Avant Guarde 

Beach vibes, Hamptons, cane and rattan...rooms with seaside elements and colours...

When decorating Coastal style remember it's just like enjoying time at the beach, with nothing being too overwhelming.

Pops of colour on a neutral base embrace open uncluttered spaces with clean lines and natural light.

The goal is to create calmness.

Shell On Driftwood

The main colour palette is beige, tan, white and warm whites.

The accent colours in grey, aqua, seafoam, deep-sea blue, seagrass greens, soft beach toned yellows or coral.

Accessories, fixtures and fittings in brass, wood or distressed wood, cane, rattan, glass, mirrors, seashells, driftwood, jute, seagrass, or rope.

Internal Spirals Throw Pillow

Soft pillows in your accent colours.

Billowy white drapes.

Then add beach-inspired photography or art, like the examples shown.

Then you have successfully succeeded in bringing the beach into your home!

Abstract Ocean

Walk Your Own Path

Flax Sails

Surfs Up

Lemon and Garlic Olive Oil

 
There is nothing easier to do than make your own flavoured olive oil!

If you purchase flavoured oil ready-made from the store, it is quite expensive when you work out the ml size to $ value.

And if you are like me and use it all the time the dollars add up!

But make it yourself and save!

Especially if you recycle used glass bottles 

and buy the olive oil when it is on super saver specials.

So let's whip up some 'Lemon and Garlic Flavoured Olive Oil'...

and honestly, it takes about 10 minutes to put together.

So here we go...

(Printable recipe HERE).

.

For the oil, I used Lupi Brand in a mild flavour.

I have grated the rind off I small lemon.

Then peeled and roughly chopped 4 garlic cloves.

Put the rind and the garlic in a heat sterilised bottle, new or recycled that has a screw cap or cork stopper.

(I have used a recycled tequila bottle because I just LOVE the shape of this bottle and the very groovy glass stopper.)

Next, carefully fill up the bottle with olive oil.

Cork or cap.

.

That is it!

I prettied up my bottle with a flax weave and string collar.

If you gift it, add a wee name tag of the flavour of the oil.

And instructions to leave for three weeks, but turn the bottle upside down every week, before using.

Store out of direct sunlight.

This gives the lemon and garlic time to infuse their delicious flavours into the oil.

Gift it, or keep it for your own kitchen pantry,

this flavoured oil is delicious on green salads, to cook fish, prawns or shellfish in, 

(or drizzle a little over your cooked seafood)

Grab a cuppa, and visit

 my Fine Art America gift store

:)

#Flavouredoil #homemade #diygifts