Tortilla Soup -- Dairy Free

Finding good soups or a taco soup that is dairy free is a big challenge.  So many have cheese or cream cheese.  Here's a tortilla soup that my daughter really likes.  It also is not very spicy which really appeals to a toddler.

Tortilla Soup (or Taco Soup as my daughter calls it)

(I found this in Everyday Food by Martha Stewart)

1 Tbsp olive oil

4 garlic cloves

1 tsp chili powder

2 cans diced tomatoes

2 cans black beans

1 can chicken broth (boullion would work, too)

10 oz package frozen corn

salt and pepper to taste

1 cup crushed tortilla chips (I used some leftover taco shells)

1 Tbsp fresh lime juice.

1. In large saucepan, heat oil medium.  Cook garlic and chili powder until fragrant about 1 minute.

2. Add tomatoes with juice, beans, broth, corn and 1 cup water.  Season with salt and pepper.

3. Bring soup to boil, reduce to simmer.  Add tortilla chips and cook until softened about 2 minutes.  

4. Remove from heat and stir in lime juice.  Serve with extra tortilla chips.

**This soup freezes really well. The tortilla chips get a little soft, but you could always freeze a portion before adding the tortilla chip. And then add tortilla chips after unthawing.**

Green Bean Casserole

I created this recipe because I was tired of not having any "popular" potluck items to bring to family functions.  Everyone loves green bean casserole, however, it is hard to find a recipe that doesn't call for some type of creamy soup.  I brought this to a family get-together a few years ago and everyone loved it.  In fact, they asked me to bring it back the next year.  No more cream of mushroom casseroles!!

Ingredients:

• 2 c. wild rice
• 4 c. chicken broth
• 1/2 c. chopped celery
• 1 small chopped onion
• 1 t. rosemary
• 1 c. sliced mushrooms
• 1 lb. steamed green beans
• Wheat germ

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350.  Cook rice in broth until done.  Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.  Top with a layer of wheat germ.  Place in a casserole dish and bake until the wheat germ is toasty (approximately 30 minutes).

To make into a main dish add 2 cups of diced chicken to the casserole before baking.